The Story Behind Nirvana's Era-Defining Anthem "Smells Like Teen Spirit," As Told by Producer Butch Vig

Nirvana’s "Smells Like Teen Spirit" was lightening in a bottle. It propelled Nevermind to the top of several album charts at the start of 1992 and was an event that is often marked as the point when grunge entered the mainstream. To tell the tale behind the song, we speak to songwriter, super record producer, drummer and co-producer of the alternative rock band Garbage, Butch Vig. Vig recounts how he went from recording indie bands in Madison, Wisconsin, to a fateful recording session with Nirvana. Then, he tells how he was called back to recreate that magic for Nevermind and how he translated Nirvana’s epic live sound into an epic album and, of course, the monumental "Smells Like Teen Spirit."Listen to Butch Vig explore Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" on your favorite podcast platform. Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the fresh and archival episodes coming in Season 2, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts to show your support for our series.Fans of The Story Behind the Song can also check out our new merch for Season 2! Available now at the Consequence Shop, we have a killer new poster (framed and unframed) and a jigsaw puzzle (1,000 piece or 252 piece) featuring an original illustration referencing all the songs and artists from the first three years of the podcast. Grab yours now.You can also follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media, and keep up with the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

1 Apr 202446min

Do you like Huey Lewis and The News? Their early work was a little new-wave for some, but when Sports came out in '83, the band had really came into their own, commercially and artistically. Hey, Paul, listen to Huey Lewis himself dive into the record, as well as standout "I Want a New Drug," on this episode of The Story Behind the Song!Featuring songs like"Heart and Soul," "The Heart of Rock & Roll," "I Want a New Drug," and "If This Is It," Sports spent a whopping 160 weeks on the charts. It's now sold over seven million copies in the United States alone, establishing itself as a commercial titan and a cultural signifier for the mid-1980s.Listen to Huey Lewis explore Sports, "I Want a New Drug," and more on your favorite podcast platform. Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the fresh and archival episodes coming in Season 2, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts to show your support for our series.The Huey Lewis and the News jukebox Broadway Musical, The Heart of Rock & Roll, begins previews on March 29th, and you can get tickets here. Also, make sure to check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop!You can also follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media, and keep up with the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

25 Mars 202441min

"Boys Don't Cry" is one of the defining songs of The Cure's career — and it never even charted in the US. But the new wave classic is an undeniable slice of pop-rock perfection, and perhaps the most ubiquitously enduring track in The Cure's catalog.On this classic episode of The Story Behind the Song, The Cure's Lol Tolhurst, who co-wrote "Boys Don't Cry" with Robert Smith and Michael Dempsey, join host Peter Csathy to share his first-hand insight into the iconic song. Tolhurst also talks about his book Goth, a History, and his album with Suzie and the Banshees' Budgie and multi-instrumentalist Jacknife Lee, Los Angeles.Listen to the full conversation with The Cure's Lol Tolhurst as he tells first-hand tales about "Boys Don't Cry." Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the fresh and archival episodes coming in Season 2, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts to show your support for our series.Fans of The Story Behind the Song can also check out our new merch for Season 2:! Available now at the Consequence Shop, we have a killer new poster (framed and unframed) and a jigsaw puzzle (1,000 piece or 252 piece) featuring an original illustration referencing all the songs and artists from the first three years of the podcast. Grab yours now.You can also follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media, and keep up with the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

18 Mars 202454min

When it comes to truly timeless, ahead-its-time jams, few songs can hold a candle to the Violent Femmes’ "Blister in the Sun." The alt-rock, proto-folk-punk, now-ubiquitous tune still sounds so fresh that it's hard to believe it's over 40 years old. On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, vocalist Gordon Gano explores the origins of the classic cut, revealing how it almost wasn't a Violent Femmes at all. He also clears up what the song is REALLY about.Listen to singer and songwriter Gordon Gano tell these "Blister in the Sun" stories, or on your favorite podcast platform. Make sure to follow The Story Behind the Song for all the fresh and archival episodes coming in Season 2, and rate and review on Apple Podcasts to show your support for our series.Also, some exciting new to coincide with the launch fo The Story Behind the Song Season 2: We have merch! Available now at the Consequence Shop, we have a killer new poster (framed and unframed) and a jigsaw puzzle (1,000 piece or 252 piece) featuring an original illustration referencing all the songs and artists from the first three years of the podcast. Grab yours now using the buy now buttons below!You can also follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media, and keep up with the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our shows.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

