Legend’s 80s Classic GOT RIPPED Off… Then He GOT SUED for Talking About It? | Professor Of Rock

THIS BAR band came out of nowhere in the eighties to take over radio… Huey Lewis and the News stole the spotlight... Especially in what may have been music's most competitive year…1984 where they snuck in for 1 week to take #1 with their album Sports when Prince, Van Halen Michael Jackson, and Duran Duran were battling it out up next this legendary artist tells the story of I Want a New Drug, a song he wrote in just minutes… he was driving and had the song..he quickly pulled over and ran into an office and screamed for a pen and paper and wrote it in about 90s seconds, then later it was part of a huge lawsuit when the film Ghostbusters asked him to write a song for their soundtrack and when he had to decline they allegedly asked another artist to write a song with a similar sound… The story is coming up next.
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Hey Music Junkies, Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time. If you love the history of music straight from the artists who created them, you’ll want to be a full-time part of this channel by subscribing below and make sure to hit the bell so you always get our daily features Also check out more content at our page on patreon to become an insider. It’s time for another episode of our series revelations where featured artists reveal rare stories about their greatest songs.
On this installment of Revelations, we have one of the coolest guys in the industry who shook the 80s by its foundations. He had two massive albums back to back as well as eleven top-ten hits including 3 that went all the way to #1. I’m talking about the only news source I trust… Huey Lewis and the news. It started with Do You Believe in Love which hit #7 in 1982 and then he rocked 1984 with his multiplatinum mega record Sports… With the huge hits Heart and Soul, the Heart of Rock and Roll, and today’s feature… I Want a New Drug.
This is a song that he wrote in about 90s seconds… He rushed into an office after it came to him in the car and begged for a pen and paper. He’ll tell you the rest. However one of the biggest parts of the story of this #1 hit that Weird Al parodied so brilliantly is the story of what happened after I Want a New Drug… Huey is barred from talking about it. But as a matter of what we do know…
In 1984, the comedy Ghostbusters hit theaters and blew up our culture like few movies before it… It was the biggest blockbuster of one of the greatest summer movie extravaganzas ever….And its theme song by Ray Parker Jr. ruled radio hitting #1. Only thing is, that it sounded a lot like the second single from Huey LEwi’s album Sports. I Want A New Drug. So this has been a very touchy subject in the past so I’ll tread lightly… According to some legends, several artists were approached by the Ghostbuster people to create a theme song that would have the word Ghostbusters in the chorus or title. I’ve heard several people say that Huey Lewis, Glenn Frey, and Lindsay Buckingham were all offered to do it and all three declined… So they offered it to Ray Parker Jr. Who was coming off some great hits of his own. RayParker Jr. said yes.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Poll: What is your pick for the greatest song and album of one of music's greatest years...1984?

[@catherine6653]

My favorite was Born In The USA, Bruce Springsteen. Song- In the Name of Love from U2 Unforgettable Fire.

[@mournblade1066]

Album--The Cars: _Heartbeat City_ Song--Prince: "When Doves Cry"

[@flavellinator]

Not a single, but I just love "Burn for You" by INXS... And their album, The Swing

[@JimbobZ17]

Album RATT Out of the cellar Song Van Halen Jump

[@cozmicpfunk]

Tina Turner- Private Dancer -What's Love got to do with it- was a tremendous come back The Cars - Heartbeat City has great hits- You might think, Drive etc. Van Halen- 1984 Prince- Purple Rain There are so many, these are just from memory...

[@tomviers9070]

I was 25 in 1984. I went to a business conference in 2001 in Vegas. We had a dinner in a huge banquet hall. There had to be a couple thousand people sitting there and there was a band afterwards. It was Huey Lewis and the News! About 50 of us, including my wife and I went and stood literally at the base of the stage and rocked out! It felt like the band was impressed with our enthusiasm. Best concert I every attended and still can't believe to this day that more people didn't get up in front of that stage and experience it up close. Fantastic night!

[@flavellinator]

When you recount Huey's hits, there are far more mentioned than I realized he has... Love his swanky style of bar band bliss!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Bar band bliss! yes!

[@billlappan5165]

So true and he knew it. Halfway through a concert I attended in 2005, he said “So many hits, so little time!”

[@ueno1]

​@@ProfessorofRock Set that to the tune of Sweet's Ballroom Blitz!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

His #1 priority: fun!

