90s Alternative Band Tells The Story of This #1 Rock Hit | Professor of Rock
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- čas přidán 20. 06. 2021
- As the Rock Era began to wrap up in the mid 90s Better Than Ezra that formed at LSU and rocketed to #1 on the modern rock charts with the #1 song GOOD a classic sing along song of it’s time. Singer Kevin Griffin and bassist Tim Drummond tell the story in this exclusive interview.
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#90s #Rock #Story
Hey music junkies and vinyl junkies Professor of Rock always here to celebrate the greatest artists and the greatest 90s vinyl songs of all time for the music community and vinyl community.
If you’ve ever owned records, cassettes and CD’s at different times in you life or still do this is your place Subscribe below right now to be a part of our daily celebration of the rock era with exclusive stories from straight from the artists and click on our patreon link in the description to see our brand new show there.
Let me take you back to mid 1995. One of the greatest summers of my life I had just graduated from high school, finally free of the daily grind I moved out on my own, working construction outside the state with a couple of my best friends. No curfews, no adult supervision, cruising the strip at night, chasing beautiful girls and better than Ezra's deluxe was the soundtrack of that youthful romantic season. As it was for a score of other kids across the nation Better Than Ezra’s song good was....as they say now. my jam
The band Better than Ezras was formed in 1988 with the aforementioned singer and guitarist Kevin Griffin, bassist Tom Drummond, Drummer Cary Bonnecaze and lead guitarist Joel Rundell while the four of them were students at LSU. Their first gig was at a place called Murphy in Baton Rouge not long after they formed. Nobody knows for sure where their band name came from, Many urban lengends and theories have been thrown around but Tom Drummond said that the story is not that great. One of my favorite stories is that the band was nameless at the time they participated in a battle of the bands competition where a band called Ezra also competed., Since kevin and the boys needed a band name to officially enter they wrote down that they were better than ezra. Better than Ezra defintely paid their dues when coming up. they recorded a demo in 1988 called the Chime Street Demo to try and get gigs and a possible record deal, then they released the cassette only album Surpise. Tragedy struck in the late summer of 1990 when their Lead guitarist Joel Rundell took his own life.. From there the remaining member took some time to ponder their future as a band. They decide to continue with Better than Ezra as a trio playing Frats and parties locally and through the south. Their breakthrough album Deluxe was released in 1993 on it’s own Indie label called Swell Records. From there the major label Electra came knocking where the band signed in 1995. From there the band shot to the mainstream with their first single, the no doubt about it smash GOOD that went to #1 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, that sent Deluxe across the Platinum sales line. 7 years of Paying their dues. that’s how it used to be. - Zábava
POLL: What is the Best song and album post 1994 going to the end of the decade and why?
Best album in my opinion is Siamese Dream. That was one of the first experiences I had with hearing something so different. The sonic assault the guitar gives on that album was a game changer. Best song is harder. Would have to think much longer about that one.
"Please Do" by Disappearing Boy off their debut album "Loud, Noisy, Pop!" from 1996. Because it was my band. :)
best song? toughie and i can't decide. Best album would be either Superunknown or What's the Story Morning Glory for me.
My Own Prison by Creed and Down on the Upside by Soundgarden.
"Flood" by Jars of Clay... so different and uplifting
"At #1 this week: Better Than Ezra. And, at #2: Ezra." - Norm MacDonald, SNL Weekend Update.
I remember that episode
That dude is hilarious.
Yep, this is why I'm here! Good work, wylderyde.
Norm McDonald was a comedic legend.
@@theglenlivet3372 yes he was. Nobody tells a joke or a story quite like Norm. Luckily, this kind of got me on a binge watching a lot of his old talk show appearances, etc. Little did I know that he'd be gone just a few weeks later.
