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 Keep On Loving You Saved REO Speedwagon: Kevin Cronin Reflects Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

At the dawn of the 80s, Legendary American Rock band REO Speedwagon had their backs against the wall. They needed a hit record or they were finished. Their label told them as much. With the pressure on singer Kevin Cronin… He wrote a piano-based song and brought it to the band. The band hated especially, guitarist Gary Richrath who shredded his guitar so loud during the recording he was trying to ruin the song or drown out the singer. Instead, it made the song a power ballad to be reckoned with. Keep On Loving You became the hit of 1981 and helped put REO in the record books as the song and record Hi Infidelity went to #1 and became one of the biggest of the 80s spending 15 weeks at #1 and putting these guys into stadiums! Up next an interview with singer Kevin Cronin on this incredible story.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Chilling Inspiration Behind Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean Dec 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, it’s a massive smash hit that was inspired by not one, but multiple stalker encounters. And one of them was by one of the most demented groupies ever. This disturbed fan wrote letter after letter claiming she and this artist were meant to be together… and that he was the father of her baby! Then one day she sent him a package with a weapon… telling him that they should use it on themselves so they could be together in the afterlife. Whoa… talk about creepy. However, this incident, and others like it, fueled the lyrics of this dark and sinister 80s classic that could possibly be the biggest song to come from the decade... But you know what? Fans weren’t the only ones obsessed. In fact, this artist was so consumed by this song, he didn’t even notice that his car was on fire while driving down the freeway. Completely locked into this song, he almost died. It was so big it helped this artist sell over 100 million copies of 1 album. If you haven’t figured it out by now I’m talking about Billie Jean by Michael Jackson from his 1982 classic Thriller. The story of how Michael wrote this song and captivated the world with his performance on the Motown 25th anniversary special with his moonwalk. It’s an unbelievable story NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Interview with The Association: The Story Behind Cherish and Their Rise to Fame Dec 26, 2023

Show notes

Coming up… an interview with some of the members of a band that has been somewhat forgotten in the time we live in... Which is strange because for a couple of years they were as big as any group on radio. In fact in 1999 when BMI compiled their list of the most played songs of the century they had 2 in the top 25… Tied with the Beatles and more than any other band. They actually had 3 in the top 60! I’m talking about the multiplatinum band The Association. Their vocal harmonies were some of the best of the rock era and yet they were like Halley’s Comet because by the 70s they all but disappeared from radio. They Scored half a dozen hits and then they were gone! Up next the story of one of the most-played songs ever… Cherish... The heart-wrenching song that many have walked down the aisle to but it’s a bit Obsessive! It was supposed to be a slow ballad but during recording the pace quickened and this made it a classic! The interview with members Jim Yester and Jules Alexander is next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind Steppenwolf’s Born to Be Wild: The First Heavy Metal Anthem Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

Up next the story of One of the first hard rock songs to light up the charts… Some even call it the first Heavy Metal song…and you’ll understand why next… The story of Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf. The demo came after singer and writer John Kay test-drove a car… the music in his head dictated it would be a cruising song. But at first, it was written as a slow ballad but the second it was sped up it became one of the coolest rock songs ever. … then the band got the iconic title Born to be Wild from a slogan off of a billboard After it was recorded the band was very confident in it and they were anxious to get it out to radio. But the label was pushing for another song to get the coveted A side. So they compromised… They would put both songs on the record. one on each side and whatever the DJ played that was the song… Well, it just so happens that all the DJs chose this hard rock B-side and it flew to the top of the charts...then it became the voice of a new generation when it was used in one of the first indie movies called Easy Rider that blew up the box office. a great story is coming up next.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Story Behind Boston’s More Than a Feeling and Brad Delp’s Legendary Vocal Dec 23, 2023

Show notes

Forget the auto-tune. Today we’re going back to an era when singers could actually sing… unassisted. Just raw, pure, unadulterated talent. And in fact, we’re bringing you what I believe is the all-time greatest male vocal performance on a rock song. It’s tough to pick but I think Brad Delp of Boston on their 70s rock classic More Than A Feeling is the GOAT. Written by Tom Sholz the wizard who produced their Boston self-titled debut album in his basement is a perfect song. Upon release, it was an absolute instant classic. At his peak, Brad Delp was hitting and holding high notes that even the best of the best couldn’t reach, but despite that, he rarely gets the credit he deserves. So to put him back in the spotlight, I’m matching him against some insanely talented rock singers. Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Freddie Mercury of Queen, and Steve Perry of Journey…. And I’m stripping three iconic tracks down to the vocals for a head-to-head match-up… to prove once and for all who really deserves to be called the GOAT… the greatest one-song vocal performance. Get ready, it’s all coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Radiohead’s Creep: The Stalker Confession That Became a Generation’s Anthem Dec 22, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, it’s a song that spoke for a generation, but was never intended to. A throwaway track that this band didn’t much like, and one of the guitarists actually tried to sabotage it in the studio. That however backfired. And only made the song better. Lyrically, it tells the story of a doomed, drunken confession the lead singer, Thom Yorke made to a girl he was infatuated with… and well, was basically stalking. Let’s just say he crashed and burned. But the song itself, rocketed up the charts, somehow managing to be both cathartic and self-loathing at the same time. In fact, this track got so big, the rock establishment tried to paint the band as a one-hit wonder. It’s the insane story of Radiohead Creep from their 90s classic Pablo Honey. So would they still be standing when all the dust settled? Plus, find out why they basically blacklisted Creep for years. The story is coming your way… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

