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:

Sweet’s Fox on the Run: The Smash Hit They Had to Record in Secret May 11, 2024

Show notes

Coming up…. the story of Fox on the Run by 70s British supergroup Sweet. This band had relied heavily on a famous production team to write all of their big hits, but Sweet was sick of singing only the songs they wrote. So the band decided to show what they could do. They had written a good song but no one thought the song had potential to be a single, except for this one executive at the band’s record label. Only thing is this executive wasn’t getting ANY cooperation from management to retool the track, so when the management and production team was out of town, the guys secretly went into the studio and produced the new version themselves. Sweet proved everyone wrong as Fox on the Run became one of their biggest hits. We retrace the steps of this covert operation that led to a huge international hit, and the beginning of a new era for an immensely influential Glam Rock quartet…NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

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How Marc Bolan Made Up Bang a Gong’s Lyrics on the Spot and Created a Glam Rock Classic May 10, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… We take the time machine back to the golden days of glam rock n’ roll... and the psychic artist who created the genre…. Marc Bolan of T Rex was one of a kind. When he was 8 years old, he foretold that he was going to be a rock star, He broke through in the US with the classic song Bang A Gong (Get it On). Between 1970 & 74, he became the biggest rock star in the UK. He also predicted he would die before he was 30, and died in a car accident 2 weeks before his 30th birthday. The story of his biggest international hit, and a lot more is NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The Real Story Behind 867-5309: Did Jenny Ever Exist? May 10, 2024

Show notes

In 1981 at the forefront of the MTV Revolution, a straight-ahead rocking bar band called Tommy Tutone released a song that would become an all-time touchstone of pop culture... 867-5309/Jenny. And it came to the songwriter from a message scrawled on a bathroom stall. After being sung just one time, 867-5309/Jenny it became the most famous digits ever sung in a pop song. Up next 2 members from the one-hit wonder group the singer and the guitarist tell the story.

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The Story Behind Spirit in the Sky and Its Unrepeatable Guitar Sound May 09, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, an interview with Norman Greenbaum. He is a rockstar that I’ve been trying to track down for almost 8 years to get the story of what I believe is the greatest one-hit wonder in the history of music... Spirit in the Sky. But I couldn’t find him. I had heard rumors that he had just disappeared and couldn’t be found. Then fate stepped in and I met him at a concert. To celebrate a million subscribers this is one of a few special episodes we’re doing. Norman started as a goat Farmer and then he developed a guitar effect on today’s classic hit that no one in the world has ever been able to repeat, not even him. A special interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock.

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Spandau Ballet’s True: From 80s Classic to Boy Band Inspiration May 08, 2024

Show notes

Up next, Tony Hadley, the former lead singer of Spandau Ballet, one the 80s leading new romantic bands, tells the story of one of the best songs of 1983: "True". It's a song that has become a bonafide standard… Tony admits that he has sung True at weddings, but when does he has to get really drunk… haha. He admits it’s a very difficult song to sing and he was scared about hitting the notes night after night. Well, it’s been decades and Tony can still nail it. And though he’s sung it over a thousand times, he never gets tired of it. But Tony does get embarrassed when fans tell him the things they do to this song. It’s a fabulous interview coming up and one where Tony is taken aback when I tell him that a famous boy ripped off the melody… Tony had no idea until this interview. The story is next on Professor of Rock.

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My Girl: The Song Smokey Robinson Gave Away and Made History May 07, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next, an interview with legend Otis Williams, who is the only one surviving the Temptations, one of the most successful groups ever. He tells us the story of their biggest hit, My Girl, a song that could be the most recognizable song of the 20th century. Let’s see if you agree. So the legend who wrote this classic, Smokey Robinson, knew it would be massive, but in the end, instead of keeping it for his own group, he gave it to his rivals the Temptations, and even produced it for them. With the signature opening bass line of its time, up next it’s the story of a song that was so classic, one time the Temptations were tired of it and decided not to play it in concert, and the audience came unglued…. Next on Professor of Rock.

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Mick Jones Knew Lou Gramm Was the One After Hearing This Rookie Sing May 07, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, Lou Gramm was riding high in the 70s as his band Black Sheep had just opened for one of the biggest bands in the world. And after years of hard work and ultra tenacity they were finally going to break out. But then his world came crashing down when a car wreck destroyed all of their instruments and equipment, and their label wouldn’t front them the money to get new stuff. So they had to cancel their remaining dates. Lou Gramm was horrified, he thought his career was over but then he got a phone call from Mick Jones that changed his life. Asking him to be the lead singer of his new band Foreigner… Up next, how their composition, Feels Like the First Time became the opening shot for Foreigner, on its way to becoming a classic rock standard…giving them the chance to become one of the biggest bands ever. And many think it’s a sex song but it actually means something totally different… Next on Professor of Rock.

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Steve Perry’s Secret Journey From Roadie to Rock Icon May 06, 2024

Show notes

After losing his bandmate in a tragic car crash, rookie Steve Perry was ready to throw it all away. His music career, as far as he was concerned… it was over. He had come so close to that big break too many times. And it always fell apart. It was a mic drop in the worst way possible. But then, if you can believe it, him mom talked him out of quitting. She promised him something good would happen. And she was right. Not long after, he was recruited by Journey’s manager Herbie Herbert to be their frontman. Only, there was a catch. They already had a lead singer. So going undercover as part of this band’s road crew, Steve Perry laid low until Herbert could fire the other singer. And when Steve finally his chance, he didn’t disappoint. Six, multi-platinum albums later, Steve Perry is recognized as one of the greatest rock voices of all time… And today we’re telling the story of his first song with Journey... Lights, including an interview with the great guitarist Neal Schon, who he wrote it with. NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Pink Floyd Breakup That Shattered Rock History May 04, 2024

Show notes

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The 1979 Hit That Sat on the Shelf and Still Became a Classic May 03, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, an interview with Paul Roberts of Sniff 'n' the Tears about one of my favorite songs of 1979, Driver’s Seat. Technically the band is a one-hit wonder and what a story behind this one… First of all, Driver’s Seat sat on the shelf for years… because the label was changing distributors.. and then a worker’s strike at the record plant might’ve kept it from being a #1 hit because the factory couldn’t print the record so fans couldn’t buy it. And then when it did become a hit the band immediately broke up… but then a decade later the song finally hit #1 when it was used in an insurance commercial. The long and winding story of the classic Driver’s Seat is next on Professor of Rock.

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