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:

Why Mark Knopfler Walked Away After Dire Straits Sold 30 Million Albums Mar 28, 2024

Show notes

It’s a B-side track turned Top 10 hit, Walk of Life by Dire Straits. And it ended the run of the world’s biggest band in 1985 and 1986. But don’t blame the song. It’s a truly infectious piece of ear candy that deserves all the success it got. No, as it turns out, Dire Straits' frontman, Mark Knopfler, was just a reluctant hit-making machine. He loved the music, but not the fame. And after creating the #1 album Brothers in Arms, with sales of over 30 million copies, he realized it was more than he had bargained for. So at the peak of his career, Mark pulled the plug and walked away. Who does that? Well, you’re about to find out. Today, it’s Dire Straits' Walk of Life and the story of how its success helped bring the world’s most popular band to a grinding halt. You’re not going to want to miss this one. It’s all coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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London Calling: The Clash’s Warning That Resonates Stronger Than Ever Mar 27, 2024

Show notes

It’s the tremendous story of the 1979 song London Calling by the Clash. In the late 70s, the world’s most influential punk band was convinced the world was falling apart, and they needed to do something about it. Fueled by concerns over widespread famine, the environment, drug addiction, police brutality, tidal waves, and nuclear war, the band’s charismatic leader composed the prophetic manifesto London Calling that seems more relevant today than it was when he wrote it in 1979. London is calling to the zombies of death. NEXT…on Professor of Rock.

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Jesus Jones’ Right Here Right Now: The 90s Anthem That Captured a World Changing Mar 26, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, it's one of the most important interviews I’ve ever done. Right Here Right Now by Jesus Jones has the distinction of conveying a revolutionary message in mere minutes. It says the most in the least amount of words! Frontman and writer Mike Edwards takes us through the inspiration of this all-time 90s classic… a song that has become a hallmark of the ages since it went to the top of the charts decades ago after the Berlin Wall came down and the Cold War ended for a time. It's a story you're not going to want to miss... NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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How a Legal Battle and a Legendary Cover Turned Jet Airliner Into a Hit Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… Get ready for a tale of resilience and redemption as we delve into the story of Jet Airliner… a song that was trapped on an unreleased album by Paul Pena, who was thwarted by legal battles and a ruthless manager, who was hell-bent on destroying his career. But hope emerged from an unexpected source when legendary rock star, and "gangster of love" Steve Miller stepped in to breathe new life into the imprisoned track. With expert rearrangement and by changing the lyrics from an angry song to a happy-go-lucky one, Jet Airliner was transformed into a chart-topping sensation across multiple formats. The aerodynamics for one of classic rock’s greatest hits and a classic of the 70s is revealed NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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How Ace Frehley Outsold Kiss With His Solo Record and Proved Everyone Wrong Mar 23, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, we’re going back to one of our newest shows on Professor of Rock. One that has us digging deep into the catalog of the world’s greatest party band, Kiss! For this episode we’re featuring 5 essential Kiss tracks that together tell their story… including songs about concert car crashes and ROCK VERSUS DISCO. But I’m not telling these stories alone. Today, I’m turning center stage over to this FAMOUS foursome’s iconic guitarist Ace Frehley. And not only is he giving us the inside scoop on these classic songs, but is also telling us which ones he loves and which ones he hates. It’s going to be a lot of fun. So get ready, it’s time to learn from the band who taught us all how to rock… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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Gimme Shelter: The Iconic Vocal That Left Mick Jagger Speechless Mar 22, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… the story behind one of the most amazing, impromptu vocal performances of the Rock Era. Guest vocalist Merry Clayton on the Rolling Stones's Gimme Shelter was so spellbinding it stunned normally nonplussed singer Mick Jagger. Some sources claim that the performance was exerted with so much conviction and power, it actually caused the singer serious harm. It’s an emotional and inspiring episode… Gimme Shelter is such a landmark song that even people who can’t stand the famous yet polarizing band behind it, still love this song. Keith Richards knew the song would be great when he wrote it on his guitar while watching people moving in and out of a rainstorm. And even though it’s one of the Stones's most-played songs ever it was never released as a single. The story is next on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Eric Carmen’s Timeless Hits: All By Myself, Hungry Eyes, and More Mar 21, 2024

Show notes

RIP Eric Carmen… the iconic artist who sang the lead vocal on several, iconic classics, but he never liked his voice. His dream wasn’t to be a singer… In fact, he was a child prodigy who began his classic training as a violinist and pianist, but that all changed when he saw the Beatles on Ed Sullivan. Eric Carmen became the frontman for a short-lived, yet highly influential band named Raspberries, composed the smash Go All the Way that was banned by the BBC, and when he embarked on a solo career… his first hit, All By Myself, became his first hit, a timeless, emotional masterpiece. Then… he left the limelight to concentrate on just being a songwriter, but he was convinced to sing someone else’s song for a movie nobody believed in. That song was Hungry Eyes. It would forge his comeback and set up another hit after that… Make Me Lose Control. We pay tribute and tell the story behind three of the greatest hits of this late great, truly gifted artist …NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Spooky: From Instrumental to Southern Rock Standard Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, how a guitar-playing welder & his fishing buddy, gave a lyrical makeover to a cheesy instrumental and transformed it into one of the coolest songs of the '60s - then in a totally different band with the same members ... the singer gave it a rock renovation turning the saxophone solo into guitar classic that lit up classic rock radio with a southern fried twist. I’m talking about Spooky by Classics IV the #3 hit from 1968 and then it was restyled by Atlanta Rhythm Section (ARS) in 1979 and then it became a Halloween standard. The story is next on Professor of Rock.

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Behind It Might Be You: Stephen Bishop Reflects on His Oscar-Nominated Hit Mar 20, 2024

Show notes

Coming up an interview with a hilarious singer-songwriter Stephen Bishop who is revered for his lyricism and style… on a song that became his biggest solo hit: “It Might Be You.” But he didn’t write it, even though he was one of the most prolific writers of his time. But the blockbuster movie Tootsie that made the song its theme wanted Stephen for his amazing voice… He actually got a mention in the opening credits as SUNG BY… “It Might Be You” went to #1 and was nominated for an Oscar, which ironically lost to a song from a film directed by a guy who would hire him to write the theme for his next movie. But this time he had someone else sing it and it got him nominated for an Oscar again…this time as the writer. Then years later it became the go-to karaoke track for people in the Philippines… it actually became one of the most popular songs ever in that country! The story from Stephen Bishop is next on the Professor of Rock.

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No Rain: The Bittersweet Tale of Blind Melon’s Brightest Hit Mar 19, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… It’s one of the most instantly recognizable songs and iconic music videos of the rock era: No Rain by Blind Melon. It instantly blew up radio and MTV. And though this bright and quirky tune will have you singing along from the start... it was hiding a secret sadness. No Rain is much more bitter than sweet. In its time it became so over-hyped that lead singer Shannon Hoon hated singing it. And its success became one in a series of events that led him down a path of personal destruction. So, is this song just a caricature of Blind Melon, a band who had more to say? Or is it one of the most beloved hits of its time? I’ll let you decide... NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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