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:

The Tragic Story Behind “Without You”: From Badfinger to Harry Nilsson’s Haunting #1 Hit Feb 13, 2023

Show notes

Today’s show is a whopper…we dig into the genius & the tragedy that surrounded a pop music classic that was #1 several times for different artists. Without You. Written and recorded by Badfinger and then discovered as a deep track by Harry Nilsson who loved it and wanted to record it. …But after trying it in many different iterations and fighting with his legendary producer about the right way to approach the song. Harry Nilsson began to hate the song and did everything he could to sabotage it. It went to #1 anyway…But then the song became something of a curse. The co-writers of the song from Badfinger were decimated by career & money struggles, and in the end, actually ended up taking their own lives. Then Harry Nilsson ruptured his vocal cords and never sang the same way ever again Harry then basically disappeared from the public eye and then passed away right before he was planning to wage a comeback. Then another artist took her version to #1 in the 90s... The details of this bittersweet rock n’ roll soap opera are coming up NEXT….on Professor of Rock."

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How The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” Became a Late-Career Anthem After Years on the Shelf Feb 11, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, we’re taking a deep dive into one of the most recognizable songs of the rock era from one of the most storied and long-tenured bands of the rock era… Start Me Up by the Rolling Stones… The band actually first wrote it as a reggae song, a pretty big risk for a bunch of white guys.. even though this song came from later in their catalog, it was a smashing success, just missing out on that #1 spot… a coveted prize they would never achieve again. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first wrote it in the mid-1970s and then a few years later they did even more takes. More than 70. One was a rock and roll take… Years later an associate producer was looking through the vaults and took found the one take they did that was a rock version and the band released it off of the 1981 album Tatoo You…becoming a classic. Which begs an interesting question, was this song their last stand? Was it their last gasp for mainstream music relevancy? Or is chart success overrated? Let’s find out.

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Interview: Graeham Goble on Writing “Lady” and Losing the Little River Band Name Feb 10, 2023

Show notes

Up next Graeham Goble, a founding member of the legendary 70s and 80s band Little River Band and the band’s primary songwriter dd he tells the story of their biggest-selling song… Lady... He said that he wrote a song about a beautiful girl he saw dancing at a show he was playing. Lady became one of the most-played songs in radio history and Their biggest selling single and to this day, the woman has no idea the song was written about her because as the writer will explain… he never met her. He also tells how the band he helped start and created many of their biggest hits is now controlled by a group of individuals who aren’t even from the band's native country and tour and record without any original members in an exclusive interview coming up on Professor of Rock

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Interview: Lou Gramm & Mick Jones on Foreigner’s “Waiting for a Girl Like You” and Its Mysterious Inspiration Feb 09, 2023

Show notes

Coming up… an interview with one of the greatest rock singers in history… Lou Gramm the voice of Foreigner and another legend Mick Jones mega-producer and songwriting maestro on a song that spent a record 10 weeks at #2. Waiting for a Girl Like You... The song never got to #1! It had to settle for being the greatest bridesmaid in recorded. history. this 80s masterpiece was famous for its distinct ambient intro that came from future star Thomas Dolby who was discovered busking on the street by producer Mutt Lange. Lou's incomparable vocal came from a session where a mysterious beautiful woman walked and sat down in front of him inspiring him to dial it up to 11, nailing the take … then he rushed out to find the woman but never saw her again. Up next an interview with all three about one of the greatest songs ever...

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How Paul Carrack’s Guest Vocals Made Squeeze’s “Tempted” an 80s Classic Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

It’s one of the most well-known classics of the 80s but… it wasn’t actually a hit. It stopped just sort of the top 40. #41 in fact…New Wave classic Tempted by The Squeeze was an interesting one... the band recorded it with their longtime lead singer Glenn Tilbrook and then when Elvis Costello came in to produce the record, he didn’t like the lead singer's approach so he had the whole thing re-recorded using a guest vocalist named Paul Carrack who had a hit with How Long with Ace and then later had several solo hits as well as many with the band Mike and the Mechanics including in the living years. Carack was only with the band for one record. He nailed it and one iconic line from the song became so popular that fans threw toothbrushes on stage at the band whenever it was performed. Get the inside story of this classic next.

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Revisiting the Top 10 Songs of 1984: Which Hit Stands the Test of Time? Feb 07, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this same week from the year 1984. But we’re not stopping there. After we count them down, we’re re-ranking them according to all-time streams and views, to find out which one has left the biggest mark on history. This time around we’ve got some of the greatest hits from the 80s all duking it out for that coveted #1 spot. But who will be the champion? Will it be Van Halen, Prince? Genesis, or maybe a rookie new wave band, a glam metal favorite, or even a one-hit wonder? It’s a nostalgic trip back in time.

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Interview: Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings on Writing “These Eyes” and Launching The Guess Who Feb 06, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, two legends and world-class storytellers share the story of one of the biggest radio songs ever. These Eyes was the first big hit written by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of the Guess Who. Guitarist Randy Bachman went to pick up a girl for a date and she wasn’t ready, so he sat downstairs waiting, and there happened to be an old piano there, so he wrote this little song in a few minutes. He later took it over to the singer’s house who changed one key lyric… It put this legendary band on the map. As a classic of the late 60s and early 70s, both Randy and Burton tell the story of this classic rock standard.

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Why Led Zeppelin Ended: The Genius, the Loss, and Their Final Album “Coda” Feb 04, 2023

Show notes

For over a decade, Led Zeppelin ruled rock with an iron fist. I mean, no one else even came close. With the release of eight epic, life-altering records including the blockbusters Zeppelin IV, Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffit...they changed the landscape of rock forever… kicking out classic rock standards left and right… it all came crashing down one morning in the fall of 1980 when their Drummer John Bonham was found dead. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were so devastated, Page didn’t pick up a guitar for 2 years. Some bands bring in a replacement and go on… This band knew they couldn’t… Today, we pay tribute to Bonzo and celebrate their final chapter by breaking down their final album Coda rIncluding their plan to release a punk song under a made up name to get the public’s reaction…Next on professor of rock.

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Interview: Steve Stevens on His Blazing Solo in Billy Idol’s “Eyes Without a Face” Feb 03, 2023

Show notes

Up NEXT the story of one of the most mysterious, otherworldly songs of the 80s. It’s a song that absolutely hypnotizes you as a listener Eyes Without a Face by Billy Idol. Written by Billy Idol and Guitar Hero Steve Stevens for the 1984 New Wave classic album Rebel Yell. With an exotic chorus that’s sung in french. The song STARted out as a ballad but then Steve Stevens who’d written the music walked into the studio and let out a face melting blazing guitar solo that was so potent when he walked into the control room everyone in their was jumping up and down cheering including the singer. the story of this 80s classic is told by this legendary guitarist and co creator next on Professor of Rock.

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How The Cars’ Debut Became an Instant Classic: The Story of “My Best Friend’s Girl” Feb 02, 2023

Show notes

Coming up. It’s the story of a song that never really got its due when it was released as a single. My Best Friend's Girl by the Cars… Yeah, sure it was a Top 40 hit… but not by much. And yet I don’t think anyone today could deny that this song is an absolute classic rock staple. It’s also a signature song from a debut record so strong that honestly, it could have been released as a greatest hits album. Written by Rik Ocasek with vocal help by Benjamin Orr, this song, along with Just What I Needed, lit up radio in 1978 and we’ve had the meaning of the song backwards from the start. Up next, the story of a 70s classic by a band that balanced punk, new wave, power pop, and rock.

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