Multi-Platinum Band Had 3 Big Hits…Then Label PAID 'em MILLIONS to GO AWAY!-Professor of Rock

Today we’re talking supergroups. And in particular one of the most unexpected collaborations of the 1980s. Damn Yankees. This band featured three big-time names, coming out of three big-time careers… Jack Blades from Night Ranger, Ted Nugent, Tommy Shaw of Styx, and Michael Cartellone from Lynyrd Skynyrd. Starting completely from scratch, they wrote half an album their first weekend together as a band… including the massive hit Hight Enough. The only thing is two of them were sure their other bandmate was going to hate the demo. Kind of a rogue character, they were really freaked he would tear this song apart. Then a couple years later, with two successful albums in the bag, the music industry completely turned upside-down. And their label actually offered them $1 million dollars not to record a third album. Just to walk away. So crazy. Did they take the money? Or did they make the album anyway? I tell you, this band’s story is pretty damn good. Find out all the details NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Hey music junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest songs of all time. If you wanted a bike just like Pewee Herman’s after watching his big adventure you’ll dig this channel of deep musical nostalgia… Make sure to subscribe below right now. I know you’ll find something on here that will make you smile. We also have a Patreon you'll want to check out. There you’ll find an additional catalog of exclusive content and you can even become an honorary producer to help us curate this music history.

So, it’s time for another edition of #1 in Our Hearts. This show honors songs that were so unbelievably great, they absolutely should've been #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. But for whatever reason, be it radio play, lack of marketing, label support, or just sheer stupidity, the song came up short. On previous episodes we have covered Free Fallin’ by Tom Petty, What It Takes by Aerosmith, and Rosanna by Toto. On today’s episode, we’re featuring a supergroup that doesn’t get enough love. They came up on my playlist the other day and I thought I’ve gotta cover these guys because the story behind their career is VERY interesting.

Comprised of Styx vocalist-slash-guitarist Tommy Shaw, Night Ranger vocalist-bassist Jack Blades, guitarist Ted Nugent, and drummer Michael Cartellone, Damn Yankees were one of several supergroups that emerged at the tail end of the 80s.

Today we’re going to talk about their biggest hit. Like I said Supergroups were a thing in the late 80s… Kicking off that list in 1987 was American-British rocker Bad English. That line-up featured Journey’s Neal Schon and Jonathan Cain, John Waite, Ricky Phillips and Dean Castronovo. You might remember their hits ‘When I See You Smile' and the Price of Love.

And then in 1988, a trio of supergroups, Alias, Badlands, and Mr. Big all hit the airwaves as well… releasing songs like Dreams in the Dark, More Than Words Can Say, and To Be With You. There must have been something must have been in the air, because Damn Yankees followed suit soon after, forming in 1989. By this point in their careers, the would-be band members were in something of a lull… After Styx disbanded in 1984, Tommy Shaw embarked on a solo career, and by 1987.