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:

Interview with Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons: The Story Behind Listen to the Music Feb 01, 2024

Show notes

Coming up next the two key members of the rock and roll chapter of one the world’s greatest classic bands: the Doobie Brothers tell us a truly funny story. Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons were the principals of the Doobies' phenomenal 70s radio hits… Tom Johnston believed that if they could get all the politicians together, all the world’s leaders together on a grassy hill with the sun shining and let the music play, they would figure out they all had a lot more in common than they thought... And we could work toward a utopian world. Well as Tom will admit, it was foolish thinking and would never happen but it made for a great song. It became the fruit of “Listen to the Music” the Doobies' first massive hit. He wrote it as an afterthought and in his own words it wrote itself… All of a sudden he had this great song… coming up a masterclass in classic riffs.

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The Evolution of Led Zeppelin: 5 Tracks That Define the Lords of Rock Jan 31, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, we’re bringing you an entirely new show on Professor of Rock. I’m really excited about this one. And I think you’re going to Dig it too. It’s a new way for this channel to go in-depth into some of the most influential bands and exceptional tracks that have ever graced the pages of rock history. And in the process, we’re featuring five defining tracks that capture the essence of the most iconic rock band in the history of iconic rock bands. Led Zeppelin. That’s right, we’re starting big. These 5 songs will rearrange anyone’s mind. The Evolution of the Lords of Rock through 5 songs that define them including one so powerful it made the singer weep after he sang the vocal From Stairway to Heaven to Kashmir the best of Led Zeppelin from the late 60s to the early 80s… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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I’m Not In Love: The Awkward Conversation That Sparked a 70s Classic Jan 30, 2024

Show notes

Coming up… a 70s classic that had 624 voices that originated from only 3 singers…. I’m Not In Love by 10CC. First of all the song came from an awkward conversation the songwriter had with his wife… she was upset that he didn’t say I love you often enough. He ended up turning that awkward conversation into arguably the greatest anti-love song ever. Then in the middle of the recording sessions, the band had an idea. it involved having a receptionist reciting some of the strangest lyrics ever. and it made this song a bonafide classic. the story of the yacht rock/soft rock classic I’m Not in Love by 10CC. Written by Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart. Later the team of Godley and Creme became award-winning music video directors. the story is next on Professor of Rock.

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ELO, Hidden Messages, and the 70s Satanic Panic: The Story Behind Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Fire On High Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Coming up. Let’s dive into the bizarre and sensational era of the Satanic Panic, a time when songs were accused of harboring "evil" hidden messages, and bands faced relentless scrutiny as alleged corruptors of society. While heavy metal bands were the primary targets, even the likes of today’s squeaky clean band ELO, the Electric Light Orchestra, found themselves entangled in the fanatical crusade. Today we break down the hidden messages in ELO’s music including the doubled-sided hit Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Fire On Hight. We unravel the stories behind these cryptic songs, their secret messages, and the mysterious woman who cast her spell on an unsuspecting rock star named Jeff Lynne and how Fire On Hight might be the most bizarre and creepy B side of the entire 70s… NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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Wild Thing: The Joke Song That Made Millions and Changed Rock Forever Jan 27, 2024

Show notes

Today we’re literally giving you three chords and the truth with a song that has left an indelible mark on rock history… Wild Thing by the TROGGS... Written and recorded under the gun, The songwriter Chip Taylor had to write the song and record a demo in just a few hours to hit a deadline. Otherwise, he might miss his date with destiny. After he finished recording it. it was so corny he fell on the floor laughing! He had written the song as a joke as a code word for Sex. Turns out, the song completely flopped the first time around. And then feeling embarrassed by the track’s sexual undertones, this writer tried to hide it from his publisher. But someone found it and it was picked up by today’s famous group, The Troggs. Piggybacking on someone else’s recording session, the band laid it down in something like 20 minutes. But as fast as it took to record, this song was no flash in the pan. The song was all a big joke and it made its writer so rich he was gambling 10 grand a day in Vegas… The story is up next on Professor of Rock.

