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 Madonna Inspired Weird Al Yankovic to Parody “Like a Virgin” with “Like a Surgeon” Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

This multi-million record-selling artist isn’t exactly known for taking suggestions. But that hasn’t stopped legions of fans from sending him ideas for his next song. In fact, Weird Al Yankovic is bombarded with so many pitches that he has called it the bane of his existence. However, that being said... there was one time that he did make an exception. Afterall, when an 80s Icon Madonna told a friend that she wished that Weird would make fun of her smash #1 hit from 1984. Weird Al Obliged with one of his funniest take ups ever. The video and song Like a Surgeon would land the comedy genius or Sonic comic back on the billboard hot 100 and drive his album Dare to be Stupid to the top of the charts. So, get ready, it’s the completely unexaggerated, absolutely true story about one of the greatest songs of our time. Am I being sarcastic? Find out next Coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Interview: Cindy Wilson on How The B-52s’ “Love Shack” Became an Unlikely 80s Party Anthem Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

After starting the 80s off with a bang these historic pioneers of New Wave had been through the ringer entering the final year of the decade. The B52s were looking at slumping sales and the tragic loss of their guitarist Ricky Wilson in 1985 Kate Peirson, Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and co had been in decline for years. They wrote their biggest hit ever, Love Shack! They would set mainstream radio on fire with one of the most UNLIKELY party hits ever and after 13 years as a band with not one top 40 hit, they had two top 3 hits back to back…Love Shack contained the most mispronounced phrase of the decade. Up Next Cindy Wilson sets the record straight on some long held urban legends behind the one of 1989’s biggest hits and says there’s no way it should’ve been a hit. It’s a celebration of the late 80s classic Cosmic Thing.

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How Cream Turned a Poem About Real Estate into the Psychedelic Rock Classic “White Room” Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

The 60s rock classic White Room by Cream was at least 5 years ahead of it’s time and the amazing lyrics came from one of those ‘gut check’ moments in life, when a person faces great adversity, or despair. It’s at that moment you have to make a decision to fight through the pain to get to a better place,..or.. just give up and fall into the abyss forever.. This episode is about one of those critical life-changing events...With one foot in the grave, poet Peter Brown used a flophouse to be his sanitarium to get rid of a lethal drug addiction, and turn his life around. He wrote a poem about this watershed period of his life, but mostly about his Apartment. The members of Cream Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton shortened the poem and added their heavy touch to the song to make a smash in the late 60s influencing Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath with their dynamic approach that pretty much invented heavy metal. Even though the trio only last 3 years because Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker were about to kill each other. Peter Brown was shocked when it became a hit and all time classic. the story is next on Professor of Rock,

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How Danny Elfman and Oingo Boingo’s “Dead Man’s Party” Became a Cult Classic Without a Top 40 Hit Oct 31, 2022

Show notes

"On this episode, one of the greatest composers of the Rock Era, Mr. Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo wants to invite you to a party….Not just any party… "It will a party unlike any that you’ve ever attended….a party where no one’s still alive. When you arrive….please leave your body and soul at the door. Don’t run away….It’s only the story of an 80s macabre thriller called Dead Man’s Party inspired by the tragic history of a haunted hotel where 7 murders happened all at once. Danny Elfman stayed on the 11th floor where many have reported seeing the ghost of the 7 murdered. He turned it into an Oingo Boingo classic but it just missed the top 40 as did his 1985 hits weird science. the band had at least 20 classics but not one top 40 hit. Then Elfman quit too focus on composing some of the most famous scores ever such as the simpsons, Batman, and the Nightmare Before Christmas. the story is ….NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

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How Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” Became the Ultimate Rock Standard Oct 29, 2022

Show notes

How does one try to break down the Led Zeppelin standard Stairway to Heaven? It’s the constitution of Rock! It’s been talked about a million times. People have been trying to figure out what it means for ages.

