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:

Eric Burdon Reveals the Truth About Spill the Wine—And Its Risqué Origins Jun 25, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next, interviews with Eric Burdon and Harold Brown of the 70s group Eric Burdon and War... on their hit debut single Spill the Wine. It was one of the biggest songs of 1970. It was also one of the strangest. So many urban legends behind this one. Spill the Wine is rumored to have been inspired by the band members knocking over a bottle of wine on the studio console. The song was hard to interpret. It had Spanish in it, spoken word, and singing only in the chorus, and the lyrics have been sung incorrectly by listeners for years. And it’s probably a good thing because the actual lyrics are pretty risqué. In fact, Spill the Wine was rumored to have been about drugs… but it might actually be the only hit song of the rock era about an orgy. This is a family channel so I’ll be careful here, but the interview with the lead singer and the drummer is coming up next on Professor or Rock.

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The Shocking Story Behind The End: Jim Morrison’s Most Controversial Performance Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

Up next one of rock’s most mesmerizing frontmen, Jim Morrison, was playing one of The Doors's new songs "The End" as the house band for one of California’s most happening clubs... when Jim suddenly went off on a creative tangent that hearkened back to a story from Greek mythology. But the audience had no idea what was going on… Jim Morrison took a song that was already about death, birth, freedom, sex, murder, madness, and whatever else you can think of and put some relish on it. He screamed out a profanity-laced desire that would shock every generation thereafter who would hear the story or the song. and that’s not all. There are some insane stories that go with this epic 12-minute song… including how Morrison was fired for performing it and how he got buck-naked and hosed down a recording studio with a fire extinguisher. And there’s plenty more where that came from… It’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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American Pie: The Song That Brings Generations to Tears, Explained by Don McLean Jun 22, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… an interview with the singer and songwriter Don McLean… an all-time legend on the story behind the most storied rock and roll song ever, American Pie. Its lyrics have fostered debate and conjecture for over 50 years, with a chorus that everyone knows by heart and never gets tired of. American Pie is probably the song that will live on the longest because of its message. It was the longest song ever to hit #1… So long it took up two sides of a single... with a last verse and chorus that make even the toughest men and women cry like babies… the story straight from this legend is next on Professor of Rock.

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The Life-Changing Decision of John Deacon: Leaving Queen at 25 Jun 21, 2024

Show notes

While gazing out from a hilltop in the English countryside, for the first time in forever, Peter Gabriel saw his life clearly. Seven years, six albums, mega-superstardom, and masses of fans with his band Genesis.. yet it had all run its course. Fame wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Peter left it all for a time to focus inward… In fact, this Genesis kept their break up a secret for a year… After some time off Gabriel wrote a classic song, Solsbury Hill, that kicked off one of the greatest solo careers ever. Up next, the story of Peter Gabriel's journey to solo stardom... Next on Professor of Rock.

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Peter Gabriel Leaves Genesis, Finds Himself, and Writes His Defining Song Solsbury Hill Jun 20, 2024

Show notes

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Disney Tried to Stop Kenny Loggins’ House at Pooh Corner—But Fate Had Other Plans Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next, one of the most powerful moments with an artist that I’ve ever had in an interview. You’ll see why. Kenny Loggins has had huge hits in every decade since the 70s. Up next Kenny tells the story of two of his classic songs including one about the first song he wrote as a teenager, House at Pooh Corner, and how Disney had their lawyers block it... until a twist of fate willed it to the masses… decades later he wrote a new verse and called the song Return to Pooh Corner and it gave him one of the best selling children’s albums ever... Then in another story, Kenny breaks down discussing the most emotionally difficult song he ever wrote, The Real Thing. This is a must-see next on Professor of Rock.

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George Harrison’s My Sweet Lord: The #1 Hit That Sparked Rock’s Most Infamous Lawsuit Jun 18, 2024

Show notes

When one of the biggest bands in history, The Beatles, broke up, all the members of the band released solo projects almost immediately. The first of the band to have a number-one hit was a bit of a surprise thought... George Harrison. He ended up having one hell of a solo run but his biggest hit My Sweet Lord would also become his greatest trial. Harrison got sued for sounding too much like another big hit from years before… It was a catastrophic lawsuit that nearly destroyed George and plagued his career for years because it put him in a never-ending bout with writer’s block. And it stopped him from recording for years. But in the end, Harrison would have the last laugh. Rock’s most honest songwriter dealing and allegations of plagiarism... This is a story you have to hear to believe next on Professor of Rock.

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The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet: Millions Love It, But Nobody Knows Its Name Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

Alright, you’re never going to believe this one. Coming up on today’s episode, we’ve got a song that has no name, no artist, and no date as to when it was recorded. Most believe it was composed in the early to mid-80s. But really, everything about this song has been lost to history… Not even Google can figure this one out. And forget Shazam and ChatGPT. The only evidence we have that this song ever existed is an obscure cassette recording off the radio. First uploaded to the Internet in 2004, for the past 20 years, a grassroots community has been trying to identify this track. In more recent years this song has gone viral across the Internet… with users on Reddit, YouTube, and Discord piecing together clues about its origins… and debunking some imposter bands in the process. Today we’re pitching in and doing our part to get this crazy story out there… It’s the tale of the track that many are calling “The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet”… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Quiet Riot’s Iconic Hits and the Interview That Ended It All Jun 15, 2024

Show notes

Quiet Riot led the charge for the popularization of metal music in the 80s with a landmark album of rebellion called Metal Health. Yet the sharp-tongued comments to the public by their outspoken frontman Kevin DuBrow, the jealousy of their peers, and altercations with fans, made them the most vilified band in rock. DuBrow had a self-proclaimed alligator mouth, and his reckless audacity ultimately led to him being sacked from the group that he co-founded. The story of the iconic, metal anthem Bang Your Head (Metal Health) and Cum one Feel the noize that took Quiet Riot to #1 on the pop charts in one of the most competitive times chart history, and was once sung in front of more than 300,000 people is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The 1985 Song That Defined a Generation: Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms Jun 14, 2024

Show notes

The Story of the 1985 song Brothers in Arms by Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits. Dire Straits ruled 1985 and 1986 with their blockbuster multi-platinum classic album Brothers in Arms, pushed forward by the big hit Money For Nothing with it's bombastic MTV video and the secondary hits So Far Away and Walk of Life. But the most moving song on the album is the incredible title track Brothers in Arms. Professor of Rock breaks down the song and its meaning and origin.

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