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: Gary Puckett on How “Young Girl” Became a Massive Yet Controversial 60s Hit Oct 07, 2022

Show notes

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap were playing wherever they could when they got discovered. They got their big break while they were playing a gig inside of a bowling alley. IN fact they signed the record contract inside the same bowling alley about a month later they hit the charts with fury, with 6 consecutive gold hits and actually outsold the Beatles in 1968. Young Girl was the big hit for them in 68 going all the way to #2. TH Up next Gary Puckett and his producer songwriter Jerry Fuller (who produced and wrote hits for everyone from Ricky Nelson to Elvis) both tell the story of this nostalgic hit which even to this day has remained controversial because people don’t listen to the lyrics they just jump to conclusions. We unravel the mystery of the 60s next on professor of rock.

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How ZZ Top Took Inspiration from 80s Synth Bands to Create Eliminator and MTV Hits Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

Up next ZZ TOP was doing well in the 70s but when they entered the 80s they wanted to up their game after hearing the modern sound of several New Wave and Synth pop acts of the 80s like Depeche Mode and Duran Duran so they updated their sound adding keyboards to their guitar attack along with some high tech music videos for MTV and instantly blew up as one of the most recognizable bands in history with the hit Sharp Dressed Man as well as Legs and Gimme All your Loving taking their 1983 blockbuster Eliminator into he stratosphere The thing is they didn’t really change at all, outside of a little synth.. They already had the most iconic look and sound in music, they just needed more exposure and it could’t have happened to a nicer bunch.. They were always focused on the music, not the money. ZZ Top was offered millions to shave off their beards by Gillette back in the day but they declined. Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and the late Dusty Hill were one of a kind.

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Interview: John Doe & Exene Cervenka on How X’s Los Angeles Defined 80s Punk Rock Sep 28, 2022

Show notes

The story LA punk band X and their 1980s masterpiece album Los Angeles. Both John Doe and Xene Cervenka give their recollections of the scene and music that has influenced everyone since with X’s distinct brand of rockabilly, punk, American and folk. X is one of the most compelling and influential underground bands of the 80s punk and alternative scene with a new perspective on an indie record that has been called one of the finest recordings of it’s genre. Released in 1980, this album has been name to so many top 10 lists we can’t cover them all here It’s been inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame as well. Songs covered include the title track, Johnny Hit and Run Paulene, the Door’s cover Soul Kitchen, the Unheard Music, Your Phone’s Off the Hook, The World’s A Mess It’s in His Kiss and Sex and Dying in High School

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Interview: John Oates on How “I Can’t Go For That” Influenced Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Daryl Hall and John Oates 1981 hit I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do) is one of the most sampled songs in music history. It went to #1 after Olivia Newton John spent an 80s record 10 weeks at #1 Stopping Hall and Oates from replacing themselves at #1 since Private Eyes was at #1 just before Physical’s run. (It also kept Foreigner at #2 for a record 10 weeks! Not only has been sampled by numerous iconic songs over the years Furthermore it also influenced one of the biggest records of all time Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Jackson told Hall and Oates at concert backstage that he would always dance to the record and he lifted the bass part from it. Years later it would be sampled on numerous rap and hip hop albums. John Oates tells the story of the #1 hit and how it has been misunderstood by many listeners thinking it was a lovesong but that it is actually as song against the power brokers of the entertainment industry.

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How Led Zeppelin’s “Hey Hey What Can I Do” Became a Lost Classic for Decades Sep 24, 2022

Show notes

How Led Zeppelin threw this song away is beyond me. Next we break down a classic rock hidden gem Hey Hey What Can I Do which was the B side to the 45 of Immigrant song Written by the world’s biggest rock band Sadly, it never made it onto its intended album, Led Zeppelin 3 or any of the six that followed. And yet it has been hailed as a top-notch tune, living for decades as a holy grail rarity. A status reinforced by the fact that Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham never played it live. It’s a 70s hidden gem for the ages. One that was forgotten to almost everyone aside from avid record collectors and classic rock DJs. Would fans ever get their hands on this incredible track? Find out... NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Interview: Patty Smyth on Loving “The Warrior” But Hating Its Iconic MTV Video Sep 23, 2022