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Interview: Otis Williams on the True Story Behind The Temptations’ 11-Minute Epic “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

Coming up the story of an all time 70s #1 hit that has as much drama and intrigue as any song every recorded an an example of everyone trying to force a song to be something it wasn’t. In the end the song won the battle. I’m talking about Papa Was A Rolling Stone by the Temptations...First of all it was 12 minutes long with the first four minutes recored as an extended instrumental section that had the legendary group furious that their vocals were being increasingly pushed to the background by an off the wall producer. Then the producer had the Dennis Edwards the singer record dozens of takes to the point of exhaustion. He also didn’t want to sing it. it got so bad that after the song was finished he was fired and it would be the last massive hit So many urban legends have been thrown around about the song and we’ll get the real story from the last remaining member of the this hall of fame group. the interview with Otis Williams set the record straight.

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How The J. Geils Band Ruled 1982 with “Centerfold” and “Freeze-Frame” Before Vanishing Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

After more than a decade of paying their dues on the road, nine studio albums of mixed success, and eleven singles that mostly struggled on the Hot 100… The J Geils Band was way overdue for their big break.. As luck would have it they entered the 80s just as a new sound was storming the airwaves, they finally figured out what listeners were looking for. Led by a semi risqué #1 hit, Centerfold about the singer finding out his once girlfriend is posing in magazine this song punctuated with some of the catchiest pop hooks known to the 80s, enabling this band to finally break through years after battling it out on the charts. They paid their dues for 14 years.. They ruled 1982 with Centerfold going to #1 for 6 weeks and the Title track Freeze Frame going to #4, they they pretty much vanished. It was so popular, I sang it in church as a 7 year old kid and got in huge trouble. The story of the song is . . NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How KISS Turned “Rock and Roll All Nite” from a Flop into a 70s Rock Anthem Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

The First 3 studio albums from KISS that taught us how to rock, were actually, commercial disappointments. It was so bad Their record label Casablanca was circling the drain. It was a desperate time for Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, the principal songwriters of Kiss create a song that would vault them to superstardom and keep the band going for the long haul… So they reached deep within themselves and generated the perfect 70s rock anthem Rock and Roll All Nite and it died on the charts. Desperate to prove themselves, the head of the record label Neil Bogart hatched a plan to take their live show and bring it inside the bedroom of every teen in america… Kiss Alive would change music history and give the band theirs first huge hit an anthem of rebellion that should’ve been a #1 Hit!

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How Ozzy Osbourne’s “Mama, I’m Coming Home” Marked His Redemption and Biggest Solo Hit Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

For years this rock legend had been fighting a losing battle against alcoholism and substance abuse. Ozzy Osbourne is of course FAMOUS for having an extreme on-stage persona, but in the late 80s his personal demons started to take the spotlight. In a drunken act he would forever regret, this musician went completely off the rails and assaulted his wife. Next thing he knew, he was waking up in a jail cell charged with attempted murder. How can anyone come back from something like that? Well, today we’re telling the unbelievable story of how he did. And how it all relates to a hit song he wrote for his wife called Mama I’m Coming Home. Written with guitarist Zak Wylde and Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, this 1991 power ballad from the album No More Tears returned him to prominence in the charts.. The story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How “Disco Duck” Became a #1 Hit Despite Being the Worst Song of the Rock Era Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Against all odds, and against better judgement, today’s artist wrote a song that went to #1 on the Hot 100 and sold over 6 million copies…AND IT’S the WORST SONG EVER WRITTEN. To prepare for this episode, I scoured a every valid list of ‘Worst Song Ever Polls’ and was surprised to find that this 70s hit rarely made the cut… I alway try to be positive but you have to trust me, this is TRULY the worst song of all time. I don’t think there is a person living who would say otherwise. and yet is isn’t included in any of the worst songs list I’ve looked atSo, what’s the deal? Is this actually some kind of a ‘worst song hidden gem?’ I had to wonder if there are there listeners who secretly like this sort of ear poison? Today we discuss Disco Duck by Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots and how the song went from a really bad idea to a #1 hit in the middle of the disco era of the 70s. How Rick was fired for even talking about the song as it was making it’s way up the charts…

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