[@tjbennett7281]

We all love and remember what a huge impact these artists and bands had on our lives. However lets not forget the people like Adam who bring the stories that the artists share to life before they are lost forever to the print era. Each episode of Professor of Rock is a testament that we all had it right when we fell in love with all of these songs.

[@Crazykid949]

I've always loved Huey Lewis and the News ever since I heard Power of Love. After hearing that one song, I bought all the cassette tapes I could find of their songs at the time. I've always thought that it would be cool to sit down and have a coffee and conversation with him and just have a few laughs because he seems like such a laid-back kind of guy. All these years later, I still get his songs playing in my head every now and then, and I jump on KZbin and play them out for a while. His songs are timeless.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

He’s so nice. That was me during COVID.

[@RevJay_Rides]

I graduated high school in 1984. Just before graduating, Huey Lewis and the News did a concert at Six Flags Over Texas for “senior day”. I lived in Oklahoma, about 3 hours away from where the concert would be. Guess what I did? I had my own “senior ditch day”. It turns out my future wife and I shared that concert together. We were not dating at the time, but it wouldn’t be long after, we were dating and then engaged and married. We will celebrate 38 years of marriage this year. That’s the power of love!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Here’s to many more! Cheers 🍻

[@cathyharvey4]

This is awesome

[@debraparsons2618]

SO Exciting to hear such a Romantic Story💏 My Husband and I were dating in 1981 and Huey Lewis and the News put on a Concert at Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, IL🎢 We had Season Passes for Years⏳ The night of the Concert we had been at the park ALL DAY🥳 My 'Boyfriend' was exhausted and I wasn't able to convince him to stay for the concert😥 It has been a regretful joke in our marriage every time we hear Any Huey Lewis song🎶 I'm Sure the Concert was AWESOME!🎤

[@duckylove3930]

This is fabulous!

[@roncalkins1106]

I too graduated in 84, saw them New Years Eve 84 in Oakland, CA. As a Bay Area resident, I was introduced to their music during the 'Picture This' album and their involvement in charity work when Huey Lewis and the News played at the March of Dimes fundraiser in Oakland 1983. Sadly, I did not attend that concert, but heard it was great.

[@NXSProductions]

For my tastes, there's not a cooler cat in the 80's than Huey Lewis. Dude is a legend; an everyman who never grew above his raisings. Just a gem of a human being.

[@rzrbckmz23]

He's absolutely right about the CHR radio format. HL&N sometimes get a bad rap because they were so successful but those guys were great songwriters and played catchy, melodic music. Another group that deserves the R&R HOF.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Even Sinatra isn’t in the RRHOF yet! 😳

[@lfd_eng9219]

Have gone to a couple of Huey Lewis and The News concerts...always a great show. His interaction with the crowd is genuine. They were the 1980s for me. Glad he is back on road. So many great hits...and others that keep the day going! The groups acapella songs are fantastic as well. Thanks for the memories Prof and Huey!!!

[@ProfessorofRock]

He's a legend!

[@ursafan40]

Yes. Saw Huey and the News in a club with maybe 300 people. Band was smoking hot Huey a great frontman A top ten concert

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

He’s very entertaining.

[@marktait2371]

same here small club maybe 200 plus early 90s huey funny stories banter with audience great band entertaining show looking back glad i saw the band in a smaller venue we were kind of surprised they came there probably an in between show but band seemed to have a good time just a bare bones sound system no frills

[@stephenhanft1226]

Huey Lewis and The News are my favorite good-time rock and roll band of the 1980's. I first discovered their music when I heard their 1982 top 10 hit "Do You Believe In Love." In 1984, they released their great Sports album. Definitely one of my favorite 80's albums. It is filled with so many great songs. They continued to have success for the rest of the decade. Love their music. They are another artist who should be in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Sports is a blockbuster smash.

[@angrymobsters1599]

Love this group. Their 2020 album still hits like their older albums. Shame he has hear loss and quite sadly affects some of his vocals. Huey is still kicking it's butt though 👍

[@tbroda2351]

I thought once upon the 80's that the songs were VERY close. Now that I'm older, yeah, the Ghostbusters theme was a "hey, let's make a song just like this". They didn't have all of the media back then that fans could catch the "similarities". It was a copy & the perpetrator didn't get caught...

