Music

Professor of Rock

The ultimate rock music history podcast for fans of the greatest era of music. If you’ve ever wondered about the true stories behind your favorite songs, or wanted to hear directly from the legends who made them, Professor of Rock is your new go-to podcast. Hosted by music historian and superfan Adam Reader, this show brings the golden era of music back to life with exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and deep dives into the songs that shaped our lives. This podcast uncovers how timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it’s a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.

Latest Episodes:

Interview with Tom Bailey: How a Lovers' Quarrel Led to Thompson Twins' "Hold Me Now" Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

While trying to finish their second album, today’s band Thompson Twins needed one more song. But they needed it quick. So their frontman Tom Bailey wrote a last-minute filler track overnight… just something to tack on the end of the record, But as it turned out, it was an accidental #1 hit. It was the 80s smash In the Name Of Love And it turned the band upside down: changing their musical direction throwing the guitars into the corner adding synthesizers and paving the way for an even bigger hit a short while later. A hit that also happens to be today’s featured song. Hold Me Now has become An essential 80s Masterpiece. Written shortly after a falling out and reconciliation between two bandmate-slash-lovers, Tom Bailey and Allanha Currie. It is a surefire punch to the gut in the best way possible. In this episode we’re giving you the fascinating story behind Thompson Twins the classic hit, Hold Me Now, and also an interview with the singer and writer Tom Bailey coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Kiss’ "Forever": The Dispute Between Paul Stanley and Michael Bolton Sep 02, 2023

Show notes

Coming up the story of a song released under a heavy dispute between a Glam Rock God, and the King of early 90s Soft Rock. It was Paul Stanley of Kiss vs. Michael Bolton. The Co-writing credits read that both wrote the power ballad Forever. It was also the first hit by Kiss in more than 12 years. During that dry spell, two members of the original lineup were gone Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, and so was the legendary look of the band. It was a bold and risky move to change their image… Unmask… take off their iconic makeup. But would that radical change pay off? Get a front-row seat to the dispute between the hard rocker and the soft rock balladeer and the crazy antics of Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley and Kiss. Find out how everything turned out…..NEXT….on Professor of Rock.

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How Black Sabbath’s "Paranoid" Accidentally Became a Heavy Metal Anthem Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

When today’s legendary band came out, they were unlike anything anyone had ever heard back in… Black Sabbath! Their music was hardcore and at first, they almost called themselves a three-word title that started with Polka, thankfully they saw a horror movie around that time and took its much cooler title as their name.. Their first record was destroyed by the critics but out of nowhere fans bought a million copies of it and they readied their sophomore record. Needing only 3 more minutes of music to finish it, the band created a track that inadvertently affected the future of rock & roll. Paranoid would change everything. It was the unfolding of a heavy metal anthem was it inspired by dark mysticism or the highs and lows of drug indulgence….find out next on Professor of Rock.

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Legend Obliterated His Cheating Wife ALL Across Radio on This BRUTAL 80s Hit Aug 31, 2023

Show notes

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Interview with George Thorogood: How "Bad to the Bone" Became a Rock Anthem Aug 30, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with iconic guitar player George Thorogood who’s 1982 laid back full throttle riff of Bad to the Bone has dominated our society for decades and it wasn’t even a hit when it first came out. He wrote it when he got to open for his own rock and roll heroes the Rolling Stones… He tried to emulate Keith Richard’s typical, legendary, can’t get it out of your head riff style… and He NAILED it. Then he offered Bad to the Bone to an old rock legend, who’s management rudely and flat out rejected it. So he recorded it and swung for the fences vocally snarling one of rock’s baddest ass stutters ever with a song every guy claims as his theme and has been tens of millions of American’s phone ringtones… Let’s do this!

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The Story Behind Simply Red’s "Holding Back the Years": Mick Hucknall’s Haunting Debut Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

Mick Hucknall of Simply Red was abandoned by his mother when he was only 2 years old... Later in high school his art teacher said something that inspired him to attempt writing songs. His first try was a song about Ice Cream but The second song was so far ahead his 17 years it was shocking. Holding Back the Years was and is a deeply methodical song about loss, regret and abandonment. He worked hard to get it heard but it failed to chart. until one to the 80s biggest singers’s praised the song on one of the biggest radio stations in America From there is started to get airplay and. It immediately rose to #1 and then out of nowhere absent mother reached out to him. The incredible story of one of the true classics of 1986 from the soulful Mick Hucknall and Simply Red is next on Professor of Rock.