Show notes

One of the 80s best hit songwriters Holly Knight created the perfect song for an up and coming rookie Patty Smyth or Scandal featuring Patty Smyth called the Warrior… When Patty Smyth heard it she absolutely loved it. She knew it was a hit… She would be proven right as it went to #1 on the rock charts and #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. When it came to the music video…it was a different story and even though the video for the Warrior would rule MTV Pattie loathed it. she loved the song and hated the video find out why from both the artist and songwriter in our exclusive interview coming up next plus how Patty almost fronted Van Halen when David Lee Roth left.

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Interview: Thomas Dolby on Creating the 80s Synth Pop Classic “She Blinded Me with Science” Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

This is Episode 1 of a compelling interview with Thomas Dolby who most recall as the 80s video star on MTV with his quintessential hit, She Blinded Me With Science and as a Master Producer for many acts including Prefab Sprout but did you know that he played with David Bowie at Live Aid and along the way founded a Silicon Valley Software Company called Beatnik that's technology has been used to play internet audio and ringtones? He was also the Music Director for the Ted Conference for many years and is now an esteemed Professor at Johns Hopkins University. Over several episodes we will break down his amazing career from MTV to where he is today, so stay tuned for future episodes... Today's episode is focused on his bottled lightning classic 1983 hit She Blinded Me with Science. This 80s hit epitomized the decade. He used a whacky TV Scientist, his love for asian women and an affinity for the films of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to cultivate an 80s synth pop classic that is forever tattooed on our brain. This musical icon shares the secrets of the song and the unforgettable music video in an exclusive interview coming up next.

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Interview: They Might Be Giants on How Flood and “Birdhouse in Your Soul” Made Them Indie Rock Icons Sep 20, 2022

Show notes

Coming up a conversation with the hilarious duo They Might Be Giants who helped originate geek rock from with alternative vibe. Diving into their double platinum record Flood from 1990 including an in depth discussion on their modern rock hits Birdhouse in Your Soul.. early on, the two Johns… John Flansburgh and John Linnell found that Writing one minute songs was their forte and then they sprung up from the underground and sold a million records with one of the most explosive ear catching songs of the time along with other great songs from the album including Particle Man and Istanbul (not Constantinople) and Minimum Wage... both members of the duo tell us how being the album of the month for Columbia House’s famous 8 albums for a penny offer helped them break through next on professor of rock.

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How KISS Proved a Bet Right with Their Disco Crossover Hit “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” Sep 17, 2022

Show notes

The most streamed song for the band Kiss is I was Made For Loving You.. this 1979 hit started as a challenge between a disco producer & legendary front man Paul Stanley… Paul maintained, that it was much easier to write a “disco hit” than it was to write a rock hit. We go ‘behind the masks’ to reveal how the world’s most famous glam rock band created their biggest international hit…from the Kiss album Dynasty and how it was the original lineups last big hit and how Gene Simmons wasn’t happy about this part next on professor of rock .

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How Joe Jackson’s “Stepping Out” Became 1982’s Most Overlooked Masterpiece Sep 16, 2022

Show notes

Joe Jackson Stepping Out was the best song of1982. That’s saying something because 82 was a massive year in music, it was the year of mega chart singles like Eye of the Tiger by Survivor, Physical by Olivia Newton John and I love Rock and Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts and big albums like Men at Work’s Business as Usual Prince 1999, Duran Duran Rio even Michael Jackson Thriller came out at the end of the year… Joe Jackson was just on a higher musical vibrations. He rocked the end of the 70s with his New Wave Hit Is She Really Going Out with Him but then after several albums he got tired of being categorized as New Wave so he wrote a song that called on the ghosts of George Gershwin and Cole Porter and thought it stalled just outside of the top 5 it had a sonic quality that could whisk you away to musical ecstasy. Up next the story of the most unsung hit of the 80s by a man who still has an air of mystery surrounding him.

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