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:

How Pearl Jam’s “Daughter” Became a #1 Hit Despite Their Rejection of Fame Dec 07, 2022

Show notes

It was Pearl Jam against the world when they were working on their follow up album to Ten that sold more copies that even Nirvana Nevermind in the early 90s. But as Eddie Vedder and co prepared for VS. their sophomore offering, they were tired of fame. They had planned on ten doing so well and they refused to do promotion of the album in terms of music videos etc… The album still hit #1. The signature song from the record called Daughter would actually start out with a different name and lyrics but Eddie Vedder really sunk his teeth into its message about child abuse and learning disabilities.. which had never been covered in a massive single before. Up next the story fo a 90s masterpiece.

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Interview: How Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” Started as a Fingerpicking Exercise and Became a Classic Dec 06, 2022

Show notes

Legendary rock band Kansas was coming off of a huge single with Carry On Wayward Son and album with Leftoverture that established them as the one of the premier bands of the 70s as they were woking on their follow up their main songwriter Kerry Livgren was playing a fingerpicking exercise when his wife noticed and told him he should put lyrics to it. He did and wrote Dust in the Wind with lyrics that go back to Genesis in the Bible making it 6000 years old. The next day he was reticent to show the band this song since it was a ballad and totally opposite to what they were about. but as soon as he showed them they knew it had to be their next single. It became their only top 10 hit and in the interview next original guitarist and founding member Rich Willams tells how the song was such an ordeal it made his fingers bleed and how Steve Walsh made it flow… with special guests on how the 70s rock classic has changed everything.

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How Boston Overcame Legal Battles to Make a Triumphant Comeback with “Amanda” Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

A lawsuit with a corrupt label stopped rock band Boston from releasing anything for 8 years. After ruling the late 70s with hits like More Than A Feeling and Peace of Mind and Don’t Look Back, Tom Sholz and Brad Delp were paralyzed for almost a decade and even though Tom Sholz wrote Amanda in 1980 he had to wait until 1986 to release it after the band won the verdict and were able to record with any label they chose. Their third album called Third Stage went to #1 as did the first single Amanda even though a rough demo bootleg had been played by some radio stations. Up next is the amazing story of the comeback of the 80s!

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Revisiting the Top 10 Songs of 1983: How Do They Hold Up Today? Dec 03, 2022

Show notes

Coming up, we’re going to go count down the Top 10 songs of this very same week from the year 1983. It’s the lates edition of our program the hit song redux … And after we count them down, we are going to recalibrate them… revise them based on their all time performance since then. We’re going to show you what the real Top 10 is. Plus, we’re giving you exclusive artist commentary on the songs and including your memories and dedications… So who is the real #1? Is it David Bowie? Daryl Hall & John Oates, Pat Benatar, John Mellencamp, Michael Jackson, a one hit wonder or a maybe an ex-Beatle. Let’s find out next as we compare it to today’s mainstream music.. and it isn’t pretty...

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How Bonnie Raitt Defied the Odds with Nick of Time and the Heartbreak of “I Can’t Make You Love Me” Dec 02, 2022

Show notes

Some thought she was an overnight success when she swept the grammy in 1989… but guitar-toting songstress Bonnie Raitt was actually two decades, and ten studio albums in the making. Without a doubt, it was a long, hard road to get there. Dropped by her label, written off by critics, and getting loaded after every show, it seemed like her career was over. but Bonnie’s comeback was sweet when she hit #1 in 1989 with Nick of Time and swept the grammys and then her legend was etched in stone when she covered a former NFL football player's song that was so heart wrenching she sobbed through singing it. The song called “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was inspired by something a man said to a judge when he was being sentenced for shooting up his girfriend’s car and was played beautifully by Bruce Hornsby. …the amazing story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Interview: Ann Wilson on How Heart’s “Barracuda” Was Born from Industry Outrage Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

Coming up one of rock greatest vocalists Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame band Heart tells the first hand account of a song that has become part of rock folk lore . the 70s classic, Barracuda Her record label Mushroom set up a publicity stunt that a radio promoter harassed her about implying a sexual relationship with there sister Nancy.. She was so outraged, so livid she went straight to her hotel room and wrote this seething rock masterpiece. This rocker tells us the story as well as several original members Steve Fossan and Michael Derosier and how guitarist Nancy Wilson pissed the band Nazareth off when she admitted to borrowing their riff when Heart was opening for them early on.

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Interview: UB40’s Ali Campbell on How “Red Red Wine” Took 5 Years to Hit #1 Nov 30, 2022

Show notes

Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that took 5 years to get to #1! Red Red Wine originally composed and sung by Neil Diamond. In 1983 Red Red Wine went to the top of the charts in the Uk but stalled at #34 in America then 5 years later a DJ played it by accident confusing this band with another one and people starting requesting it. other stations followed suit and in it went viral before the internet.. Word of mouth took it to #1 . Now all these years later UB40 has broken up into two different bands using the same name! Ali’s brother took over the other group and they’re rivals. Find out the story of the song and the latest from this legendary group who had another #1 hit in the 90s with the Elvis cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love next .

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Interview: Freddy Curci on Holding a Guinness Record and His Two Huge Hits with Sheriff & Alias Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Today’s episode is a bottled lightning two for one. Singer Freddy Curci had Two chart dominating tracks though his bands vanished into thin air shortly after. One with the band Sheriff called When I’m With You that went to #1 in 1989 and one with Alias called More Than Words Can Say that hit #2 the very next year in 1990. So two massive hits with the same singer but two completely different bands.. He also set a Guinness World Record when he held the last note out for nearly 20 seconds. #1 hit and the second was a runner-up the very next year. It’s a lot to unravel, but it’s really cool. We’re bringing you the rare story of two bands, one singer, and two-1 hit wonders, coming up... NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Jackson Browne’s “Take It Easy” Became the Eagles’ Breakthrough Hit Nov 28, 2022

Show notes

"In 1971, up and comer Jackson Browne was working on his ‘all important’ debut album, and decided he needed to get out of LA, and take a road trip to visit the Hopi Reservation in Northern Arizona, to clear his head and discover inspiration for new material. He got as far as Winslow, Arizona, when his old Willys Jeep broke down- stranding him for two days. It could’ve been a frustrating ordeal, but instead, Jackson turned an engine-troubled adventure into an American Rock standard called Take It Easy. With a little help from a future hall of fame buddy named Glenn Frey, who lived upstairs in the same apartment complex, it became the Eagles first huge hit. With one of the greatest opening lines in rock history, as soon as radio played it, the 70s officially kicked off. With the smooth harmonies of the other band members like Don Henley. Randy Meisner and Bernie Leadon, country rock was born.. The story of this endearing rock classic is coming up NEXT on Professor of Rock"

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How a Saved Photograph Inspired The Cure’s Heart-Wrenching Classic “Pictures of You” Nov 27, 2022

Show notes

Robert Smith of the Cure created a masterpiece in 1989 called Pictures of You after he found an old photograph of his wife Mary when there was a house fire. He immediately wrote the lyrics on what would turn out of be a stand out track on the Cure's masterwork album Disintegration along with Fascination Street, Lovesong, and Lullaby. The record label didn't believe in the album thinking it was too dark and willfully obscure. It became the band's biggest selling album ever and Pictures of You was a major reason as it was the most heart wrenching song of the late 80s. The story of a masterpiece.

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