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 Dire Straits’ Romeo and Juliet Turned Heartbreak into an 80s Classic Apr 08, 2022

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One of the most heart wrenching love songs of the 80s steeped in a happy go lucky feel. Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits is a bit of conundrum. Find out what this riddle of a song means from their 1980 classic album Making Movies and how Mark Knopfler took a breakup and made it an all-time standard next on Professor of Rock

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The Story Behind Tears for Fears’ Sowing the Seeds of Love – The Hit That Just Missed #1 Apr 07, 2022

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in 1989 a song was released that blew up radio with its sophisticated, multi-layered pop elegance. (sowing) the Seeds Of Love By Tears for Fears would capture the hearts and minds of listeners globally. Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith had created another phenomenal record after taking the world by storm with 1985’s masterpiece Songs from the Big Chair which included the #1 hits Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Shout. The story of making the Seeds of Love is next, including it’s rise to the top of the charts and it’s influences.

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Can We Save the Album? Preserving Rock’s Greatest Art Form Apr 06, 2022

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In world of Autotuned, plastic pop fast food music, is there anyway to save great music? Is there a way to save one of the most important art forms in history of our world? We must. THE ALBUM is about to be extinct.. Imagine all that you have gained from Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon, Led Zeppelin IV, Rush Moving Pictures, Peter Gabriel So, Prince Purple Rain, The Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beach Boys Pet Sounds, Bob Dylan Blonde on Blonde, Fleetwood Mac Rumours and on and on...What can we do to keep the album alive? With several interviews from rock hall of famers and Muti-platinum Icons next we try to solve this conundrum...

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How George Michael’s Faith Became One of the Biggest Albums of the 80s Apr 05, 2022

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George Michael was a part of the big 80s duo that had 3 #1 hits and one of the most successful albums of 1985 Wham Make It Big… then he went solo and went even bigger…SO big that he surpassed the newest releases by Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna and Whitney Houston with his 1987 LP Faith. up next the story of his blockbuster album Faith that had 6 top 5 hits and 4 of those went to #1 including Monkey, Father Figure, Faith, and One More Try.

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When John Fogerty Was Sued for Plagiarizing Himself – The Old Man Down the Road Trial Apr 04, 2022

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the true story of John Fogerty formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival CCR who was put on trial for plagiarizing himself. Sued for writing a song that sounded too much, well... like him. His enemy said that his 1985 hit The Old Man Down the Road sounded to close to CCR’s 70s hit Run Through the Jungle With this trial, the right to have your own musical style hung in the balance. If found guilty, this artist’s record label would get the royalties and the last laugh. But if found innocent, songwriters everywhere could breathe a sigh of relief. We're letting you be judge and jury on this one. Was this song a carbon copy clone? Or was it an original tune with some sonic similarities? You give the verdict... NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Rise and Sudden Fall of a Huge 80s Band – What Happened? Mar 30, 2022

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Exclusive Interview with a Music Legend – A Moment I’ll Never Forget Mar 29, 2022

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The Story Behind Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle – A Timeless Wake-Up Call Mar 26, 2022

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The story of Harry Chapin’s beautiful and poignant masterpiece, Cat’s in the Cradle. You think you know the story but you really don’t. How Harry’s wife Sandy woke him up to the damage he was inflicting on his family as he let the rock star life overtake him, The cautionary tale that we’ve all benefited from hit #1 in 1974 and changed not only our lives but the life of the singer/songwriter…

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How Wedding Bell Blues by The 5th Dimension Became a Real-Life Love Story Mar 25, 2022

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My favorite married couple in music history Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo who were in the 5th Dimension together in the 60s recorded this funny Laura Nyro song about the female singer (McCoo) asking a guy named Bill to marry her. Wedding Bell Blues! Life imitated art, as after they recorded it, Billy and Marilyn got married and then the song became a #1 hit. A great story that will bring a smile to your face!

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How Jack Tempchin’s Peaceful Easy Feeling Became an Eagles Classic Mar 24, 2022

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Hall of Fame songwriter Jack Tempchin tells the story of the 70s classic hit Peaceful Easy Feeling that he wrote one night after being stood up by a girl and being locked inside of a bar overnight. He finally finished the song at a hot dog food chain and presented it to his roommate who happened to be Glenn Frey who asked to record it with his band that would later became e the Eagles. The song ended up being on the Eagles greatest hits, the biggest selling album in history!

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