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: How a DJ’s Surprise Spin Launched The Doobie Brothers’ “Black Water” to #1 Sep 02, 2022

Show notes

The 1970s #1 Classic Rock hit Black Water by the Doobie Brothers is has been called the rock and roll equivalent of Gone with the Wind meets Huckleberry Finn. The classic rock band wrote it as a love letter to the south. They thought the song was ok but don’t think it was a hit so it was relegated to a b side when out of nowhere a DJ played it and suddenly the request lines lit up like a CHRISTMAS Tree! Weeks later it went to #1. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons also tell the story of how Another Park Another Sunday was stopped in the charts because radio stations refused to play. You’ll love this underdog story of two 70s classics!

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How The Cure’s “Boys Don’t Cry” Became a New Wave Classic and a Protest Anthem Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Robert Smith and the Cure had a lot that went into their song that broke the band to the world, Boys Don’t Cry… written in the late 70s and released in the US in the 80s it set up the decade perfectly. the song came from years of antics by Robert and his band. He was expelled from school for several live shows that incited craziness… He was beaten up for wearing his mother’s dress to school. He also wrote Boys Don’t Cry as a protest against the adults who told him to cover his real emotions. It set the Cure up for long term success which would be followed by Close to Me, In-between Days and Just like Heaven to make him one fo the greatest of the 80s.

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How Chris Cornell’s “Black Hole Sun” Became Soundgarden’s Biggest Hit Against His Expectations Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

When Soundgarden released Black Hole Sun, a surreal and sinister trip into the unknown… the song's sonic beauty resembled a psychedelic apocalypse. Authored by legendary Seattle musician Chris Cornell during a late-night drive, he quickly rushed home to capture this haunting melody. When he finished the song he completely underestimated it, calling it a decent third or fourth single. Little did he know this rock anthem was about to flip the musical zeitgeist upside-down and send Soundgarden past Pearl Jam, Nirvana and Alice in Chains in grunge’s next wave of the 90s... next we dig deep into the meaning of this dreamy soundscape… on Professor of Rock.

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Interview: Mike Score on How A Flock of Seagulls Created the Timeless “Space Age Love Song” Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

The story behind the 1983 classic Space Age Lovesong by A Flock of Seagulls. Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls tells the amazing story of this perfect 80s hit. He started out as a hairdresser during the day and played in an experimental rock band at night. In this exclusive interview he reveals how he created the shimmering new wave wall of sound that he dubbed Punk Floyd. and how he wrote a perfect song called Space Age Love Song after he already hit with I Ran. With his plucky exploration he was 50 years ahead of his time with Space Age Lovesong, the emotional guitar driven song. It’s a new wave classic. Up next the story of this immaculate 80s record on professor of rock.

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Revisiting the Top 10 Songs of 1985: A Flawless Chart That Defined the Decade Aug 27, 2022

Show notes

We’re counting down the Top 10 songs of this very same week from the year 1985. This time around we’ve got some of the biggest hits from the 80s duking it out for that #1 spot. It was a legendary week for sure. You had Dire Straits, Billy Joel, Tears for Fears, Aretha Franklin and Huey Lewis and the news all vying for the coveted #1 spot along with a great one hit wonder and Somehow, we’ve managed to pack in three parenthesis songs, three summer blockbuster hits, as well as some iconic music videos that solidified already great hits. It’s 80s nostalgia to the max, that is going to take you back to the best days of your life... NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Celebrating Olivia Newton-John: The Beloved Icon Who Defined the 70s & 80s Aug 26, 2022

Show notes

Olivia Newton John was one of a kind. A beloved icon of the 70s and 80s, she felt like a member of our family. She will always be a key part of our childhood. Her kindness and purity always shined through. She also had the biggest hit of the 80s with Physical spending an amazing 10 weeks at #1. She had five #1 hits including Physical, Magic, I Honestly Love You, Have You Never Been Mellow and Hopelessly Devoted. We remember one of the most LIKABLE icons ever with this tribute to a legend who was part creator of the magical parts of our favorite decades from Sandy in Grease to Xanadu...Olivia Newton John was truly one of a kind.

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How Weird Al Yankovic’s “Fat” Saved His Career and Became an MTV Sensation Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

Riding high on satire…Weird Al Yankovic seemed unstoppable in the mid 80s after Eat It! and Like A Surgeon. but when his fourth record, Polka Party essentially flopped, he almost called it quits. But instead, he started writing for his life. And out of this trepidation, he created a supersized song patterned after the King of Pop Michael Jackson’s latest hit Bad called Fat. It not only won over listeners, but captivated MTV audiences across the world with a hilarious video in 1988. If you lived through the 80s, I don’t think there’s any way you could have missed this one. It was huge! How Weird Al went platinum with Even Worse and rocked 88.

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Interview: How Aretha Franklin & George Michael Created the Iconic #1 Duet “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)” Aug 23, 2022

Show notes

The story of the #1 Eighties (80s) Duet between Aretha Franklin and George Michael...one of the powerhouse duets of all time or was it a match that was too good to be true? We get the inside info from the legendary #1 hit producer Narada Michael Walden who was there orchestrating the whole thing. You had George Michael an up and comer who had already hit #1 a couple of times with Wham! and was ready to step into legendary status as a solo artist right before Faith was released in 1987 going up against one of the greatest voices in history. The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin who was coming off her huge hit Freeway of Love The rookie was nervous singing with his idol and the legend was born ready… would the duet be a hit or a flop? Find out next on professor of rock.

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How Pink Floyd’s Time and The Great Gig in the Sky Keep Dark Side of the Moon Timeless Aug 20, 2022

Show notes

Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon...Imagine if you will an album so legendary.. So in Demand that there were factories working around the clock to manufacture it and still couldn’t keep up.. or so the legend goes or urban legend that is. . And it'’s still selling like hotcakes. It spent almost 20 years on the charts but never went to #1 in its native land..It has spawned more folk tales than any album ever.. Led by a provocative and talented lyricist/ singer Roger Waters as well as a true guitar legend in David Gilmour. Today we un peel the endless sonic layers of the song Time and the Great Gig in the Sky… Songs so stunningly true to life and space they have the power to stop time. With incredible contributions from Rick Wright and Nick Mason and with Commentary from the great Alan Parsons… The Dark Side of the Moon is a true 70s classic rock manifesto and the breakdown is next.

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How Led Zeppelin’s “D’yer Mak’er” Confused Fans and Became Their Most Mispronounced Hit Aug 19, 2022

Show notes

How Led Zeppelin followed one of the biggest selling albums of all time, the 70s classic, Led Zeppelin IV with a bold venture that utterly confused their core faithful. It would’ve been a ’no-brainer’ to simply stay the course, and give the fans what they were used to. But Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham went the other way, and purposely abandoned the heavy blues rock sound they were famous for. The 2nd single from this long play deviation was a reggae song named after the punchline of an old vaudeville comedy routine. Dyer Maker as in did you make her said in a cockney accent…It became one of the most mispronounced song titles in history. From Houses of the Holy, the story of an all time 70s classic rock standard next on professor of rock.

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