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:

This Weird Al Parody Became a Bigger Hit Than the Original Classic on One Chart Sep 21, 2024

Show notes

Get tickets for Weird Al's upcoming "Bigger & Weirder" tour. Dates will be announced on Monday, September 23rd. Check out Weird Al's website for more details.

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How Twisted Sister’s 'We’re Not Gonna Take It' Was Inspired by an Old Christmas Song Sep 20, 2024

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One of the so-called Filthy Fifteen, today’s rebellious rock anthem We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister never got a fair shake... not from parents, not from the media, and not even from the Government. This classic rock anthem had a target on its back for years from the powers that be...Their gameplan? To censor so-called offensive music across the nation. But that was the whole reason the song was written in the first place… To defy authority. And lead singer Dee Snider actually took his fight against authority all the way to Washington DC and ripped the censors on live TV. Coming up next, the story of the 80s most rebellious anthem. It took Dee Snider 4 years to write it due to writer's block and his producer didn’t want them to put it on the album! He felt it sounded like a nursery rhyme... too sing-songy. And to his point, the band did push their hardcore lyrics against the melody of one of the most famous Christmas songs ever… It was unbelievably catchy… but the singer had to beg the label to get the song released. It became a smash but it would become their only hit. Get the story of this rebel anthem, Christmas song rip-off next on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind 'Stuck in the Middle with You': A Bob Dylan Parody That Became a Hit Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Have you ever found yourself stuck in a room with people you couldn’t stand, but had no choice but to grin and bear it? Well, the two leaders of Stealers Wheel, Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan, knew that feeling all too well. They captured that awkward vibe and turned it into the song Stuck in the Middle with You, which unexpectedly became a massive international hit! The funny thing is, they never thought the single would take off. They wrote it as a joke… a complete parody. In fact, Gerry Rafferty mimicked Bob Dylan’s vocal for a laugh… It was a throwaway gag… The frontman had even left the band to go solo and then suddenly…the song blew up! Rafferty’s impersonation of Dylan was so Good, people thought the song was actually Bob Dylan…. The record label came begging for Gerry to return, and he did…. but it was too late. At the core, this is a story of two musicians who built something special from their shared love of music. Along the way, there were setbacks, lawsuits, breakups, and unexpected triumphs for two guys who loathed the spotlight. We’ll take you into the middle of the action NEXT….on Professor of Rock.

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How a Teenager’s First Song, 'Light My Fire,' Took The Doors to #1 and Changed Rock Forever Sep 18, 2024

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When legendary frontman Jim Morrison of The Doors told his band members they should go home and write some songs to fill out their live show and have more to record. Teenage guitarist Robby Kreiger took him seriously and wrote a song that night... Light My Fire. When he brought it into the band they were blown away… thing is today’s Robby not only wrote the music, he also wrote most of the lyrics and that fact has been lost on pretty music everyone who assumes Jim Morrison wrote it. It would take the rookie band to #1 after their first single flopped and it would become one of the greatest songs in rock history…

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How The Cars Helped Rock and Roll Triumph Over Disco with 'Let’s Go' Sep 17, 2024

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What can you say about today’s band The Cars? They mixed two genres perfectly to become one of the greatest rock bands of the late 70s and 80s helping save rock and roll and giving it a new sheen. The Cars had two lead singers, Ric Ocasek and Benjamin Orr, who on their own could’ve led any band. But their power was drawn from the other members of the band who all brought a magic that couldn’t be planned. After blowing up the late 70s with one of the best debut records ever, the band was worried about the sophomore jinx. Well, today’s song Let's Go was so electrifying it PULVERIZED the sophomore jinx. One of the coolest rock songs ever that balances guitar and synth perfectly and contains what may be the most magical vocal part of the 70s, with an addictive hand clap part that you had to participate in even if you were driving or carrying groceries. You’ll see what I mean next from the band everyone agrees on.

