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 AC/DC’s 'Big Balls' Went From Album Filler to a Laugh-Out-Loud Classic Jul 29, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, the story behind Ac/DC's Big Balls, a song with a dual meaning that makes the puritans blush, and even the most uptight fuddy daddy truly fall on the floor laughing! It was written by rock icon Bon Scott who was always the life of the party to his detriment. In a drunken daze, Bon turned his fascination with one of his body parts into a song meant as filler for an album, but Big Balls became a surprising classic rock standard. One that everyone who has come of age since the 70s has laughed about with their friends for days on end! We’re gonna loosen up the shackles of self-righteousness, and have some fun telling the story of this “ballsy” track. NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Journey’s Comeback: A 10-Year Hiatus, Steve Perry, and a #1 Hit Jul 27, 2024

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The Rise and Fall of 'Mr. Jones': Why Counting Crows’ Adam Duritz Quit Music at Their Peak Jul 26, 2024

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How many bands would give their right arm to hit the big time and have their song played everywhere? To tour the world and take their music to the masses? Well, Counting Crows did. Their singer Adam Duritz wrote a hit song called Mr. Jones about hitting the big time. And then when the very song he wrote pulverized radio and made them huge stars, Adam hated it. He detested Mr. Jones and at the peak of selling millions of records and playing sold-out shows… he cracked. Adam Duritz quit music and took a job as a bartender… hiding out. Could anything pull him back into music? Find out next with one of the craziest stories of a band on Professor of Rock.

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The Story of 'Ulterior Motives': The Lost 80s Song That Took 3 Years to Identify Jul 25, 2024

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17 seconds. That’s all anyone had to go off of. Just a few years back an anonymous user uploaded a clip of a mystery track from the 80s to a song discovery site. The audio was low quality, and the lyrics were hard to decipher. Some people claimed to have heard it before. But no one knew who sang it. And when pressed for more information the uploader refused to talk about it. But people had to know. So social media users sprang to action looking for clues in improbable places. And for three years no one could figure this song out… But then someone found it in the most unlikely of places. And you’re not going to believe where. My mind was blown when I heard this. It’s the story where the truth is definitely stranger than fiction. It's Ulterior Motives by Who's Who and Christopher Saint Booth… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Shocking Story of 'I Touch Myself': Written by Men, Sung by a Rock Icon, and Still Debated Jul 24, 2024

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Coming up, the controversial song about female self-love… was written by a dude? Ha ha. It's I Touch Myself by the Divinyls. This story is almost too good to be true, and yet it is. I have an interview with a Hall of Fame songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote 5 #1 hits with his songwriting partner Tom Kelly. And all five #1s were for female artists. All 5 songs were huge in the 80s, but at the end of the decade, Billy met with a prolific Australian band and sheepishly gave them his private notebook of lyrics and asked what song they wanted to work on. And today’s iconic female rocker Chrissy Amphlett chose a song that was about self-love. I Touch Myself wasn’t quite finished so the band and the songwriting team tackled it. It’s pretty straightforward forward, and though it was controversial it became a global smash. Up next the story on Professor of Rock.

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The Untold Drama Behind Fleetwood Mac’s Epic 'Sara': Stevie Nicks’ Most Personal Song Jul 23, 2024

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Oh man… today’s song Sara by Fleetwood Mac is epic. Clocking in at over 15 minutes long, the original version of this breathtaking song once had a total of sixteen verses. And even that might not have been enough to contain the true story its author Stevie Nicks intended. After all was said and done Sara was edited down to a radio-friendly four-plus minutes. It still alludes to more misadventure and drama than the human mind can grasp. Best friend betrayals, covert love affairs, cocaine abuse, mystical muses, and band breakdowns… Sara is rock’s great soap opera… so lyrically complex, a famous band took their name from the song… but they misheard the lyric! The story is next on Professor of Rock.

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The Surprising Link Between an X-Rated Film and Harry Nilsson’s Iconic 'Everybody’s Talkin’ Jul 22, 2024

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Coming up… the story of two of the most enigmatic artists of the rock era, linked by the classic track Everybody's Talkin that wasn't fully appreciated until it became the theme song for a groundbreaking, provocative film—an X-rated film... Midnight Cowboy was a smash hit and won a Grammy. The original creator of Everybody's Talkin' Fred Neil was a cult hero who retreated from the spotlight, while Harry Nilsson who turned it into a pop smash was a brilliant yet erratic singer-songwriter whose recklessness ultimately derailed his promising career. Both artists grappled with intense, personal demons, yet they captivated the rock era by sharing a song that brought us infinite joy and a sense of sweet freedom. Then this cerebral artist Harry Nilsson turned around and wrote a funny novelty song. The story of one of the most interesting singer-songwriters of the rock era is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The Comeback Story of Heart: From 70s Rock Icons to 80s Chart-Toppers Jul 20, 2024

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No doubt about it. Heart is one of the defining acts of the rock era. And their catalog is filled with essential entries in the rock canon. Today, we’re telling the start-to-finish story of Heart who rose to prominence in the 70s, fell from grace in the early 80s, and then put together one of the greatest comebacks of the neon decade. And we’re doing it via five vital tracks that capture what they are all about. And there’s plenty of drama and epic moments along the way… from chasing their breakout hit to fighting sleazy promoters to hitting one of the most badass notes of all time. Plus you’re going to get an inside look into all five of these songs from singer Ann Wilson. It’s a story you’re not going to want to miss… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Devo’s 'Whip It' Became an 80s Anthem Everyone Misunderstood for Decades Jul 19, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next, we've got Devo and a song that is not at all what it seems: Whip It. For over 40 years everyone has thought this all-time hit was "Dirty." It was such a catchy ditty it became a slogan of the 80s and it was one of the first major hits where the main riff was from a synthesizer from one of the funniest bands ever.. Whip It was actually pieces of three different songs that were all in different time signatures and different tempos but Devo combined them into one composition…. the Whip It music video ruled MTV and it was made for a little over 10 grand... Today we have one of its co-writers and singers telling us the real story. Next of Professor of Rock.

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The Incredible Story of 'Kung Fu Fighting': A Last-Minute B-Side That Sold 11 Million Copies Jul 18, 2024

Show notes

Today's featured song Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas will have you kicking some serious butt while moving to the groove. A smash hit from the 70s, Kung Fu Fighting was inspired by a dance fight at a pinball arcade. As Carl Douglas watched what was taking place, the lyrics and melody started flowing into his head. However, the song wouldn’t resurface until later on. In the studio, Carl was recording what was supposed to be his break-out hit. And he had three hours to do it. But when he was done, his producer told him they also needed a B-side. With just A COUPLE OF minutes left on the clock, Carl rushed a recording of Kung Fu Fighting... after all, it was just gonna be a throwaway track. But as it turns out Kung Fu Fighting was the one that got all the attention. It became a monster 70s hit, tapping into two cultural phenomenons with expert timing. It’s one of the biggest-selling singles of all time. 11 million sold. The story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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