Better Than Ezra was a "love at first listen" band for me. I can actually pinpoint the day: April 1, 1995 (no foolin'). I was on a long weekend from work, during which I rode my bicycle from L.A. to Santa Barbara. That Saturday was my "side trip" day, when I rode from Santa Barbara to Solvang and back. My radio was tuned to an Alternative station in Santa Barbara, and over the course of that ride, I heard "Good" three times. By the third time, I was singing out loud as I rode the shoulder of the 101 freeway along the Pacific coastline. I was hooked, and then, when I got back to L.A., I listened to the entire "Deluxe" album ... I was blown away. I've been fortunate enough to see BTE in concert several times and, better yet, meet the guys three times. I've never been disappointed. Great band, great guys, great memories.
My girlfriend at the time had left me. I slipped into the usual emotional morass of Pink Floyd and The Cure, but "Good", more than any other song, lifted me out of my doldrums, compelled me to own up to the mistakes I had also made, and allowed me to feel good about our time together. A year later, I won her back. We've been married now for 25 years. WA-HA! 🙂🤘
Awesome story
YES!!! Love this!!
Kevin Griffin is a master pop songwriter. The records that followed - Friction, Garden, Closer, Robots, Empire - are all loaded with hooky gems. 👊🏻
That Deluxe album is fantastic. Porcelain is the song I keep coming back to.
I totally agree with you! The whole album is great. I love The Killer Inside and Porcelain best
1000% agree.
It’s my favorite on that album too. That and This Time of Year.
@@GGiblet "Porcelain" live is unreal.
I will try to find a live version here on youtube, thank you for the suggestion! @@skyscraper14
I also liked King of New Orleans on Friction Baby. Good 90's memories!
I love their song "Desperately Wanting"...hope you discuss that one soon.
Kathryn Kluth that's a great song from a really good album, "Friction Baby".
Yep!
I was born and raised in the Philippines, moved to the states in 96. Never heard of them until I got the the US. I saw them live several times back in those days...27 years later, BTE are still on my playlist.
I moved back to my hometown in the early 90s after having been in the Marines. Hearing this song and others of that era really take me back to that time of my life. I was a 23 year old college freshman loving life.
We are old now.
I’m from Louisiana and BTE are part of our lives. They represent the entire state. I’m proud to say that I’ve seen them 5 times. Yes music is our time machine; I remember when this song dropped I was working a job in Nashville TN. Life was Good in 95.
Here here, To 1995!
Saw them in Mississippi 15 years ago. Loved the part where they covered Don’t Fear the Reaper and got a very enthusiastic drunk guy on stage to play the cowbell. I even named my son Ezra.
One of the best songs from the 90s,.. the baseline is everything
You spent too much time listening to “Ace of Base”. Do you even own a real stereo? Check what it says next to whatever controls the low frequencies. It DOESN’T say “base” next to it. It says “BASS”.
@@edryba4867 you are a better secretary than me, great job gal
I’m a longtime ‘Ezralite’ for over 2 and half decades. Love these guys and wish they would’ve gotten bigger. Their albums Friction, Baby, How Does Your Garden Grow, and Closer are all vastly different from each other but are forgotten classics. All this and they seem like super nice guys. Only had the chance to see them live once back in 2013, but it was great.
Just pulled this album out. "Porcelain", wow....what a vocal. Such a great band.
Right there with you. Porcelain is powerful. It really sticks with you.
Thst feeling you got going to the record store after getting paid on Friday night is something that is sadly lost to the ages.
Exactly! Well said 👍🏻
Never liking Grunge and missing the music of the 80's, Alternative really brought back my love of music. Better than Ezra really had an impact and when I remember 1995 with my friends, this song is the lynchpin. Great albums from them.
That song was killer back in the day. Hit home pretty hard more than once...
My wife and I just saw Better Than Ezra Oct 28, 2022 at the Lincoln Theater in Washington D.C. They were fabulous! They took me right back to the 90's and I loved them in the 90's and beyond. The honest sound of Kevin's vocals with the distinctive nuanced twinges he throws in are like no other. The jams were great! I sing too and often try to imitate him. Great interview!
Loved "Rosealia" from the Deluxe album... One of my favorite bands from the 90s!
Same! Thanks for commenting. We see you here often and appreciate it!