[@c.e.anderson558]

Ray Parker ,Jr. was an LA session player right up there with Steve lukather . They sat side by side on many a musical recording . Luke himself has said this Ghostbusters was not Rays usual gig, it was a side gig. He was a much sought after session guitarist.

[@idlibenglish6789]

I played this song on a jukebox at an Italian restaurant and my dad lost his 5h!t! No matter how I tried to explain it wasn't about drugs, the madder he got. 40 years later, he still the same! 80s, Bay Area and Huey Lewis and the News.

[@stevedj101]

Huey Lewis is one of the greatest. When I was in college I made a clay mation video/ Stop motion picture with the music do you believe in love as the focus. I wrote to Mr. Lewis and asked him if he would like to attend the college festival. I actually won a few awards and it was played on several tv shows. Huey actually wrote me back a week prior to the event and said, sorry Steve, but currently on tour. Wish I could be there for your film debut. Best wishes. Huey Lewis. Hey, he didn't have to respond to me, but obviously he cares for his fans and it meant so much to me that he did. I saw him a few years later in concert with my brother after Power of Love came out, Huey Lewis and the band were the best. Great memories. Thank you professor of Rock for doing what you do, keeping the music alive.

[@Elwaves2925]

I agree there are definite similarities, Ghostbusters does seem to be inspired by I Want A New Drug but that's what happens if you ask for a song in the same style. It's also where it enters that grey area. There's no way to definitely say whether it was inspired by (which is fine) or ripped off (which isn't fine). The question I've always asked is, would Ray Parker Jr lower himself to create that rip off? I don't think he would. The execs would for sure but they didn't write Ghostbusters. Whatever the case, both are fantastic songs and Huey is always great to listen to. Cheers Adam.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Good take on the matter Elwaves.

[@80ssynthfan48]

Factor in the time pressure. It seems that Ray was pushed to come up with something quickly.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@80ssynthfan48 Yeah but that doesn't prove anything one way or the other. Plenty of songs have been written very quickly, as this channel and this very video have shown. 🙂

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Ray’s a nice guy. He wouldn’t do that to spite Huey deliberately.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 My thinking exactly.

[@bobkinney2430]

I saw Huey Lewis & the news in concert. They put on one hell of a show I will never forget. 3 enchore songs. This was in Jacksonville in 84 maybe 85. The opener was Stevie Ray Vaughn. Vaughn actually got booed of the stage as he was so drunk, we thought he was going to pass out or falk off the stage. Huey Lewis & the new made up for it Big Time by playing close to 3 hrs. with the mentioned 3 enchores. I will never forget that concert, ever. They put on one hell of a show.

[@RedneckHillbilly-ho9md]

Oh wow that saxophone at the 12:50 mark also sounds like the Ghostbusters song right when he says "I Ain't Afraid Of No Ghost"

[@bebeautiful6613]

I’m glad we didn’t have the Internet back then. We just enjoyed the music. The majority of us were not paying much attention to magazines that might’ve been talking about this. Both huge songs. Both songs were so much fun! If we’d had the Internet we might have ended up picking sides between the songs. For those of us music listeners. I’m glad that never happened❤

[@mitchellbaker9434]

For me 1984 was the year of Prince. So ,album is Purple Rain. My song is Let's Go Crazy, which showcased Prince as the monster on the guitar that he was.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Prince rocked 84 like no other.

[@eleniprovia7667]

Such a great song!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Prince had the #1 song of 1984, When Doves Cry.

[@kirktingblad6667]

I was in college and driving in my two tone underpowered Ford Must when “I want a new drug” came on and over my crappy AM radio I thought it was “I want a new truck”. Told my girlfriend and when we watched it on Friday Night Videos, we laughed and laughed. And of course, from then on she would sing “I want a new truck” every time it came on.

[@Jimsathome]

Thank you for this video. I've been a fan of Huey Lewis and the News for ages, and we were lucky enough to catch them at a local Casino some time ago. They were fabulous. We'd love to see them again, but Huey Lewis has Meniere's Disease and no longer performs. A tough loss but at least we have their recordings. I've got their Live at 25 DVD the day it came out. Maybe there'll be a new Blu-ray soon.

