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 Angus Young & Bon Scott Created Highway to Hell – The Blueprint for AC/DC’s Future Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

One night brothers Angus Young and Malcolm Young were jamming in the studio after hours… when suddenly Angus had an idea for a riff that he immediately played. The Riff would change everything for AC/DC: Highway to Hell produced by Mutt Lange and sung by Bon Scott broke the band in America for good. the story is next.

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Nick Hexum on 311’s Down – The 90s Alternative Anthem That Defined a Generation Jun 26, 2021

Show notes

311 lead singer , Nick Hexum tells the story behind their #1 Alternative hit DOWN from the blue album that rocked 1996 on professor of rock

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Brian Wilson on God Only Knows – The Masterpiece of Pet Sounds Jun 24, 2021

Show notes

Up next, my Holy Grail interview. One of the last musical geniuses left on this earth Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys and the Father of 60s pop tells the story behind God Only Knows from their masterpiece 1966 album Pet Sounds.

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Cindy Wilson on The B-52s’ Roam – The Hit That Defined the Turn of a Decade Jun 23, 2021

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In an exclusive interview Cindy Wilson a founding member and singer from legendary New Wave Act the B52s who dominated the end of the 80s tells us the story behind their biggest hit Roam next on Professor of Rock.

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Better Than Ezra on Good – The 90s Alternative Anthem That Took Over Rock Radio Jun 21, 2021

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As the Rock Era began to wrap up in the mid 90s Better Than Ezra that formed at LSU and rocketed to #1 on the modern rock charts with the #1 song GOOD a classic sing along song of it’s time. Singer Kevin Griffin and bassist Tim Drummond tell the story in this exclusive interview.

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The Unlikely Inspiration Behind Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing Jun 16, 2021

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The story of the 1979 classic Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits. Mark Knopfler was inspired to write the song after witnessing a band playing Dixieland Jazz in a dive bar.

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The Top 5 Rock Songs for Father’s Day – Celebrating the Father-Child Bond Jun 15, 2021

Show notes

In celebration of Father’s Day, we celebrate through the great songs about the Father/Child relationship from some of the greats including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Peter Gabriel, Luther Vandross, Madonna and many more. We live in a cynical world and some people don’t believe in heroes, if you’re one of those people-- that don’t believe in heroes then you've never met my Dad, I’m sure many of you feel the same about your own father. So celebrate with this video and leave comments about your dad. It’s like Peter Gabriel said… “I could hold back the tide, with my dad by my side."

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Andrew Farriss on Creating INXS’s Kick – The 1987 Album That Defined a Generation Jun 14, 2021

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INXS Co-founder and Co writer Andrew Farriss tells the story of creating the 1987 Kick album with Micheal Hutchence including the classic hits Devil Inside, Need You Tonight, Never Tear Us Apart and others.

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Aaron Bruno on AWOLNATION’s Sail – The 2011 Rock Hit That Shattered Records Jun 12, 2021

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Aaron Bruno of modern rock band Awolnation tells the story of crating the smash rock hit Sail from Megalithic Symphony, one of the biggest songs of the last 10 years. A 2011 song that exploded on to the scene and at the time broke chart records including spending 79 week on the Hot 100.

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Roger McGuinn & David Crosby on How The Byrds Made Mr. Tambourine Man a #1 Hit Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

In an exclusive interview Roger McGuinn and David Crosby who co-founded the Byrds share the story of one of the most influential songs in history Bob Dylan’s Mr. Tambourine Man. A number one hit in the midst of the British Invasion that changed the course of music history, ramping up the Folk Rock movement and inspiriting Bob Dylan to go electric, the co-pilots of the Byrds tell us the legendary story next including an acoustic rendition of the song next…

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