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 Steve Miller’s “The Joker” Saved His Career—Mispronounced Lyric and All Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

70s and 80s Legend Steve Miller was on the ropes before his career really took off.. He was still in his twenties when his label told him that after 7 straight poor selling albums, if his next one didn’t have a hit he was being kicked to the curb. Some time later he would Write that hit… a 70s classic rocker called the Joker with a timeless vernacular that defines the era Space Cowboy, Pompatus of Love, Maurice… This Rocker thought the song was just ok whereas the suits from his label were predicting it would be a smash… and for once they were right! How one of rock’s good guys stole #1 with a song that would go to #1 again 16 years later… find out next of Professor fo rock.

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How Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Californication Revived Their Career with Three #1 Hits Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

After their 1995 album failed to capture the momentum that their breakdown album Blood Sugar Sex Magik did, Red Hot Chili Peppers were in a tailspin so they fired Dave Navarro and recruited original guitarist John Frusciante back into the band. At that time singer Anthony Kiedis and Flea made up with John and started their comeback album… Californication . It started out as song that Kiedis felt was his best ever lyrics but he couldn’t get the music to work. Tried 10 different arrangements but couldn’t get it. Just when they were about to finish the record John ran in and had it! the perfect music to put with lyrics. Having just relearned to play the guitar after kicking drugs, he saved Anthony’s song from the cutting room floor to return the band to #1 in 1999.

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How Pink Floyd Proved Roger Waters Wrong with Two #1 Hits After He Quit Nov 12, 2022

Show notes

It was one of the biggest breakups in rock history. After creating a catalog of desert island albums, Pink Floyd was torn apart by bitter feuding, behind-the-scenes schemes, and as one band member described it, “borderline megalomania.” Sadly, the inability of its two principal members Roger Waters and David Gilmour to put their differences aside made it impossible to continue. Roger Waters said that Pink Floyd was all him and tried to dissolve the band to go solo… David Gilmour and Nick Mason kept the outfit going while Waters scoffed that they couldn’t survive without him.. they answered with the 1987 record a Momentary Lapse of Reason that returned them to #1 on the rock charts with Learning to Fly and On the Turning Away. The story of the battle of Pink Floyd.

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Interview: Andrew Farriss on How INXS Created the Timeless Ballad “Never Tear Us Apart” Nov 11, 2022

Show notes

In the 80s an up and coming band was looking to create the best album of their time. They finished half the album and took a break to gain some perspective on what they’s just written. From that break came a massive hit that started as a fast song but when it was slowed down and played on a piano instead of a guitar it became one of the most heart wrenching rock ballads of the late 80s. Michael Hutchence and Andrew Farris and Andrew Ferriss wrote most of the band hits including Need You Tonight, New Sensation, Suicide Blonde, and What You Need but they took the 4th single from their legendary 1988 record Kick called Neve Tear Us Apart to a whole new level! Which has only grown in status since Michael Hutchence’ untimely death.. It was played at his funeral. In this exclusive interview. founding band member and songwriter Andrew Ferriss tells the story of this hit and of the album from 1988. How Michael Hutchence was once complimented by Ray Manzarek of the Doors said Michael was the closest thing he’d seen to Jim Morrison. and how Michael took the vocal from Never Tear us Apart from 0-10 in seconds and made it legendary. and how when Andrew had grown sick of the song, 80,000 sports fans singing it in unison changed him…

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Interview: Johnny Rzeznik on How “Iris” Saved His Career and Became an All-Time Classic Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

Up next iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls tells the story of one of the worst points of his life. Going through a Torrid Divorce, he had excessive Writer’s Block, and was on the verge of quitting his own band when he ran away to LA and hid away in a hotel… a major movie exec wanted him to write a song for the film City of Angels and poof--Inspiration struck! Then while composing it he broke 2 strings on his guitar, but he just kept playing and out fell a song... Called IRIS. He knew would be a hit… boy was it ever. 18 weeks at #1 on the airplay chart. He beat writer's block with perseverance. Years later he would play Iris in front of fifty thousand fans in New York when it starting pouring down rain. He was told to stop playing by the venue, afraid he risked electrocution. He kept playing making the song even more legendary. Then Taylor Swift asked John to play it with her live. All of these things have made Iris an all time classic. The way he came up with the title is hard to believe. Up next, it's the story of a classic from the man himself.

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Interview: Tony Lewis on How The Outfield’s “Your Love” Became an 80s Anthem Nov 09, 2022

Show notes

Coming up one of the best songs of the 80s came to Tony Lewis and John Spinks of the Outfield when they were hanging out in their flat. The second they wrote down the first sentence or opening line of the song they knew they had a smash hit. The song came effortlessly in less than 20 mins from that point forward and they were exactly right… Your Love ruled radio in the summer of 1986.. A couple of working class buddies were soon hanging out at the top of the charts with Madonna, Whitney Houston and ZZ Top with their song becoming one of the all time cheating songs ever but was the girl named Josie from the song a real person? We’ll Find out next as the late singer Tony Lewis, in one of his last interviews tells us the definitive story of an 80 rock classic.

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Interview: Tommy James on How “Crimson and Clover” Became a Psychedelic #1 Hit by Accident Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Coming up….this artist had dabbled in a lot of different styles to great effect but then he rolled out of bed one day with an awesome song idea… Tommy James and the Shondells would go through the ringer to get Crimson and Clover done. With some serious musical experimentation that regulated in a vocal that sounded like it was underwater. No one had heard anything like. it. He did the whole thing in a couple of hours merely putting his two favorite words together which people thought had a profound message even though it meant nothing. He had the artistic freedom to do this because the Mafia or Mob ran his label and let him do whatever he wanted! As he created layers of immaculate sounds and off the wall lyrics it all came together around cool guitar effect that’s grand result was a sound unlike anything of the radio ever. It was played without consent… without permission by a DJ that Tommy had showed a rough mix of the demo to privately. Well the DJ had recorded it, unbeknownst to Tommy and played it within minutes of tommy leaving the station. It went crazy, hitting #1 instantly. Tommy James tells the story of this incredible 60s #1 Psychedelic record.

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Interview: John Cafferty & Jim Peterik on Creating the Epic Rocky IV Soundtrack Nov 07, 2022

Show notes

Whenever anyone talk about the greatest movie soundtrack of the 80s you hear the usual suspects… Top Gun, Footloose, some might say Dirty Dancing.. or any of the soundtracks from John Hughes films from Some Kind of Wonderful to the Breakfast Club to Pretty In Pink… but the soundtrack to Rocky IV is worthy of consideration... Up next I talk to several artist who participated the franchise defining film soundtrack. Eye of the Tiger was great but Rocky IV was a better overall soundtrack album with Burning Heart by Survivor, No Easy Way Out by Robert Tepper and of course Hearts on Fire by John Cafferty of the Beaver Brown Band!. Sylvester Stallone flew John Cafferty down to where he was filming Rambo First Blood part 2 and dressing full Rambo garb asked John to sing the song that would go over the 80s greatest movie montage. He was a big fan of John’s work from Eddie and the Cruisers… and so it was that he recorded the legendary song played at the end of Rocky IV and it wouldn’t be a stretch to say the song stopped the Cold War.. Ok I’m being funny now. Here is the definitive story of the Rocky IV soundtrack with interviews with John Cafferty and Jim Peterik of Survivor who co-wrote Burning Heart that went to #2… it’s an 80s marathon coming up…

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Interview: Gary Numan on How a Road Rage Incident Inspired the 80s Classic “Cars” Nov 05, 2022

Show notes

This song came hit the top 10 in America in 1980 and sounded like it was 100 years a head of it’s time..It came on pop radio where Kenny Rogers and Christopher Cross and Olivia Newton John were the norm. Gary Numan and his 80s synth pop masterwork sounded like it was from mars. It was the instigator of new wave, of dark wave, of industrial music of Electonica or EDM. GARY NUMAN IS a pioneer of every genre just mentioned , He even looked and sounded like an android. It was awesome. With a song that came from expressing the fear he felt as a victim from a bout of road rage. He wrote the song on a bass guitar in about 15 minutes…Up next he actual pioneer tells us the first hand account of creating a song that defined the 80s and a video that defined MTV up next on professor of rock.

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Interview: Wang Chung on “Everybody Have Fun Tonight” and Their Misunderstood Legacy Nov 04, 2022

Show notes

Up next New Wave 80s duo Wang Chung tell the story of writing one of the quintessential pop culture hits of the 80s. singer Jack Hues was worried about using the band’s name in the chorus of the song thinking it would be cheesy instead it became a part of the lexicon of the decade. The catchphrase of the 80s. Everybody Have Fun Tonight (everybody Wang Chung Tonight ) with a video that now has to have a warning on it do to it’s whacky cinematography that could cause medical issues, the story behind a song that takes you back to the best of the 80s as both Jack Hues and Nick Feldman relate the making and recording of the song that would make them a permanent part of 80s lore.

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