[@haydendegrow945]

Huey Lewis and the News is one of my favourite bands. They remained grounded to their music, never let fame get to their heads, never truly let trends define their music (quite the opposite actually, as I noticed a resurgence of sorts in rootsy bar bands after Sports and Fore! came out), and have been music icons for decades now. If there ever was a guy I'd give ANYTHING to get harmonica lessons from it's Mr. Lewis.

[@lovehappy7]

I saw Huey Lewis in concert in Rome in 1987 and LOVED HIM!!!

[@vo2020]

I LOVE HL&TN!!! My parents bought me headphones because of the Sports album! And YES I’ve always wondered about the theme to gh0stbuster’s - when I first saw the movie I actually sang “I want a new drug” during the theme, and my friends were confused! But after I did that, all of my friends wondered….

[@LeeLee-sk2wf]

One of my biggest regrets is not seeing them live. I had tickets but the concert got cancelled. Sports is still one of my favourite and most played albums to this day. Great episode Prof.

[@drea4195]

I do believe that this was unintentionally plagiariazed. The evidence would corroborate that. It seems to happen a lot in popular music and it's also understandable that Huey Lewis & the News would be upset about it. Regardless, that great bass line gave us two fantastic, memorable hit songs to enjoy for decades to come and they both contributed significantly to popular culture and music. We are all thankful I'm sure, for Ray Parker Junior's song as well as Huey Lewis's. That decade would have been less fun without them both.

[@lucasjames572]

The lyrics to those two songs are like night and day. Winter and summer. The North Pole, and the equator.

[@JonnyOpinionated]

I was pre-teen when this song came out - I was somewhat shocked my dad played it around me - all I knew about drugs at the time was that they were bad. But as a 45 year old - I can say I have always been a Huey Lewis fan...

[@JamesWrightLBC]

The Ghostbusters connection to New Drug was hard to miss. I've been a fan from the beginning, but SPORTS was such a killer album. I wore out multiple cassettes. Huey and the News do my favorite cover of the National Anthem - just straight a capella. My anthem through the 80s was Do You Believe in Love. Great episode! Respect for all you do, professor.

[@carlodave9]

It is very common in the film & ad industries to provide specific references for what music creators are after. The Ghostbusters theme lifts the sound & feel from HL&tN but that shouldn’t be legally actionable. All artists steal vibes. They are different songs though. And they both suck.

[@marshabailey772]

I also think Ray Parker was dishonest not to have called Huey and ask about the similarity. Michael Jackson contacted Journey about stealing the chord progressions for Billie Jean and Prince did the same when he thought one of the songs from Purple Rain was too much like a Journey song.

[@thedys70]

@@marshabailey772 Michael Jackson also contacted John Oates about stealing the percussion beat for Billie Jean [from I Can't Go for That]

[@Geezer-yf8hv]

I knew it immediately when I first heard Ghostbusters! The music was ripped off, the only thing the song had was “who you gonna call”? With the response, “Ghost Busters”!

[@-.Steven]

Just heard today on 103.5 The Arrow that the Professor of Rock will be interviewing Huey Lewis in Park City. Excellent!

[@aliassmithandjones9453]

I'll never forget when I saw Ghostbusters in the theater wondering how they got away with copying I Want a New Drug - and quite shabbily I might add

[@flyoverland5697]

Adam, Ray Parker Jr. has a track record of writing songs that sound like other hit songs, even though they aren't note for note ripoffs. He even did one that sounds a lot like The Police's Every Breath You Take too. BUT, by the standards being applied to Ghostbusters tune, virtually every band that exploded in the 1960s after The Beatles debuted could have been sued by Lennon/McCartney for grifting their sound. Seems like a little bit of greed mixed with sour grapes, all around.

[@Fiona2254]

One of the best shows ever. It was a blast to go to their live shows. How fortunate we were that we could stand in line for a few hours and score first row for 18 bucks! Where I lived it was always the same bunch of people who would sit at 5am to get tickets when the window opened for the first day of sales. We didn’t know each other outside of concert going but yeah we’d greet each other like long lost friends.

[@mournblade1066]

3:08 Yeah, I've gotta agree with you there, Professor. Ghostbusters absolutely IS one of the greatest "summer films" ever made, up there with Raiders of the Lost Ark.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yep! Love it.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

And ET. That was a big summer hit in 1982, right?

[@mournblade1066]

@@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980 Yeah, but I wasn't a fan of that. I'd substitute that with Poltergeist, which came out the same summer.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

@@mournblade1066 The late and sorely missed Heather O’Rourke.