Absolutely look forward to it daily, sir! BTW, regarding Deluxe, did they ever explain the German song at the end of "Coyote?" Always wondered what that was all about....
Funny how music brings back memories-- when you mentioned that 1995 was one of the best summers of your life, I was like, hm, don't remember that summer. And then, when you played "Good", I instantly remembered how badly my heart got broken that summer 💔
I was 35 that summer, but still loved this band
"Good" is one of my top 10 favorite '90s song.
As an LSU Student in the late 90s, BTE is a music staple for me and still is today. I've seen them countless times from the Varsity and Freds in Baton Rouge, to venues around the country. I also loved Kevin's live FB shows during lockdown and their commitment to helping raise money for those who didn't fair so well during the pandemic lockdown.
Never heard this song until today. Crazy.
Really? What do you think of it?
@@ProfessorofRock Never heard it either. OK song I guess, I had tuned out the new wave/grunge stuff at that time.
Seriously?? Check out the entire album.
@@cmikesmith664 - I reckon some of the songs on 'Deluxe' are actually better than 'Good'!
@@mightyV444, you’re right.
BTE is one of my favorite all-time bands. Every album they have done is amazing. Great interview!
Fantastic band. Saw them at free show a few years ago. I knew them from “Good”, “Juicy”, “Desperately Wanting” and was excited to see them. At one point they started playing a song I didn’t recall ever hearing, but the crowed cheered and sang along… I felt left out! I listened intently to try to get the lyrics. I got enough of them to be able to find the song on my iPhone on the way home, and learned all of the lyrics to it… “A Lifetime”, before going to sleep that night. Brilliant song.
"Three and a half minutes..."
Great song Proffesor! Everytime I see a 90s video come up it's an auto click! I was 9 in 1995.
I was 12
Coming of age in the 90s. Very cool.
W.C. Don’s!! I was there for that show!
The great thing about that club was the name. The name stands for “We Can’t Decide On NameS”. You could see through the floors and walls in some places but I saw so many great bands there.
"Yeah that's right!" 😄
Man i love their sing: King of New Orleans. Such a great concept and a beautiful melody. Gareth from Cape Town, South Africa
I spent my teen years feeling alone in my wide range of musical tastes, interests and curiosities. Thank you for covering a vast array with such intellect, respect and admiration- music is a timeless panacea, and my younger self heals a little more each time I come across true openness and love for music.
Professor Adam,
I gotta tell you how much my son and I love your videos.
The world can't thank you enough for keeping Rock alive!!
The Rock and Roll torch has been passed down in my family.
Wow, thank you!
I was a huge fan and ironically, my cover band just worked out this song at rehearsal to add this to our set. Fun song to play and I feel the crowd are going to love it. Nice work POR!
I went to high school with one of the band members. I attended LSU, I saw them at Murphy's and Fred's and other great places. Years latter brought wife to a BTE concert, connected with person I went to high school with knocked on the tour bus door and it was like yesterday. Their music can pull so many memories, feelings, and sensations hands down because this time of year happens every fall.
That bass tone on "Good" is absolute FIRE.
I remembered constantly hearing this song on a loop for IBM Aptiva computers at work.
The best summer ever with Spence, Beck, you and Dave. It was AWESOME!
Wow that just threw me back hard. It could be in my mind but seems like a better world then. So much good music back then, it's hard to not miss it.
One of my favorite bands!
I hope that you are able to do more with BTE! They are so talented, nice, & charismatic! I've seen them 11 times & their live performances are legendary not only from the songs themselves, but because of their banter, impressions (Kevin's & Jim Payne's), & especially Kevin's dance moves!!! I adore them! 💗💗💗
I remember my local radio station playing "Good" in heavy rotation when it came out. Personally, I've always liked "Desperately Wanting" a bit better, another BTE alt rock gem from the '90s.
Desperately Wanting is a good song. Thanks for commenting.
I'd agree with you
They remind me of the Toadies. A great band only known for a few hits but have some amazing and songs that are better than
At the stars is still my jam.
