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 with Neil Finn: How “Don’t Dream It’s Over” Became One of the Most Admired Songs Ever Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

In 1984 two Brothers Neil and Tim Finn found themselves at a crossroads. Their band Split Enz, which had a bit of success on one side of the ocean broke up coming short of the goals they’d set to make it in the States. They were ready to quit the business, but a year later they formed a new band called Crowded House and dug down deep to create their debut album. They knew they had something special but when the first 3 singles flopped, failing to chart, they thought it was over… but then a funny thing happened, their record label put out a fourth single Don't Dream It's Over and it scorched the charts becoming one of the biggest songs of 1987 with a message so unifying and enduring, many legends have since said it’s the one song they wish they’d written. Up next the singer and writer of the song Neil Finn tells me the story of this classic song that has a shocking double meaning and made this band arguably the greatest 2 hit wonder of the 80s in America at least.

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How Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” Changed Music Forever – Even the Beatles Took Notice Nov 11, 2024

Show notes

On his way back from Europe, one of rock’s greatest icons Bob Dylan was emotionally drained—disillusioned to the point of nearly quitting music altogether. When Dylan got back home, he started pouring those raw emotions onto paper, not thinking about a song, just scribbling his frustrations across 10, maybe 20 pages. He stashed it away, thinking it was just scattered ramblings. But those words didn’t stay hidden for long. They took shape, emerging as an unfiltered, six-minute epic: Like a Rolling Stone. A song too explosive to fit the industry’s clean-cut molds. Radio stations and record execs were baffled, but then… something completely unexpected happened. The artist had created more than just a song…He had created a cultural earthquake! This song made Bob Dylan an unlikely inspiration for Jimi Hendrix, who before hearing it considered himself a guitarist but not a singer. Dylan proved you didn't need a conventional voice to sing rock and roll. later the original lyrics sold for 2 million... The story is next, on Professor of Rock.

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Interview with Weird Al Yankovic: How Mark Knopfler Insisted on Playing in His Own Parody Nov 09, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next… the second part of my interview with everybody’s favorite jokester Weird Al Yankovic! This time around he tells the story of doing weeks of research on a funny animal to nail a classic 80s parody I Want a New Duck. As well as the time he tried to get legendary guitarist Mark Knopfler to approve a comedy version of his famous 1985 hit Money for Nothing. Mark hemmed and hawed and finally agreed to it if he got to come in and play the guitar part and as it turns out, his own guitarist played it better.. find out why next. As well as how Madonna begged Al to make fun of her song even giving him the song title Like a Surgeon and how a pizza delivery guy talked him into letting him be his famous 1988 music video. All of these great stories are coming up next in our exclusive interview next on Professor of Rock.

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Interview with Tony Lewis: The Story Behind The Outfield’s “Your Love” – A Misunderstood 80s Classic Nov 08, 2024

Show notes

COMING up next, the last extensive interview iconic 80s singer Tony Lewis of The Outfield gave before he passed away. I was fortunate to speak to him about one of the most beloved songs of the 80s Your Love. He said when he and his guitarist wrote the opening line they knew life was about to change in a big way. It might be the most memorable opening line of the entire decade sung by one of the most under-appreciated singers of the 80s. After they wrote that line the song came effortlessly in about 15 minutes, and the song took them to the top of the charts. A couple of working-class buddies were soon surpassing the Madonnas, Whitney Houstons and ZZ Tops of the chart... the story is coming up next on Professor of Rock.

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The 3 Strangest Song Inspirations of the 80s – Featuring Tina Turner, Kate Bush & Cyndi Lauper Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

Alright, today we’ve got something of an unusual show lined up for you. This one is going to be a little weird, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun. You know in the past we’ve told plenty of stories of songs that started off in unexpected and unconventional ways. From vampires to pillow fights to hymn books and kung fu confrontations… the inspiration for a hit song can really come from anywhere. And for this episode, we’re leaning into that idea as we feature three solo artists, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, and Cyndi Lauper who broke out in the 80s thanks to some really off-the-wall inspirations… I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but be ready for a role-reversal stripper, some flatulence used for sound effects, and a trip to the grown-up section of the magazine rack to write a song no female had ever attempted. We’ve got the top 3 strangest 80s song stories coming your way … NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Interview with Ann Wilson: How Heart Turned Industry Insults into “Barracuda” Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

