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:

Neil Diamond’s 'Sweet Caroline': The Song That Shocked the Woman It Was About May 08, 2023

Show notes

Neil Diamond was a shy kid who got mixed up with a rough crowd, and came dangerously close to being shot in the left eye during a street fight. He quit the gang after that and had to choose between a guitar and a sword… You see he was a master at fencing, winning nationals and earning a scholarship to NYU… Then he dropped out of college to pursue his real dream of being a singer/ songwriter- living below the poverty level for years. making it on 35 cents a day. But he persevered… one day he saw a picture of a girl. It was on the cover of a magazine and a song title came into his head.He tucked it away… One night he was writing a song he knew would be big but he needed a 3 syllable girl’s name and he remembered the magazine. the 60s and 70s classic Sweet Caroline was born! and he wrote it in minutes… it became a singalong classic. the 3 syllable girl’s name would become one of the most popular baby names of the next few decades and fans would add their own lyrics to the song including good times never seemed so Good… so good…so good. so good and bum bum bum making it one of the greatest participation songs ever. The story is coming up next!

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Robert Plant’s 'Ten Years Gone': The Heartbreaking Ultimatum That Led to a #1 Hit May 06, 2023

Show notes

So what happens when you give rock’s greatest frontmen ever, a relationship ultimatum? As in “It’s either me or your music. What’s it going to be?” Well, this actually happened with a girl that Rock God Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin was deeply in love with. Okay, to be fair, this happened before Plant joined Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham of rock’s heaviest band Led Zeppelin In fact, Plant was still scraping by reaching for his big break. but he picked music. Still, it was a heartbreaking standoff that he would never forget. a decade later with five Legendary albums to his name, he wrote a song about this girl and what might have been called Ten Years Gone and it became a classic landing on one of the most triumphant double albums in rock history: Physical Graffiti The epic story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Cult’s 'She Sells Sanctuary': The #1 Song That Divided Fans and Sparked Violence May 05, 2023

Show notes

Face punches, stolen demo tapes, a controversial sound, and well, a Drummer arrested for stealing a car on his way to the video shoot? All of this happened to the Cult when recoding their 80s hard rock classic She Sells Sanctuary… It’s the preeminent song from Singer Ian Asturbry and Guitarist Billy Duffy...an all-out rocker that launched the band into the international spotlight. Only the thing is, most of us in the US weren’t paying much attention at the time. This song was also so out of step with this band’s musical roots, that it enraged former fans and inspired some serious fist-to-face violence… Get the story of how today’s band fought back and established themselves as an iconic act for the ages so Iconic that both New Wave kids and Metal heads loved them… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Robbie Dupree’s 'Steal Away': From Trucking to #1 – The Yacht Rock Classic That Almost Didn’t Happen May 04, 2023

Show notes

Coming up.. an interview with Yacht Rocker Robbie Dupree what wrote one of the all time 80s classics… Steal Away is as popular today as it was when it peaked near the top of the charts in 1980 and amazingly it almost didn’t get recorded. Robbie moved out to LA and paid his dues for years but nothing came of it. He submitted demos including "Steal Away" to every label he could and they rejected him outright. So he moved back and took a job loading carpet into trucks to make ends meet figuring it was over. Then the craziest thing happened… Find out from Robbie and how the song has had a major resurgence from Jimmy Fallon to Better Call Saul.

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Skid Row’s 'Youth Gone Wild': How a Rookie Band Surpassed Their Mentor, Bon Jovi May 03, 2023

Show notes

Up next guitarist Dave “the Snake” Sabo from late 80s premier hard rock groups Skid Row tells the story of the anthem that started it all. “Youth Gone Wild” Snake Sabo was actually good friends with the biggest selling rock frontman of the late 80s, John Bon Jovi and was actually in Bon Jovi early on but it didn’t work out so John Bon Jovi helped his friend to get a record deal and then had the rookie and his band Skid Row open for him on his stadium tour. Within a few weeks of playing this song the student surpassed the teacher as the opening band Skid Row was getting a bigger ovation than the head liner! The interview and story is coming up next.

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Van Halen’s Hidden Gems: How Eddie’s Lightning-Fast Guitar Left Sammy Hagar Stunned May 02, 2023

Show notes

Coming up it’s a fiver countdown starring one of rock’s mightiest bands ever Van Halen with a fun Sammy Hagar interview to go along with it. Van Halen was so great they had 2 distinct eras the David Lee Roth era and the Sammy Hagar one.. and though fans fight about which was better they were both powerful in their own way because both included the greatest ever… Eddie Van Halen. and both are covered here as we look at their best-hidden gems including a song that Eddie Van Halen was so excited about writing he called and woke Sammy Hagar up at 4 in the morning and coaxed him to write it half asleep over the phone… Some funny stories coming up next on Professor of Rock including great tracks like Mean Streets, 5150, and Little Guitars.

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Dead or Alive’s 'You Spin Me Round': From 80s Hit to Guinness Record and #1 Again 21 Years Later May 01, 2023

Show notes

Today, we’re getting into the entertaining story behind an up-tempo 80s track that landed in the Guinness Book of World Records… You Spin Round (Like a Record) by 80s dance-pop group Dead or Alive Written by colorful, larger-than-life frontman Pete Burns… Before Pete got his big break, he spent his time terrorizing patrons at an independent record store. There as a sales clerk, he gained a reputation for ripping on customers if they bought music he didn’t like… Even throwing their purchases back in their face. But later on, after he finished throwing records at customers, he threw down a record of his own… DOA's signature song You Spin Me Round that launched his band to prominence, and became a go-to track on dance floors and in karaoke bars around the world in 1985 from their album YOUTHQUAKE…They ruled one chart so perfectly they had 7 top 10 hits over just a couple of years but the second the 80s ended they disappeared and their iconic singer would be the victim of a disastrous surgery…the story is coming up next.

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Queen’s 'Bohemian Rhapsody': How Freddie Mercury Leaked the Song That Became a #1 Hit Apr 29, 2023

Show notes

Today’s featured song is an undeniable masterpiece. Not only has it been hailed not only as Queen's greatest track, but also as one of the foremost rock songs ever written. Two words: Bohemian Rhapsody! Technically, it is three of the best songs ever written… since it is made of three distinct sections… Rock, ballad, and opera. Yes opera. And it all flows together seamlessly. So naturally, the record label hated it. No way in hell were they releasing this monstrosity as a single. So the song’s composer Freddie Mercury leaked it to a local radio station. And the response was of course overwhelming. Calls poured in and listeners stormed record shops looking for a copy. The label ate crow. Brian May loved it. It rocked the 70s and then it rocked the 90s when the comedy film Wayne’s World used it. It went to the top 5 yet again! The story of the greatest song in history.

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The Grateful Dead’s 'Touch of Grey': The One Hit Wonder Who Played to 25 Million Fans Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

The Grateful Dead may have the most passionate & loyal following of the Rock Era. The Dead were jamming their way to the highest echelons of live music when In 1986, this legendary band’s front man Jerry Garcia nearly died, and the future of the group was in serious jeopardy. Jerry recovered, and the Grateful Dead made a miraculous comeback with their first album in 6 years In the Dark which led to their one and only hit song, Touch of Grey! Most are shocked when They realize this all time group only had one hit. They’ve played live to the most people in rock history over 25 million but only had 1 top 40 hit. Coming up... the making of the unlikely anthem by the psychedelic road warriors from Palo Alto, and the unheralded author Robert Hunter who was an indispensable part of the group, even though he never performed with them. The story is NEXT.. on Professor of Rock.

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Paul Young’s 'Every Time You Go Away': The #1 Hit with the Funniest Misheard Lyric Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with 80s icon Paul Young about his #1 hit Every Time you Go Away that has one of the funniest misheard lyrics of all time. As a kid I botched it until i was corrected… Also many people don’t realize it’s actually a cover song. A cover of song originally written and recorded by one of the most successful groups ever, Daryl Hall and John Oates. Daryl Hall says he didn’t think the song was commercial at all, so it was destined to be a deep album track but just a few years later Paul Young saw its commercial potential and took it to #1. The story and interview on this 1985 #1 hit is next on professor of rock.

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