[@heathermichael3987]

And now a whole bunch of things make sense. I never knew this backstory. Thank you.

[@trynsurviven2440]

I remember turning the radio up when their songs played. Heart of Rock and Roll was my favorite cause my hometown is mentioned in it. Always thought that was cool.

[@Alyfox3]

Hey @Professor of Rock, if you want a copy of that Premiere Magazine article, I am holding one in my hand. Funny how they admit to using DRUG as a temp score, but fail to mention they asked Huey to write the theme. Huey Lewis & The News is my favorite band of all time. GHOSTBUSTERS is my favorite comedy film of all time. I owned both SPORTS and the GB Soundtrack as my first ever cassette purchases. It tore me up to see one sue the other. But c'mon, you can't deny it: You use DRUG for your temp score. You ask Huey to write a song. He declines and Parker writes a song that just happens to sound just like DRUG?

[@hiblitdrummer]

Fabulous interview, Professor Adam. Great music!

[@rogerdeahl9629]

4th?? 🤣 Love Huey Luey. I always thought Huey Lewis and Glenn Frye could have been brothers. Fun fact: Huey Lewis gave Stevie Ray Vaughan his first regular opening gig. Huey heard him and was blown away. And yes, Ray Parker DID copy I want a New Drug. It's pretty obvious. Thanks for this Professor. You are our Heart of rock.

[@ProfessorofRock]

I can def see that! Thanks Roger!

[@Elwaves2925]

Shouldn't that be Foreth? That's terrible, I'll get my coat. 😁

[@RBS_]

....MAN, Sept., 1984 I played the HELL outta "Sports" & Glenn's "Allnighter" Albums, so you are NOT far off.....

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

They do look a lot alike.

[@bonniespruin6369]

We saw Huey Lewis & the News on the first 80s Cruise! It was so awesome. Their concert, even though the ship was rolling with some bad waves, was awesome! The cruise is sailing now but we didn't go this year. We're pretty sure we're going next year. The lineup is great. Have you gone on the cruise before?

[@marktodd6187]

Every time the subject of Brand New Drug vs. Ghostbusters comes up I picture Pop Muzik by M shaking it's head and walking out of the room disappointed.

[@curtisclary6017]

First saw The News when they were still a bar band. Girls were climbing over me to touch his knees. Next time was at an outdoor music called Mountain Aire. Great shows both times.

[@edwardjacobs4042]

Definitely heard about the controversy over the two songs. Both are great songs and Huey is amazing and thanks for sharing this.

[@lupinesithlord1693]

It's funny when I first heard about the controversy I thought are they crazy its a totally different song. Then I listened back to back and I heard the undertones in ghostbusters... and realized where the bits were lifted. Love both songs. huey has got to be in my top 10 fav musical artists ( if not 5)

[@Terk131]

If you listen to the making of the “Ghostbusters” song told by Ray Parker himself you will get an idea of what happened. Ray has told the story multiple times and each time it’s a bit different each time. That’s usually a dead giveaway that something’s up. Either way we have been blessed with some of history’s greatest music from some of the greatest artists.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

I’ve seen it.

[@sabeaniebaby]

Oh, heck, I can never listen to the one song without thinking about the other. And yeah, it sure seemed like a rip-off. Great to see this interview. Thanks.

[@johnshields6852]

I was 20 when MTV came on and at first I thought video killed the radio,lol, which it kinda did, but soon I was hooked watching MTV, the news had many great songs, I've enjoyed their songs then and still do. Thank you huey

[@brianpercival1829]

WHAAT? Huey was behind that megaphone in Back To The Future? I never knew that.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Yessir!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

It’s cool.

[@ronjohnson9032]

I recall Huey Lewis talking about having Stevie Ray Vaughn open up for them because he knew he was going to be a star. Good thing.

[@ripgt8663]

huey lewis and the news was great in the 80's my favorite songs by them have always been Heart and Soul, Do you believe in love and walking on a thin line.

[@jamisondaniel68]

Huey Lewis looks great for whatever age he is. Sometimes it's hard to see people you love looking a bit rough as they get on. Huey looks and sounds like he's living his best which is fair for his contributions to culture and being a cool dude. Great interview, thanks for making great content

[@ryanjones875]

I love Huey Lewis & the News and Ray Parker Jr. The studio was the bad guy here. I hope someday they can do a collaboration.