Coming up one of rock greatest vocalists Ann Wilson of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band Heart tells the first-hand account of a song that has become part of classic rock folklore, the 70s classic Barracuda. Her record label Mushroom set up a publicity stunt that and a radio promoter harassed her about implying a sexual relationship with her sister Nancy Wilson. She was so outraged. She was so livid she went straight to her hotel room and wrote this seething rock masterpiece. This rocker tells us the story as well as several original members Steve Fossan and Michael Derosier and how guitarist Nancy Wilson pissed the band Nazareth off when she admitted to borrowing their riff when Heart was opening for them early on.

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Interview with Elvis Costello: How Insomnia and Rivalry Sparked “Watching the Detectives” Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next, an interview with one of the greatest, most legendary singer-songwriters of the rock era, Elvis Costello… on his breakthrough Watching the Detectives, a song that took him to the masses, and an in-depth look at one of his finest albums My Aim is True. Costello stayed up for 36 hours straight to write this iconic song coming from insomnia, a lot of coffee, and a debut album of a band that would be his inspiration but was also a rival. It would jumpstart the career of one of music’s greatest writers culminating years later when he would sit eyeball to eyeball with Paul McCartney and write over a dozen songs that impressed the former Beatle so much he said it was the closest he’d felt to writing with John Lennon since his death. You gotta see this interview, next on Professor of Rock.

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Red Red Wine': How a DJ's Mistake Turned UB40's Song Into a Chart-Topping Hit Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Up next two principals from the classic Reggae group UB40, original singer Ali Campbell and toaster the late Astro tell us the compelling story of a song that took 5 years to get to #1! Red Red Wine was originally composed and sung by Neil Diamond. In 1983 Red Red Wine went to the top of the charts in the UK but stalled at #34 in America then 5 years later a DJ played it by accident confusing this band with another one and people started requesting it. Other stations followed suit and it went viral before the internet. Word of mouth took it to #1. Now all these years later UB40 has broken up into two different bands using the same name! Ali’s brother took over the other group and they’re rivals. Find out the story of the song and the latest from this legendary group who had another #1 hit in the 90s with the Elvis cover, Can’t Help Falling in Love next on Professor of Rock.

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Why Bryan Adams Was Warned Against '(Everything I Do)': The Unexpected #1 Smash Nov 04, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… the story of Bryan Adams' (Everything I Do) I Do It For You, a song that was featured in the blockbuster movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves... despite efforts by the record company and the film studio to bury it. The label warned Bryan Adams that the song would ruin his career, and the film studio tried to hide it, tucking it away in the end credits like a guilty secret. Yet somehow, this single defied all the naysayers to become one of the most successful tracks of the Rock Era. One that I have loathed since I first heard it, but I’m listening to it with an open mind… Let’s see if I can be converted as I tell the history and listen to it from a new perspective. The ironic and remarkable journey of this smash hit is next on Professor of Rock.

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Crimson and Clover': Tommy James' Unfinished Demo That Changed Radio Forever Nov 02, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… Tommy James had dabbled in a lot of different styles to great effect. But then he rolled out of bed one day with an incredible song idea that would turn into Crimson and Clover. He would take the idea down a road of musical experimentation, unlike any song before it... from an ethereal vocal that sounded like it was from another dimension. Tommy put his two favorite words together for the chorus which people thought had a profound message even though it meant nothing. As he created layers of immaculate sounds and off-the-wall lyrics it all came together around a cool guitar effect that’s the grand result was a sound unlike anything that had ever been on the radio. What’s crazy is that Tommy made the demo in a couple of hours, but it was raw and uneven. He planned to finish it later but he was so excited about it that he showed it to a New York DJ. When Tommy got in his car to leave the station, he was shocked to hear his song coming out of his speakers The DJ was playing his rough demo without his consent. Turns out the DJ had recorded it, unbeknownst to Tommy, and played it. Well, the cat was out of the bag and it immediately went crazy, hitting #1 overnight. Up next icon Tommy James tells the story of Crimson and Clover.

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