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Exclusive Interview with Stewart Copeland: The Stories Behind Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon Jan 26, 2024

Show notes

Coming up, an interview with one of the greatest drummers in rock and roll history, Stewart Copeland of the Police on their first two #1 hits, Message in a Bottle and Walking on the Moon. These two songs put Sting, Andy Summers, and Stewart Copeland on the map. Walking on the Moons is definitely a candidate for the most atmospheric hit of its time and it came to Sting when he was sloppy drunk. He said he came up with the worst song title ever -- Walking Round the Room -- for it, so he changed it up when he was sober... and it somehow ended up with an even worse title he says! And Message in a Bottle is one of the most played in rock history and Stewart says he has one big regret about it decades later. Get the story of 2 classics in our exclusive interview, next on Professor of Rock!

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The Dream That Created the Rolling Stones' Satisfaction and Its Legendary Riff Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Up next, the story of the most famous grammatically incorrect rock solvo in history. and The Legendary riff came to the guitarist in a dream… I Can’t Get No Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. Keith Richards dreamt the famous riff and then rolled out of bed and recorded it. Funny thing is he meant for the riff heard round the world to be a horn section and he was worried he may have inadvertently ripped it off. Thank goodness the horns didn’t take. When he showed it to singer Mick Jagger. The frontman went nuts. He wrote the lyrics and they became the greatest middle finger to the man lyrics in the rock canon and then to top it all off The song got banned for being too suggestive! Pirate Radio stations started playing it and then it blew up! The story of a true 60s classic next on Professor of Rock.

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Interview: America on Grammy Curses, George Martin, and the Inspiration for Sister Golden Hair Jan 24, 2024

Show notes

Coming up an interview with one of the 70s most prolific and successful bands… America! They blazed onto the scene as rookies with a #1 hit with A Horse With No Name and their debut album also hit #1 and then they won the cursed Grammy for Best New Artist. History has not been kind to many of the winners of that award but this America blew UP THAT CURSE with several hits IMMEdiately after including today’s smash Sister Golden Hair that had a very depressing opening line. The song originally sat on the shelf for a year not getting a release on their previous album. But the timing was right when they went to work with the biggest producer in the world, George Martin and they rewarded him with his 1st #1 hit outside of producing the Beatles. They got some flack for a pretty tame swear word in the song and admits he borrowed from another #1 song of the time which is funny because that particular song would lose a lawsuit for ripping off another song. The interview is coming up next on Professor of Rock.

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The Therapy Sessions and Failed Screen Test That Inspired Neil Diamond’s I Am… I Said Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Inspired by the experience of a failed screen test for a film about one of the most controversial comedians of the 20th century, Lenny Bruce…superstar singer-songwriter Neil Diamond composed the most personally challenging song of his illustrious career. I Am… I Said…. It took him 4 months to write. It was a daily battle to put that song on paper that drained him emotionally. But when it was completed, it turned out to be one of the most fulfilling songs he had ever written. It came from therapy sessions he was having at the time. However, one lyric about a chair inspired a famous journalist to write a scathing book about Bad Songs, Wherein he ripped this Neil Diamond and This 70s classic to Shreds…However, the fans struck back and the hate mail was so insurmountable the journalist had to write a public apology. The story of this climatic song and the incredible journey to stardom by its legendary author is NEXT….on Professor of Rock.

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Rejected 100 Times: How George Harrison’s Something Became a Beatles Masterpiece Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

Today’s Classic song was Written on a piano in an empty studio, Thing is, today’s Legend never expected it to see the light of day. If only because he had been in the most successful band in the world for years and written over 100 songs and they were all rejected… I’m talking about George Harrison writing the song Something for the Beatles. He had written over 100 songs that got rejected and never got one of his songs released as a single until Something. It would become one of the most beloved songs in their catalog and their 2nd biggest song as a band. It would end up inspiring one of the greatest solo careers ever. Meanwhile, its flipside brother, the John Lennon penned Come Together is just as grand. With a large helping of non-sensical lyrics that have been dubbed gobbledygook, but have become a lasting part of the cultural lexicon. That’s right, today we are giving you two Hall of Fame song breakdowns for the price of one. And it’s all coming up NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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