@@IrelandVonVicious At the Stars is probably my favorite in their entire catalog.
Man, BTE is one of my favorites. 9:45 Kevin says serendipity. Thomas Jefferson said the harder he worked, the luckier he got. That sounds like BTE.
I bought Deluxe from one of the CD clubs. Just like you I knew/know every song by heart.
Another great interview, Adam.
I would rewrite Summer of 69 and change it to The Summer of 95, those where the best days of my life!
This song was a part of the soundtrack of that summer!
You know it! It really was. What made it great for you?
@@ProfessorofRock Hard to explain, but It's was like the feeling Smalls got from The Sandlot. It was the summer before my sophomore year of high school and met one of my best friends my freshman year. He lived down the street so every morning I'd wake him up and hang out watch MTV all day. When MTV had the Mighty Tiki God as their summer mascot. Discovering new music all summer long and just rocking out. We had summers after that, but like The Sandlot, nothing can compare to that first one. We've since parted ways but the summer of 95 will be cemented as one of the best summers of my life. Thanks you for asking Professor, 3 chords and the Truth my friend!
Was blessed to have a similar experience brother
Back when I was working in rock radio in the mid 90's, our radio station sponsored a BTE concert at the Blue Note in Columbia Missouri. The date was November 1, 1996. I remember this for two reasons: the night before, on Halloween night, we had Marilyn Manson at the Blue Note, and at midnight, Nov 1, the "Antichrist Superstar" album dropped . The next night, the town and club still abuzz from the Manson concert, BTE hits town, and they sell out the Blue Note. Not to be outdone by Manson, the BTE boys stopped into a costume store across the street, showed up onstage dressed from head to toe in the Devo "Whip it" costumes, and opened their sold out show performing an amazing version of the Devo classic. Anybody who saw BTE in the day knew they were one of the very best live rock acts. I know it's trite to say, but these guys should have been huge.
More from this interview, please. BTE are one of my all time faves. They are such good people and an amazing live act! You can tell they love what they do and are having fun onstage.
Yes I would love to hear the stories behind all the songs. Love BTE
Kevin has some amazing podcast interviews out there. Just a down to earth guy who loves music and enjoys talking about it.
BTE, still to this day, is one of my favorite bands ever! Deluxe is one of my all time favorite albums as well. Porcelain is my favorite song by any band. Great interview!
Just moved in with my girlfriend at the time so the lyrics "good living with you" stuck for me. 3 kids and 27 years its still good
We're the same age! The 90's were awesome! Simpler and in many ways, better times. No internet, no cell phones, no 21st century stress... 👍🏻😎🇺🇸
Better Than Ezra was/is Good! They put on a Good concert also.
This song will forever remind me of my first day of work at Wendy’s in 1995. As I was getting ready, and I was nervous (first job), Good was on the radio. It was stuck in my head on the bus, and as I got closer there, my stomach was more and more nervous. I still get that feeling, when I hear this song. Lol
The most underrated band of the 90s. Grew on every album. One of my all-time favorites. Thanks for the interview!
Throwing Copper from LIVE is a masterpiece.
I remember, years ago, bringing my 2 young daughters and their friend to see BTE in New Orleans. They were members of the fan club and afterwards we got into the after party. My oldest daughter, 39 now, still tries to see them whenever she can.
The first song that my first cover band did way back when the song was released. It was consistently played on MTV back then.
I remember it well! What was the name of your band?
@@ProfessorofRock my first band was called Mister E which we took from a comic book character. We thought that we were so cool 😎
BTE at Hard Rock Live in Orlando 2000-ish....
AWESOMENESS!!!!!!!