[@ers-tj4to]

HL can't sing or perform anymore. Write songs or go into acting maybe?

[@roiijamez33]

Remember watching Gostbusters when it came out and when hearing the theme song told lady I was with I know this song. I had "I Want A New Drug" in my record collection.

[@ProfessorofRock]

Ha ha. Yep!

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Hee hee!

[@Postmortumaz]

So iconic. Borat Sagdiev named his son Hueylewis. Apparently Huey Lewis is like the Beatles in Kazakhstan.

[@Tijuanabill]

I feel bad for any musician that has hearing loss problems. It's a specific cruelty to the people who love music the most.

[@larrylarry739]

Do You Believe in Love was my first song that I loved on my own. Up to that point I'd been listening to my parents music from the 60's and while it was cool music it wasn't "mine." Huey Lewis and The News will always be my favorite band.

[@schmidington]

Makes me wish I hadn't packed the disc away. Now I want to listen to it.

[@ronnieroberts7189]

Huey is one classy guy. Love your program, Adam-my go-to for a fun and informative source of cool “News”.

[@scottb4029]

Ray Parker's hits besides Ghostbusters were what? I'm sorry for my limited musical education in the early 80s I was just turning 15 in 84.

[@jasonberezny9705]

Total and complete musical plagiarism on ghostbusters part. I agree, as a punk, alternative, indie musician at 51, I appreciate Huey Lewis and other pop classics more as the years go by. Huey is an awesome guy.

[@midnightmusicfanx36]

Thank you, Adam. I really appreciate your wonderful, interesting and informative videos. Your enthusiasm and dedication to in depth and/or unknown background info makes them a great way to spend part of my (retired) day.

[@aliciab3931]

Adam, thanks for another great episode! I really enjoy your channel, I'll watch an episode and say omg I forgot I loved this song. You have brought my playlist full circle. I was hoping you would consider profiling The Tragically Hip? I would really like to hear your take and background knowledge on them. Thanks again for the music knowledge and reminding me of the greats!

[@bradthurkle7217]

Loved Huey Lewis in 80s I’m teens. It was fantastic music just loved it. But I didn’t know all stuff happened so fascinating. Great video professor of Rock. You rock man good job 👏

[@vacapsfan]

Having seen them in concert many times, Chris Hayes leads into this song by playing the Purple Haze guitar riff.

[@BigHouse907]

I expected a clip of Christian Bale critiquing Sports in the movie American Psycho. 😂 Sports was my favorite cassette back in the day. 👍🏻

[@SicilianSwissvalian]

Robin Scott Owns them both : Pop, pop, pop muzik Pop, pop, pop muzik Radio, video Boogie with a suitcase Go living in a disco Forget about the rat race Let's do the milkshake Selling like a hot cake Try some, buy some Fe, fi, foe, fum

[@chipdamutt108]

For a treat watch the "Hit In Cleveland" episodes with Huey as a guest star.

[@analytics8055]

Was playing at Madam Wongs West and the story was the Bus Boys who were opening for us on a Saturday nights.. Had "written" this Ghost Busters theme song and they were flush with cash because of this... Obviously someone ripped off the News on this song.

[@counterpuncher01]

I tried to watch Ghostbusters one day and was shocked how UNFUNNY it was...such is the case with many "classic" comedies.

[@MS-ro9dm]

You know what? When I hear Can't Get Enough of Your Love I always think of Some Kind of Wonderful. When I hear Taurus I think of Stairway. When I hear Ghostbuster I do not think of I Wanna New Drug.

[@Centerhead]

Ready for a mind blower?? The bass line from Ghostbusters is obviously ripped from I Wanna New Drug. Lesser known... the guitar line from I Wanna New Drug is obviously ripped from Jackson 5's Shake Your Body to the Ground! It's likely unintentional, but it makes this story far more interesting. Been preaching this for decades.

[@donhendershot5254]

Another great interview😎

[@Steven-hk2wb]

If this much copyright scrutiny was put on 50's music, everyone would be suing each other.

[@charleyanne]

I have the same inner ear issue he has & it's very debilitating. I hope he can find a way to get back out on tour but completely understand that he can't. I was diagnosed only months after he announced that he had the issues.