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Six Forgotten 80s Classics That Deserve as Much Love as 'Don’t Stop Believin’' Sep 16, 2024

Show notes

You’ve heard them all a million times or more. The most overplayed songs of the 80s. Not only did they flood the radio airwaves back in the day, but since the neon decade they have conquered pop culture media, getting played again and again in movies and television shows. I’m talking about tracks like Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’, Bon Jovi’s Livin’ on a Prayer’s and TOTO’s Africa But for today’s episode I want to give 6 songs that are just as good and truly under-appreciated. They made their mark on the 80s. But they’ve been missing in action since but that doesn’t mean they aren’t outstanding. We’ve got some real killers here. One hit song where Van Halen forgot to credit a legendary writer… one that was produced by an iconic member of Pink Floyd, and 1 that might be the most chilling top 10 hit ever. Coming up I’m going to count ‘em down for you. See if you remember these classics and agree with my picks… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Sweet’s 'Love Is Like Oxygen' Redefined Their Sound but Marked the End of an Era Sep 14, 2024

Show notes

Coming up... the story of the mini-rock symphony Love is Like Oxygen from Sweet, a band once dismissed by critics as a "bubblegum group" focused only on making money. But with their final big hit, the band reached the pinnacle of their artistry, delivering a track that was a complete departure from their usual sound. SADLY Their redemptive success was short-lived, as their lead singer left the band amidst deteriorating health—at one point, landing in the ER for emergency heart surgery. On the operating table, he suffered 12 consecutive heart attacks, yet somehow, he survived. The story of how this musical triumph was created. Why Sweet should be more revered and what happened to one of the pioneers of Glam Rock is NEXT …on Professor of Rock.

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The 80s Classic 'Come On Eileen': Controversy, Claims of Theft, and an Unwilling Star Sep 13, 2024

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Where do I even start with this one? Over 50 musicians came in and out of this one-hit wonder band in its time... Dexys Midnight Runners. And its principal, the singer Kevin Rowland absolutely detested his #1 hit Come On Eileen. He hated it because he didn’t think it was mixed right… He was so angry about it, he didn’t listen to the song for 40 years, which is hard to believe because we all LOVED IT. Come On Eileen was such a big song it bested the biggest-selling artist on the planet during its unprecedented peak. This was the song that stopped him. It was a dirty song in more ways than one and it still moves the needle. A bottle-lightning classic and besides its controversy a former band member would come out of the woodwork and claim the singer stole it from him. The story of an 80s classic next on Professor of Rock.

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The Hidden Meanings Behind 'Mellow Yellow': A 1966 Hit About Drugs and a Sex Toy Sep 12, 2024

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Coming up, the story behind one of the biggest hits of 1966 Mellow Yellow by Donovan. Packed with hidden meanings and controversial themes, this song, somehow, managed to sneak past the old-fashioned ideology of the media gatekeepers' values and came close to topping the American Pop charts. It’s a song about recreational drugs, young desire, having a laid-back disposition, and, believe it or not, a sexual device with a very catchy name. The song also had a strange whispering backup vocal that many claimed was one of the Beatles…But was that just a myth? We’re exploring the origin and evolution of this '60s counterculture classic—one that would NEVER FLY in the 21st century… NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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How John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band’s 'On the Dark Side' Became a Hit After a Movie Flop Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

Sometimes you hear a rock and roll story and it’s so good you feel like it was scripted or made up. Well, today’s story seems too good to be true, but it’s 100% true. It’s the story of John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band who paid their dues for years, playing 3 gigs a night sometimes. Well, they caught a lucky break when a producer wanted to use their song On the Darkside for a big Hollywood movie: Eddie and the Cruisers. But when the movie opened, it completely flopped. The band moved on after the disappointment wondering if they’d ever get another shot… well a year later John Cafferty got a call from his manager who told him their year-old failed record had just sold 25k copies virtually overnight. Eddie and the Cruisers had found new life on cable TV and it sent the record to the top of the charts. Up next, an interview with the singer on the miraculous story.

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