Better Than Ezra immediately takes me back to high school and early college, too! 1996 high school grad here
I am aging myself but i went to high school on the LSU campus. We were able to sneak in and see them when they were just starting out. Hearing their songs always brings me back to those days
I was a bad student. The only entertainment that summer was the FM walkman. Walking several hours home from summer school in the scorching heat with Good playing... What an obscure memory inspired by what you described for that chapter in your life, about 2 years ahead of me. Its amazing how mainstream music was so ingrained in our lives. I just listened to this album on my phone today. Good algorithm.
this was the song of the summer of 95! My brother and I loved this song together - it was definitely one of our special musical links and I always play it for him still when I do a solo show. "In The Blood" is still my fav. track by them, but "Good" will forever be a classic 90s jam. * I used to have that Police T-Shirt and I'm pissed I lost it lol
I remember being in Huntsville, AL in my friend's brand new Firebird. Good came on and he suddenly changed lanes so that we could go to the mall and buy this cd. I have been hooked ever since. This band not only defined that time, but many, many more. This band has had tons of good albums since Deluxe. Closer and How Does Your Garden Grow are two must haves in the collection.
HFStival, 1995. I was 15.
Better than Ezra was the first band I ever crowd surfed to.
Finally, the story behind the "whahuh" that changed the world! Seriously, I've always wondered where that came from. Great interview as always!
LOVE BETTER THAN EZRA! That song really takes me back.
1994 was the year for great albums for me. Soundgarden, Weezer, Green Day, Nine Inch Nails and the Beastie Boys all had amazing releases that year. I know I'm leaving a few out but that was the first time i remember being able to sit and listen to entire albums instead of just buying the album for one or two songs. I listened to Superunknown from start to finish and was amazed by how much I liked the entire album. It was all down hill from there.
I remember well the Weekend Update episode at the time with Norm MacDonald announcing:
Better Than Ezra has the Number One album this week. Coming in at Number Two... Ezra.
Thank you for this interview, it's great! BTE has been my favorite band for a long while. I've seen them four times, and I can't wait to see them again.
I liked this song when it came out. I play bass and I immediately started playing along. I started a rock duo over a year ago with programmed drums and guitarist and just started singing and performing "Good." It's a blast.
Rosalia was the first song that popped into my head when "other" songs were mentioned from this album. I haven't played this one in a while. Probably should break it out.
I was living in New Orleans at the time, and I remember Rosalia being played everywhere before Good became a hit. We all knew Better Than Ezra from Rosalia 👍
Please review 'Mellow Gold' Beck. That was my Summer of '94 album. Every song makes you feel young and drunk in the sun!!
Pure awesomeness! I worked at Circuit City at the time, and this CD was on the listening station. This became the anthem of that Summer at all the picnics, July 4th, picnics and pool parties... everyone would sing it at the top of their voice!! Love these interviews!
Rock on! Thank you for watching. We'd love to have you as subscriber!
God I loved this album. Complete gold, start to finish
Great video. Top 10ish band of the 1990's/ early 2000's. Kevin's one of the best songwriters of all time.
Thanks for this sir. BTE is one of my fave bands. Amazing live
How Does Your Garden Grow is the most underrated album of the late 90s! Amazing record - ahead of its time and stands the test of time!
In '99, a friend and I convinced each other to buy the other person's favorite CD at the time. He swore by Guster's "Lost and Gone Forever", which is good, admittedly. I told him to pick up BTE's "How Does Your Garden Grow?". He liked it, but wasn't totally sold on it. His loss.
"At the Stars" is still my favorite BTE song and "Happy Day MaMa" live is a real energy booster. Everything BTE does is gold.
Professor!! So excited to see Better Than Ezra on the channel. Better Than Ezra and Deep Blue Something were everything to me bavk in the day and I've even hooked my 14 year old on both bands. Excellent video sir and many thanks for showcasing BTE.
Better Than Ezra! How cooool! 😀 I'd bought 'Deluxe' after hearing their song 'In The Blood' on a compilation disc that had come free with a 'Rolling Stone' magazine in '95 (Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know' was on it also); Great album! I also had the follow-up, 'Friction, Baby!' To me, 'Good' sounds like a happy version of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' 😄 On with the video... *PS:* Awesome t-shirt, by the way! 😀
I like them ever more after this interview. Well done yet again
Love this song! It is always in my life soundtrack rotation.