11 Mars 202456min

In this Legacy episode of The Story Behind the Song, host Peter Csathy as revisit an episode with Pink Floyd's Nick Mason to discuss “Time” from the epic The Dark Side of the Moon. In the interview, Nick Mason reflects on the band's origins, the tragic story of founding member Syd Barrett's last contribution to Pink Floyd before exiting the band, The Beatles' influence on the band, and Nick Mason’s new band A Saucer Full of Secrets.Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to TSBTS wherever you get podcasts for updates on all our new episodes. We'll be dropping an archival episode next week, with another brand new episode arriving on Monday, March 11th.Get tickets to Modern English's upcoming tour dates -- including the Totally Tubular Festival tour with the likes of Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Thomas Dolby, and more -- here.You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

4 Mars 202445min

The Story Behind the Song is getting better all the time, so we're thrilled to be launching Season 2 with Modern English's post-punk dance classic "I Melt with You." The 1982 track launched the band to international success, became a frequently covered favorite, and featured in dozens of movies and TV shows.On this episode of TSBTS, Modern English singer and songwriter Robbie Grey joins host Peter Csathy to discuss the surprisingly apocalyptic origins of the song and how it set the stage for Modern English's enduring career -- right up to their new album, 1 2 3 4. He also discuss why it was so important to release that record's single, "Not My Leader," now.Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to TSBTS wherever you get podcasts for updates on all our new episodes. We'll be dropping an archival episode next week, with another brand new episode arriving on Monday, March 11th (listen to this episode to see what song we'll be featuring!).Get tickets to Modern English's upcoming tour dates -- including the Totally Tubular Festival tour with the likes of Men Without Hats, Bow Wow Wow, Thomas Dolby, and more -- here.You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

26 Feb 202438min

The Story Behind the Song is back with a new format for Season 2 beginning Monday, February 26th! We're switching to a weekly format, where brand new episodes will alternate with classic ones from the SBTS vault.So get ready for fresh interviews with The Killers, Heart, The B52s, Violent Femmes, Jewel, Huey Lewis, and Modern English as they reveal the real-life stories behind their most iconic hits!Make sure to subscribe to The Story Behind the Song wherever you get your podcasts so you can catch all of Season 2. While you're at it, show us how much you love the show by rating and reviewing on Apple Podcasts.You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on X/Twitter @pcsathy and Deep Cuts Media.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

21 Feb 20241min

Don McLean earned the title of America's Troubadour with his iconic 1971 hit song "American Pie." This eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock track is considered a cultural touchstone in the annals of Americana, tracking the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation through oft-debated reference-rich lyrics about "the day the music died."On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, McLean joins host Peter Csathy to talk about how it took 10 years to write "American Pie," the song's legacy, and more. Then make sure to like, review, and subscribe to TSBTS wherever you get podcasts for updates on all our new episodes.Also, check out Don McLean's holiday album Christmas Memories (Remixed and Remastered) here.This month, we’re on a mission to spread the word about The Story Behind the Song. If you love our show as much as we like bringing it to you, we need you to hop over to Apple Podcasts, hit the follow button, and leave us a review. Not only is it a quick and easy way to show your support, but it’ll also give you the chance to win some exclusive Consequence merch. Then, head to this link and submit your info along with a screenshot of your review. We’ll be shouting out our winners in December, so make sure to follow and review soon. Thank you for all your support and for helping The Story Behind the Song grow!You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on X/Twitter @pcsathy and Deep Cuts Media.Support The Story Behind the Song by checking out StubHub: https://stubhub.prf.hn/l/mVRZyZVAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

18 Dec 202343min