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: Grayson Hugh on His Wild Journey to the 80s Hit “Talk It Over” Feb 01, 2023

Show notes

Up next one of the coolest stories of a one hit wonder ever…This artist dropped out of high school to follow his rock and roll dreams, he scratched and clawed for 10 years before a chance meeting in an elevator gave him a shot at a record deal. Grayson Hugh arranged and helped finish a song that he knew would be a hit, but then couldn’t release it because an Icon got first dibs on releasing her version. Finally after so many failed promises, His song, the 1988 hit Talk It Over shot up the charts… The unbelievable story of rock and roll perseverance straight from the artist is next on professor of rock .

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Interview: Marc Cohn on the True Story Behind “Walking in Memphis” Jan 31, 2023

Show notes

Every now and again in an interview with an artist, a story is told that is so unique, Poignant and heart felt that the story enhances the song to an unparalleled level. It seems to deepen with every listen. This is the case with Marc Cohn’s hit Walking in Memphis... Most people thought this massive hit was a made up homage to an artist, poetic license on steroids, but as we’ll find out in the exclusive interview coming up, every part of this song actually happened. the Ghost of Elvis to Al Green preaching. Marc Cohn was a Struggling singer songwriter and trying to find that one hit that would get him his first big break and he found it in one weekend. the story from grammy winner Marc Cohn is next.

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How The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” Redefined Rock Music Forever Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

"In 1967, a brilliant concept album was recorded that shattered the boundaries of song arrangement, and forever changed the art of recorded music. The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Maybe Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr created a concept record about an imaginary band. They were in a race with the Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys to create the greatest record ever.. The last cut on their ground-breaking record A Day in the Life was a mind-altering composition inspired by the death of a notorious socialite, and psychedelia. We raise the curtain on this fantastic voyage across the perils of stone cold realism.. and the fantasy of lysergic imagination….NEXT on Professor of Rock."

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How The Cure’s “Lovesong” Defied Expectations and Became Their Biggest Hit Jan 28, 2023

Show notes

Today, it’s the song that drove one of the UK’s biggest bands The Cure kicking and screaming out of obscurity into the Mainstream Thematically, Robert Smith’s Lovesong was completely out of character for the pope of mope… It was an unexpected bright spot on Disintegration.. the 1989 album that makes you feel like you might never see daylight again. Don’t get me wrong, it’s easily one of the most darkly beautiful records ever created. It is a moody, melancholy masterpiece that has not only been hailed as the peak of this band’s career, but also one of the greatest albums of the 80s. So what was this so-called ‘happy’ track even doing there? And could this band’s reluctant rockstar make peace with the song that turned this indie band into stadium headliners? We’ll find out...

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How The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” Proved the Industry Wrong and Became a Global Hit Jan 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, a tale of identical twin brothers who were told by everyone in the music industry that if they wanted to make it in show business, they had to lose their thick Scottish accents. The Proclaimers had a lot against them before they hit with I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles). For example...famous British TV host Paul Yates called them “weird” on their national television debut… But they didn’t care. They refused to drop their accents, and proved their skeptics wrong when their 2nd single rose to #3 on the British Pop Chart, and their 4th single became an International smash- largely because of their accent, Then the band got a stroke of luck, when American actress, Mary Stuart Masterson (who had become a fan of the band), submitted their music to be used in the Johnny Depp film Benny and Joon. The music instantly gripped the crew and everyone who saw the movie and took it to the top 3 in american 5 years after it was a huge hit everywhere else. The story is next.

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How Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” Took Three Tries to Become an 80s Anthem Jan 26, 2023

Show notes

Conflicting stories, throat surgery, destitution, overblown egos, and cartwheels across sports cars. It’s all part of today’s #1 80s rock anthem Here I Go Again by Whitesnake. Singer David Coverdale first recorded this song in 1982 and it went nowhere… then he was on the cusp of a break through record when he had to have throat surgery and didn’t think he’d ever sing again. He was 3 million in debt and his label wouldn’t give him the cash to make a music video to promote the song… yet somehow he overcame… With Whitesnake self titled that had 3 big rock hits, Still of the Night, Here I Go Again and Is This Love from 1987 into 1988… The key was dusting off the 1982 recording of Here I Go Again and giving it new life… on his way to world domination.. but he had re record it 3 times with 3 different bands because he fired his entire band before the album came out. Find out the story next.

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Interview: The Hooters on Their 80s Success, Live Aid, and Writing “One of Us” Jan 25, 2023

Show notes

This is such a cool 80s story. The band the Hooters formed in 1980. they released an album independently and then took some time off when two of their principal members were hand picked to work on the 1984 blockbuster album Cyndi Lauper’s She’s So Unusual including helping with Girls Just Wanna have Fun and co-write the 1984 #1 hit Time After Time. Then they were signed by Columbia Records and released the 1985 2 X platinum album Nervous Night that had 3 big hits including the classic 80s anthem And We Danced plus Day by Day. They opened live aid and were killing it in 85 and 86 and then they disappeared out of the limelight in the US only to hit it big in europe and come back in the 90s writing another monumental hit One of Us for Joan Osborne. In an exclusive interview, principle members Rob Hyman and Eric Bazilian tell the story next.

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Interview: Limahl on Kajagoogoo’s “Too Shy” and His Solo Hit from The NeverEnding Story Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

IN 1983 in the midst of the 2nd British Invasion, a new wave band with a cool name almost no one could pronounce rocketed up the charts with a one-hit wonder for the ages. Kajagoogoo with the mind-blowing bass infused 1983 ditty Too Shy. They were led by a singer with one of the decade's most iconic hairstyles with one name, Limahl! The group seemed poised to be a lot more than a one-hit outfit but then the band fired this charismatic singer and they never had another hit… but he did. In an exclusive interview, the former lead singer tells the story of this singalong ditty next on Professor of Rock

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Interview: Joe Elliott on Def Leppard’s Hysteria—The 80s Rock Blockbuster That Beat the Odds Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, it’s a landmark album that is all killer and no filler. Def Leppard Hysteria… This 80s hard rock masterwork was so epic that not even two car crashes, the brave drummer who lost his arm, and millions of dollars of debt could stop it from dominating the airwaves. Actually, when today’s band got started on it, they were intentionally trying to beat out the biggest selling album of all time. Michael Jackson Thriller, who actually kept their last album 1983’s Pyromania out of #1. But that’s not all. We’re also giving you the story behind its Top 10 title track, the Pink Floyd like power ballad Hysteria A song that perfectly sums up the magic that went into the making of this seminal record with A cameo interview part form lead singer Joe Elliot… it’s the story of Gen X’s greatest 80s rock blockbuster.

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How Stevie Nicks’ “Edge of Seventeen” Proved Her Solo Star Power Jan 21, 2023

Show notes

Standing at the crossroads of her career, Stevie Nicks traded in the surefire success of Fleetwood Mac after Rumors and Tusk for a shot to prove she could do it on her own. But solo success wouldn’t come easy. Especially when two tragedies affected the progress of her album. The first of these would shake us all. The death of Beatle John Lennon The other was more personal, but still just as devastating. Stevie wrote and recorded Bella Donna with two duets… Stop Draggin My Heart Around with Tom Petty and Leather and Lace with the Eagles Don Henley but the breakout was Edge of Seventeen that came from a misheard phrase and a an inflight menu…The story is… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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