Deluxe is one of my favorite albums. BTE did their own thing and it was such a nice compliment to everything else that was coming out in the 90s.
"Porcelain" and "This time of year" are such outstanding songs. Surprised some of their more ballad songs didn't break.
My two favorite songs of theirs.
My wife who is also from the South gets teary-eyed and homesick when she hears "This Time of Year".
Wish you had asked them about the “yeah, that’s right” at the very end of the song. Little things like that always fascinate me.
That’s right! Yeah!
Ha! That’s a Rockzilla reference and real funny story.
@@DriveFly108 Do TELL!
It's Tom, the bass player's voice
Awesome (comprehensive) review! Love your insight and personal connection with your reviews. Thanks for posting
You graduated high school in '95 but I was heading into my senior year of college - which was the absolute best time of my life, hands down. And the summer of '95 has no equal. I was already a fan of Green Day, especially 'When I Come Around' which, to that point, was my fav 90s song. Then BTE's 'Good' exploded. And to this day it's my favorite 90s song. It was the first song I tried (am trying) to learn on the guitar just this year at age 48. Loved it, loved it, loved. Loved these guys. Still do. 'Good' is the anthem to the summer of '95 and to the 90s as a whole for me.
Love this band . I'm 47, so I was probably about the same age you were 95 and I didn't get into the CD until about 15 years ago actually around 2005 2007 and I spent a whole summer cruising around like you did listen to CD I like the whole CD I love the song porcelain
Met Tom in a TN McDonalds and he was such a cool dude to talk to. Very approachable and friendly, especially to a stranger and fan.
Another awesome memory thanks Professor
Love Better Than Esra. Thanks for doing it POR. You're the best
I was a teenager when this came out and I love it
There's actually a song called 'Teenager' on the album! 🙂
Huge fan of BTE. How Does Your Garden Grow is perhaps a perfect album. Great interview!
Worked at Office Depot during this era and there was a screensaver/promo that ran on the PowerPC Macs that had a snippet of Good and it repeated ad nauseam all day!
I was 9 going on 10 years old when this track blasted through the mainstream. I remember calling the radio station and requesting this song many times; however, for me, “Desperately Wanting” is my go-to track by them. If someone is reading this and hasn’t heard that track, please go check that one out. It has a fantastic chord progression.
Thanks for all you do Professor!
It’s a rare album that is tremendous from start to finish, this one of those albums! It’s my four years at the Citadel. It’s Spring and Fall in Charleston. It’s the happiest time in my life!
BTE is how I realized I'm old. They went from playing $15 shows near LSU to $55 shows at the casino 10 minutes down the river. I do love that they continue to play several shows a year in BR.
One of my all time favorite albums
Such a great song! I was fortunate to graduate high school in 1995 and just great memories!
One of the best underrated bands of all time! Love BTE!
Absolutely remember the song. 1995 I was still in college and my love affair with rock radio was still going strong.
Great song. I graduated from high school in '95. As 1995 progressed, my girlfriend and first love started to drift away from me. I didn't know it at the time, but she started seeing someone else. We eventually broke up in early '96. Better Than Ezra's 'Good' was hard for me to listen to at that time because I wasn't in the right headspace to appreciate the better points of having been with her for 3 years and experiencing my first love and heartbreak. I learned to move on obviously, but that song still reminds me of the fond memories of that part of my life.
Side note, I have a wonderful wife and two beautiful daughters and couldn't imagine my life any other way.
What I admire most about you is the respect you give the music and the musicians. You make it human, lovable, accessible. Your depth of knowledge is prodigious. Thanks a ton for every video.
Wow, thank you!
@@ProfessorofRock You've earned every bit of praise. Never a wasted word, a phenomenal memory, and a deep love for your work. And the humility to be honest about yourself! Truly, a beautiful example of humankind. Don't thank me, knowing you responded to my first message is enough to last me a long time. Love always.
@@lloydrobert6182 Your kind words motivate me. I really appreciate it!
BTE has been a highly underrated band. Great video!!