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:

Dan Fogelberg’s Tribute to His Father: The Story of Leader of the Band Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Coming up….the story of a song that epitomizes the powerful effect of music on the human soul. Leader of the Band by the late great Dan Fogelberg. He didn’t compose it to be hit…it wasn’t even a conscious thought… it just fell out of this gifted singer songwriter. It’ was bold, It was real and deeply vulnerable. So much so that Dan Fogelberg had no intention of releasing it. Certainly not as as single. Unlike most rockstars who rebel against their parents. this artist wrote a heartfelt tribute to his father Lawrence Fogelberg. one day he actually showed it to his dad and he broke down. Later he decided to put the song out there when his dad became sick. It be same his most important work and his father got to witness it march up the charts just before he passed. the story of the song that opened up a dialogue between father’s and sons the world over.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Bryan Adams’ "Cuts Like a Knife" Launched Him to Stardom Jul 29, 2023

Show notes

Although He would become one of the biggest-selling male artists of his time, Bryan Adams failed for years… Missing the charts time and again. But this rookie rocker was brash and unrelenting, and even had enough swagger to convince one of the greatest frontmen of all time to sing backup on his album…For FREE And that may have made all the difference. Because that record propelled him to superstar status. Along with his co-writer Jim Vallance, Bryan Adams took Cuts Like A Knife toward the top of the charts with 3 big hits including Straight From The Heart, Cuts Like A Knife, and This Time and he never looked back. Plus, we tell the unexpected story of how he mumbled his way to his breakout, today’s featured track, and give you the lowdown on the secret to his songwriting success. It’s all coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Queen Turned an Insult Into "We Will Rock You" Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

One of the greatest Power anthems in rock history was actually sort of written by this legendary band’s fans! Queen and We Will Rock You was inspired by the band’s fans and the band wanting to include them. The legendary singer/guitar duo of Freddie Mercury and Brian May wrote a song that would unite the masses and It began as live improvisation and even though it has one of the biggest driving beats ever it doesn’t actually contain drums! It’s all natural. once you see this song story you’ll never hear the song the same way again… Finally when Queen was recording it, one of the most infamous bands in history kept interrupting them and their frontman made fun of their Freddie Mercury but he would have the last laugh creating a song that would blow everyone away the story is next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Interview with The Motels: The Story Behind "Only the Lonely" and Their 22-Year Disappearance Jul 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with a mysterious new wave band name the Motels who haunted the first half of the 80s with 4 hits including the 1983 #1 hit that is so exotic, so strange it defies meaning. Suddenly Last Summer. The year before that they had another huge hit called Only the Lonely and both songs are truly haunting. I’ve actually waited for years to find out the stories behind their hits and we demystify them next with 2 original members including the singer Martha Davis and we find out why this iconic group disappeared from music for 22 years. Next on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Interview with Nik Kershaw: The Story of "Wouldn't It Be Good" and Its 80s Legacy Jul 26, 2023

Show notes

Coming up next, an interview with an 80s artist whose signature song has become a teenage anthem for the outcasts and a quintessential 80s classic… Nik Kershaw and his teenage anthem Wouldn’t It Be Good. It was recorded for his debut album and the song was so big it put the rookie on the biggest live stage in the world in front of billions of people at Live Aid including playing with many of his heroes… and then the next year his song was re-recorded by a former member of Three Dog Night, Danny Hutton. But the band was called something else, Danny Hutton Hitters and he had an unknown sing lead… so many didn’t make the connection. That version was used in a pivotal scene in the iconic 80s film Pretty in Pink and the song was all over the radio again… Up next we have both of these artists take on this song and try to find out why the movie didn’t just use the original hit instead of a remake. It’s a fun one next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Interview with Kevin Cronin: The Story Behind REO Speedwagon's "Take It on the Run" Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

Up next… an interview with Kevin Cronin, the frontman about an 80 rock classic that is on the short list of greatest opening lines ever. Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from another you’ve been messing around. Yep, it’s Take it On the Run by 80s rock legend REO Speedwagon and it helped the band hit #1 for 15 weeks on the charts It’s become a part of 80s lore. A song everyone knows by heart… the story is next on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Tears for Fears Defied Industry Pressure and Took "Shout" to #1 Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Coming off one of the most ground-breaking albums of the early 80s in The Hurting, today’s featured duo, Tears for Fears really upped the ante for their 1985 follow-up Songs from the Big Chair. True titans of rock and pop, nobody was bigger that year. And the echoes of today’s featured song still shake us…Shout not only went to #1 it became A key track that would have the arenas chanting along in unison, and the song was intended to be nothing more than an interesting album cut. In fact, it was just a repetitive chorus, and the song’s composer, singer Roland Orzabal was reluctant to even finish it. But his bandmates including his other half Curt Smith, knew it would be a worldwide hit It took some convincing, and a whole lot of time to finish: The longest process of the band’s career. and it’s a good thing too because it led to another #1 hit called Everybody Wants to Rule the World and an inside joke inside the song about a music exec bullying the band to cut 5 seconds off of it to make it radio-friendly. The story is coming up. Next on the Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Heart’s Comeback Led to Their First #1 with "These Dreams" Jul 22, 2023

Show notes

Back in 1984, today’s featured band was teetering on the brink of extinction… After crushing it with four straight landmark LPs in the 70s, everything went sideways for the rock band Heart led by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson to start the neon decade. Band members quit, three albums failed to deliver, and their record company kicked them to the curb. Word on the street was they had lost their mojo. In fact, five labels in a row took a hard pass on them. And they really wondered if their careers were over. Then miraculously, they were given one last chance… and they had to make the best of this chance. They had arguably the greatest female voice to deliver the songs in Ann Wilson but their first #1 came from the backup singer slash guitarist sister Nancy who never sang lead. and she got a distinct vocal performance because she was sick… In fact, she tried to re-record when she got better and it wasn’t the same… Find out how this band pulled off a miracle comeback in the strangest way.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Why "We Built This City" Became the Most Controversial #1 Hit of the 80s Jul 21, 2023

Show notes

THE WORST SONG OF ALL TIME… it’s a question that’s been asked and answered a million times It’s been voted on. it’s been the subject of intense debate. Well, today’s song has been part of most of the polls out there… We Built This City by Starship. In many of these lists, it’s always #1. yet this song continues to drive our culture decades later…we still can’t resist its charm.” Written by Elton John’s Lyricist Bernie Taupin and up-and-comer Martin Page and given to Mickey Thomas and Grace Slick who kill on it. Most critics hated it because it came from Starship who was once Jefferson Starship who was once Jefferson Airplane and they felt the new band had sold out with a middle-of-the-road pop hit… This history of it is very interesting. The story of a #1 smash from the 80s from both the co-writer and lead singer and why this song still moves the needle is coming up next on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Mystery Behind Jimi Hendrix and the Meaning of "Purple Haze" Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

He was a left-handed virtuoso that loved science fiction, parakeets, and getting high…But not everything about this Jimi Hendrix was as it seemed. Since his untimely death, there are myths galore about his life, and some strange fiction that helped inspire one of rock’s most influential tracks… the 60s classic Purple Haze. We sift through the different theories from a stalker kidnapping a victim to a visionary dream and on and on from a virtuoso who hated his singing voice so much he could barely record it. The story its coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Professor of Rock

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected