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 Eric Burdon: How “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” Inspired Bruce Springsteen Apr 03, 2023

Show notes

Up next an interview with legendary singer Eric Burdon of the rock and roll hall fame band the Animals who’s signature song has empowered so many over the years but especially one of the biggest all time superstars of them all who credits this song as the direct inspiration to everything he’s ever written. Bruce Springsteen has said that We Gotta Get Out of This Place is the song that’s inspired everything he’s ever done form Born to Run to Born in the USA. I actually interviewed the singer and the legendary brill building songwriting couple Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil who wrote and I dare say both their stories haven’t been told together on video yet. It’s historic… it’s also may own personal favorite videos i’ve ever done. check it out next.

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What Happened to Breathe? The Rise and Disappearance of an 80s Hit Machine Apr 01, 2023

Show notes

A lot of people forgot about this band from the latter part of the 80s… Today’s act actually scored three US Top 10 hits from their debut album All That Jazz. The Sophista pop band named Breath pulled off an 80s hat trick... Not an easy feat. Especially since up until then they were riding out a losing streak of four failed singles. They were all but done. But it would be an impressive comeback and the perfect underdog story… seemingly setting them up for a long and prosperous career. First Hands To Heaven stole the #2 spot. Then came How Can I Fall at #3 and then Don’t Tell Me Lies at #10. This band should’ve been huge. They had the talent, and their lead singer David Glasper had a breathtaking voice. So what happened? Why are they all but forgotten today? Was it a case of the sophomore slump? Or is there some other reason they dropped off the map? Stick around, as we get to the bottom of this one, and try to figure out where in the world their singer is… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Eagles’ “Desperado” Became a Classic Without Ever Being a Hit Single Mar 31, 2023

Show notes

Most people assume that today's song from one of the biggest bands ever was a #1 hit because it’s such a classic radio standard...played all the time. In reality, it missed the charts entirely. Desperado by Eagles is one of their biggest songs ever. But Desperado wasn’t a hit because it was never actually released as a single. Written by Don Henley when he was a teenager. The 70s classic has quite a history from starting a fire at a photo shoot that required the fire department to save them to the band having no budget for recording which only gave the Henley a few takes in the studio to try to nail down the vocal with a renowned orchestra playing behind him. No pressure. But the song would have its revenge as it appeared on a future album and was a big reason why that album would sell 40 million copies.. the story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” Went from Deep Cut to Rock Anthem Mar 29, 2023

Show notes

After years without a hit in their native land and a grand total of zero hits in America, Thin Lizzy was on their last leg… Phil Lynott and co were told by their label if their next record wasn’t a hit they’d kick ‘em to the curb. They were in debt, they were desperate but this band was made up of working-class Fighters…however today’s classic song, the Boys are Back in Town was one that the band deemed a throwaway track that didn’t even deserve to be on their next album, but the late decision to include the song would lead to a couple of DJs from the south playing the deep cut and it spread like wildfire not only saving their career, it catalyzed a classic rock anthem. Up next, the story of one of the most overlooked bands of the entire 70s and the surprising motivation behind this song…

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Why Lynyrd Skynyrd Had to Lock Their Producer Out to Record “Simple Man” Mar 28, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, were covering one of the biggest songs from a legendary rock band that has been streamed over a billion times and despite it’s popularity It never actually charted on the Hot 100. Simple Man by the kings of the south Lynyrd Skynyrd. The only reason it wasn’t a hit is because it wasn’t ever released as a single.. It finally charted decades later … Funny story: Apparently, the band’s producer Al Kooper didn’t want them to record it. So Ronnie Van Zant and co locked him out of the studio and told him not to come back until they were done. I guess these guys were butting heads all the time. But somehow, despite the constant fighting, they managed to put together one of the strongest debut albums ever: Pronounced ‘Lĕh-’nérd ‘Skin-’nérd And this song, well, I’ll just say if you listen closely, you’re gonna hear some of the best advice for a happy life and it has even more meaning now since this band’s last founding member, Gary Rossington passed away marking the end of an era.… Get ready, the story is… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Warren Zevon’s Joke Song “Werewolves of London” Became His Only Hit Mar 27, 2023

Show notes

Warren Zevon was told by one of the founding fathers of rock, Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers that he should write a novelty song about a horror movie icon… So he wrote a total joke song…One he called a piece of crap called the Werewolves of London... It became his only hit! It’s a song about a mysterious, sophisticated gent who could be seen dining at Chinese restaurants, and drinking Pina Coladas in posh areas of Soho & Kent. He’s a dapper fellow, with tailored suits, and perfectly coiffed hair. But don’t let appearances fool you….Despite his dashing looks, you better keep your distance... cause he’ll rip your lungs out. The truth behind this ‘hairy handed’ bottled lightning hit, and the tortured artist who released the cap- then “drew blood" is NEXT... on Professor of Rock.”

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How Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” Was Created by Accident and Became an Encore Anthem Mar 25, 2023

Show notes

Today the lords of rock Led Zeppelin are back in full force. We take Another deep dive into the heaviest band in history with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham… It’s the story of A key track from their landmark fourth album, Led Zeppelin IV otherwise known as Rock N Roll and it actually came out of an improv jam session while the band was taking a break from writing another classic track. Written in only 15 minutes, it was like the band pulled this one out of thin air. The legendary guitarist even called the creation of this song, “spontaneous combustion” and it was a big middle finger to the critics who claimed the band had lost their rock edge. Now, decades later it is still revered as an all-time standard. It’s the tale of the unlimited fist-pumping, heart-stopping classic… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Banned Decades Later: The Story Behind The Zombies’ “She’s Not There” Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

It was one of the most storied #2 hits in rock and roll history from a band that was criminally underappreciated in their day. The Zombies' 1964 classic “She’s Not There” blew everyone’s mind including the Beatles. Half a century later, People are getting hip to their genius. Up next the entire band from Rod Argent to Colin Bluntstone tell the story of this their biggest hit. It hypnotized listeners in the 60s and it was the first ever rock hit to use an electric piano as a lead instrument… and then decades after its peak on the charts it was Banned from radio for being lyrically inappropriate after 911 The story is up next…

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How Christopher Cross Made Grammy History With “Sailing” and Hid His Awards Mar 23, 2023

Show notes

“Over the first 22 years in the history of the Grammy Awards, no single artist had swept the so-called “BIG FOUR,” Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and New Artist of the Year.” Until 1981…. Christopher Cross made history while competing against some of music's heaviest hitters: Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Barry Gibb, Lionel Richie, Billy Joel, and Pink Floyd. He did it with his #1 smooth 80s classic Sailing... the song that defined Yacht Rock, a genre that wouldn’t be named for 30 years. He won the Oscar, 5 grammys and more and then banished them to his garage. The story is next.

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How Asia Turned a Country Tune Into 1982’s #1 Rock Hit “Heat of the Moment” Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

Coming up.. they were a rock supergroup Made up of parts from 3 legendary Prog rock bands Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and a new wave band The Buggles… Together they formed Asia who mastered the early 80s with the biggest straight ahead blockbuster rock record of 1982…they stole the #1 spot from the likes of ACDC, Foreigner, Pau McCartney and Fleetwood Mac it was actually the biggest selling album of the year pop rock or soul. The main hit from the record The Heat of The Moment was an apology letter to the singer’s girlfriend and it actually started as a country song but cooler heads prevailed and it became the singalong rocker of 1982. A founding member and co writer of the song tells the story personally next on Professor of Rock.

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