[@toddapplegate3988]

So yes they are same/similar but with respect to both artist I think great minds think a like. Ray Parker Jr a fantastic studio musician and Huey Lewis a performer met on the same ground thank you to both men

[@donnapauley8183]

He can say all day he didn’t ripped off Hueys song but…… he so did!!!!

[@GizmoBeach]

I Want a New Drug had conservative heads exploding at the time. The same crowd who focused on “drug” in the title, didn’t bother to listen and understand the lyrics. First place I saw H & The N’s was on Nickelodeon’s PopClips (“Some of My Lies are True”) so he wasn’t unknown to me when Sports blew up my last two years of High School.

[@MrJwglaze]

Have you ever done anything on Three Dog Night? One of my favorite groups. Personal favorite, Never Been to Spain.

[@marknovak6498]

I remeber Ray parker claiming it only took him 15 minutes to come up with the song and I wondered at the time why did he say that. Coming up with original material is hard. I think it was the fact he already scarfed it from the movie clip but did not want to admit he had merely copied it.

[@ViciousAlienKlown]

I always liked Huey Lewis & the News. My girlfriend hated them. So I had to listen to them minus Linda. Eventually Linda would go but I would keep listening to my 80's jams.

[@shereemoskow]

I love Do You Believe In Love, but I think it borrows heavily from Sweet Talking Woman by ELO. So I found the Ghostbusters lawsuit a bit ironic. Anyone else hear the similarity?

[@billthepainter5106]

The 80s rocked. Some of the best (and worst) music and the hottest women ever. Huey seems like such a great guy. The kind of guy you could just go the bar and have a few beers with. Great interview!

[@ProfessorofRock]

Thanks! I agree.

[@xxlilly_playsxxkiz9980]

Haha, we all wanted to watch MTV for the hot girls in the music videos, didn’t we?

[@Blujonny11]

Didn't POR interview Ray Parker, Jr and he played the riff that he came up with for Ghostbusters? Am I missing something?

[@Whitepaint]

The chord progression is similar, but major chord progressions are limited, especially in the 80s, "A, C, E, G" being a popular one. The chorus is different, and perhaps this was just a case of 80s "happy sound" pop doing its thing.

[@gerardopichardo5119]

A great song of our youth. Thanks Adam

[@nickstadler1906]

It's a bit unfair to say Ray Parker Jr. stole "I Want a New Drug" for "Ghostbusters," seeing as both songs heavily lifted their rhythm from "Pop Muzik" by M and Robin Scott.

[@SubtextMining]

I think I Want A New Drug also inspired Chicago's Hard Habit To Break, thematically.

[@gregevans8147]

12 top 10's wasn't it? 1 from Picture This, 4 from Sports, 1 from Back to the Future, 5 from Fore! and 1 from Small World.

[@BlueLion364]

No comment on the New Drug/Ghostbusters thing. They both definitely have the same vibe, but rip off? I'm not as sure. The bigger rip off is that Huey and the News are STILL not in the R&R Hall of Fame. What the absolute friggin' hell?? They may not have been the biggest ACT of the 80s, but I'm pretty sure they were the biggest BAND, sales wise. There are so many less important or impactful bands in the HOF from that era. We need to start a campaign.

[@lbbork]

No question that Ghost Busters hook is identical to I Want A New Drug.

[@TheRealMightyHokie]

Huey owes a big debt of gratitude to the hot blonde in his videos. Whenever his videos came on I looked for her.

[@Migwuk]

They were the best and that album rocked.

[@starman6280]

Album "1984" from Van Halen Song- "Panama" same album.

[@patrickmoreau7592]

Do you believe in love is my favorite Huey Lewis song 🎶

[@alansilverman8500]

Interview Ray Parker Jr. about writing the theme for "Ghostbusters"...

[@thezombie7839]

The songs have a similar "feel", but Parker changed it enough to not be a rip-off. If Ghostbusters is a rip-off, hundreds of other songs have to be called rip-offs... Including Stairway to Heaven. Note for note, it is not a rip-off.

[@claire-christmas-august73]

damn it.! mr lewis live telling all of the tales.. wishing i could be there for that one.! ☺️😊😃 ✌🏻🌏🇦🇺🤘🏻

[@jimbartalone2766]

Yeah, they're similar in sound but not close enough to go to court. It's not like Queen vs Vanilla Ice!