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:

5 Forgotten 80s Songs You Need to Revisit: Berlin, Bobby Brown, White Lion & More Jan 09, 2021

Show notes

Presenting another edition of 80s Hidden Gems, this is Volume 8. Top 5 seemingly passed over songs from the 80s that should be in more regular rotation in our lives. To clarify, these are songs that while hits in their time they haven’t been as prevalent on radio, in playlists on streaming apps and in pop culture. It seems like we hear the same 50 songs from the 80s in these situations I like to spotlight songs that don’t get their due presently. These are songs that deserve rediscovery. These include songs from new wave band Berlin, New Jack Swing man Bobby Brown, Glam rockers White Lion, new york rocker Eddie Money, and bar band John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.

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Sammy Hagar on Writing Van Halen’s Underrated 80s Gem “Best of Both Worlds” with Eddie Van Halen Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

In 1986 Van Halen released their first album with new lead singer Sammy Hagar. 5150 became the band’s first number one album in the US and included three top 25 hits. It also contained a mind blowing rocker, Best of Both Worlds was a perfect pairing of Eddie’s guitar and Sammy’s voice that should’ve been a massive hit. Next up the story of this Van Halen classic with commentary by Sammy Hagar.

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Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October on the Story Behind the 2006 Rock Hit “Hate Me” Jan 02, 2021

Show notes

Every once in a while a band can come out of nowhere and release a song that speaks to an entire generation. The deepest reaches of the soul. In 2006 a band from Texas put out a deeply personal song that went to #2 on the the charts. Hate Me by the rock band Blue October from their multiplatinum album Foiled. Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer of the band tells the story with a cameo appearance from songwriting team Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

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Top 5 Most Iconic Eyewear Looks of the Rock Era Dec 20, 2020

Show notes

Since the beginning of time, wearing glasses may have been due to seeing better but since the Rock Era began in ’55, eyewear has become a fashion statement, and in some cases as iconic as the artist themselves.

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The Legacy of Charley Pride: Country Music Trailblazer and Icon Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

The great Charley Pride passed away recently - leaving one of most incredible legacies for us to cherish.

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The Making of Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite for Destruction: Axl, Slash & the Chaos Behind a Rock Masterpiece Dec 12, 2020

Show notes

In the mid 80s, Guns n' Roses crawled out of the hotbed of decadence to release a landmark album while facing the constant threat of implosion, a ban at retail, a ban at MTV, and slow record sales.The transfixing evolution of the biggest selling debut album of all time.. Appetite for Destruction starring Axl Rose, Slash, Izzy Stradlin, Duff McKagan, Steven Adler, Tom Zutaut and a host of others. The stories behind the big song lncluding Welcome to the Jungle, Sweet Child ‘O’ Mine and Paradise City. A can’t miss.

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Yusuf / Cat Stevens on the Redemption and Legacy of Tea for the Tillerman and Mona Bone Jakon Dec 11, 2020

Show notes

The amazing story of the redemption of “Yusuf / Cat Stevens” who came back from near death to record two of the greatest albums of the 70s Mona Bone Jakon and Tea For The Tillerman and we unbox the 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe box sets featuring both of these amazing albums, which you can get here: https://catstevens.lnk.to/TFTT-MB-Boxsets

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The Darkness on Creating “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” and Reviving Glam Rock for a New Generation Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

It was a glam-rock throwback with a piercing falsetto that captivated listeners around the world, and re-awakened the spirit of rock n’ roll for a new century.The story of “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” From brothers Justin and Dan Hawkins, otherwise known as the Darkness NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

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How AC/DC Created “Thunderstruck”: Angus Young’s Riff, Brian Johnson’s Vocals, and the Legend Behind the Anthem Dec 09, 2020

Show notes

A colossal rock anthem that earned notoriety from an urban legend was actually inspired by a finger-picking exercise learned from the brother of one of rock’s greatest players.

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U2 in the 90s: The Stories Behind 5 Bold Songs That Redefined Their Sound Nov 28, 2020

Show notes

The 1990s were full of experimentation and global domination for U2. From Achtung Baby to Zooropa to Pop, U2 ran the gauntlet. Enclosed are their top 5 songs from the era including Stay Faraway (So Close) and Mysterious Ways. The stories behind the songs and the evolution of Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr.

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