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How Cheap Trick’s "The Flame" Saved Their Career—Despite Their Hatred for It Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

In the 70s, Cheap Trick went on a crazy commercial rollercoaster through the music industry. Starting off slow with their first few records, they unexpectedly rose to the top of the tracks with a foreign import Live at Budokan. From there this band with the scorching duo of singer Robin Zander and Guitarist Rick Nielsen piled up platinum hits consistently and it seemed like they would coast right through the 80s. But then They HIT A WALL. Cheap Trick plummeted and their next five albums would all be… underwhelming…So in a last ditch effort to save this band’s career, their label hired a team of outside songwriters to basically write the album for them. 1988’s album Lap of Luxury. THIS didn’t go over well with the band. but from it came the band’s biggest chart hit EVER. The Flame. A smash power ballad that ruled the summer of 1988. Although loved by listeners, Cheap Track actually hated the song so much when they first heard it, their guitarist smashed the demo tape under the heel of his boot. This episode is a hell of a ride. Get ready next of Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind The Police’s "King of Pain": How Sting’s Wife Inspired the Title Aug 26, 2023

Show notes

Was this 1983 hit record, recorded by the #1 band of the time actually a solo album in disguise? Synchronicity by the Police with Sting taking center stage: the #1 album was composed almost singlehandedly by this frontman, the 1983 record featured four hit songs, including the massive #1 hit Every Breath You Take. But as good as that one is, it may not be the album’s defining track. Rather, I’d say its commercial runner-up King Of Pain is even more representative of how Sting was feeling at the time. Suffering from a broken marriage. His band breaking up. It’s all in there…King of Pain also features one of the best opening lines you’ll hear in a hit song… There’s a Little Black Spot on the Sun Today...But when it was all said and done, did he take this track too far? Was it too much of a pity party? His future wife, Trudie Styler thought so and called him out on it which is where the Title came from in the first place… It’s such a great story find out next on Professor of Rock.

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How Dickey Betts and The Allman Brothers Overcame Tragedy to Create "Ramblin’ Man" Aug 25, 2023

Show notes

Coming up...The story of two brothers who lost their father to the gun of a drifter when they were mere toddlers. Gregg and Duane Allman lost their father at an early. age. They learned how to make music and formed a band together as teenagers that would become the stuff of legends… the Allman Brothers Band. They would rule rock radio and help invent southern rock as know it. In the 70s the band was on the verge of a huge national breakout when the eldest brother, Duane Allman the guitarist was killed in a motorcycle accident. Younger brother Gregg & the other surviving bandmates including Dickie Betts overcame their deep despair- finding the inspiration to carry on WITHIN the music of their fallen leader...and channeling the ghost.. of a legend…in a song that would become their only pop hit … Ramblin’ Man...The tragedy & triumph surrounding a 70s rock classic is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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Interview with Three Dog Night: How "Joy to the World" Became 1971’s Biggest Hit Aug 24, 2023

Show notes

COMING UP, the story behind an absolute classic of Rock told by its iconic singer. Joy to the World by Three Dog Night became the #1 song of 1971. Chuck Negron who was one of their singers at the time sang those perfect opening lyrics….4 words that would change everything. Jeremiah was a bullfrog. and the rest is history. The song was actually a discarded song from a silly kid’s show that failed. In fact, the band wanted nothing to do with it and turned the song down several times before Chuck Negron finally got it. It’s probably the most familiar and beloved four words ever sung in a pop record This story is one you have to hear to believe, It was written by an actor who was in one of the 80s big movies. In fact, this actor’s mother also wrote a number one hit, the 1st #1 hit for Elvis Presley. the only mother-son to accomplish that in history. Both Danny Hutton the last remains original active member of Three Dog Night and Chuck Negron who sang the original recording share their takes in an exclusive interview. Next on Professor of. Rock.

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