All Along the Watchtower: The Dylan Song That Hendrix Elevated to Legendary Status Dec 21, 2023

Show notes

Coming up the story of an all-time rock classic that has 2 Legendary versions. All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan was actually covered by Guitar Virtuoso Jim Hendrix and realized before Dylan could get his out. Bob Dylan got into a motorcycle accident and shortly after changed the way he wrote and the result is All Along the Watchtower with lyrical inspiration from the book of Isaiah from the Bible making the song lyrics over 2700 years old. Thing is after Bob Dylan heard Hendrix's version of the song he freaked out. He loved it. In fact, after he heard it he started playing it the exact same way. It’s become arguably the greatest cover song ever and has been covered since then by everyone from Dave Matthews Band to U2. Bob Dylan released All Along the Watchtower on his 60s classic John Wesley Harding. Get the story next on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s My Life: Mark Hollis, Talk Talk, and the Pursuit of Artistic Integrity Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, the story of a brilliant reclusive artist who didn’t want any attention…. He just wanted to make music. Mark Hollis played the game for a while and was miserable doing it. For 10 years, he was the leader of Talk Talk, a band that quietly mesmerized & influenced a generation. In 1984, he wrote a signature song of self-determination and independence called It’s My Life that became the group’s only hit in the U.S. Then a few years later he walked away from music to be a dad never to return…. Even when his song was remade by the multiplatinum band No Doubt and became a massive hit across the world he was nowhere to be found…not even for an interview. join me for the heartwarming spotlight on an artist driven by artistic purity, integrity, and parental responsibility…. something you hardly ever hear in rock and roll NEXT on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Livin’ on a Prayer, Wanted Dead or Alive, and the Journey Behind Slippery When Wet Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, the story of a rock record that we all owned. Slippery When Wet by Bon Jovi was the pinnacle of glam metal and hard rock... in the 80s you couldn’t escape it if you tried. And it came from a rock band who more than paid their dues to make it. Bon Jovi did every job under the sun to make it. The record sold over 12 million copies on the strength of 3 massive hits. (You Give Love) a Bad Name, Livin’ On a Prayer and Wanted Dead or Alive…. the #1 hit that kicked the album off was a rocker that grabbed you by the throat from the first vocal but it was originally a disco song that was written for famous female singer Bonnie Tyler. But once these rockers put their stamp on it no one could fathom it being a disco pop song. Another of these hits was written in the basement of the guitarist’s mom… a masterpiece about the demons of fame. Wanted Dead or Alive... It was a warning sign of the back-breaking extremities of life on the road and years after the mega success of the record it became so overwhelming that this frontman was ready to end it all… So was this song a prophetic glimpse into this band’s future? With the help of an iconic rock producer Bob Rock, we’re going to find out… The many adventures of Bon Jovi starring Jon Bon Jovi, Ritchie Sambora, and the band!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Did the Beatles Invent Heavy Metal with Helter Skelter? The Story Behind the Song Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

Two legends, Paul McCartney from the Beatles and Pete Townshend from The Who were talking shop back in the late 60s. Pete showed Paul his band’s new song I Can See For Miles and bragged that it was the loudest dirtiest rockiest song ever. Paul McCartney took his bragging as a challenge. He went back to the Beatles and challenged them to get loud and crazy and move the sound meter as far into the red as it would go. the Fab Four took the challenge so much so that the drummer Ringo Starr played as hard as he could for 8 hours straight and by the time he was done his fingers were bleeding mess. He had blisters all over them! The song was named after a kiddie ride… Helter Skelter and in the end, the Beatles may have accidentally invented heavy metal…It’s debatable. but in the end the song blew everyone away but then the kiddies ride song was stolen by a notorious killer… Charles Manson. The story or a scorcher next on Professor of Rock.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Professor of Rock

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected