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:

Don Barnes of 38 Special on Caught Up in You and the Rivalry Behind Their Biggest Hits Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with 38 Special singer Don Barnes who’s band started out as with a southern rock sound but by the early 80s they were a straight ahead arena rock band with several huge songs including today’s 1982 #1 rock hit: Caught up in You... It was a co write between Don Barnes, Guitarist Jeff Carlisi and a rival band’s main songwriter. Jim Peterik of Survivor. In fact when Survivor’s guitar player heard Jim was writing for another band he was livid. In the end, the this angry guitar player was given a songwriting credit to avoid a lawsuit… by the end of the 38 Special snagged their biggest hit…only it was with a completely different singer, a one album replacement…Max Carl… the song was second chance… Up next, the story of Caught Up in You and Hold on Loosely... find out what happened next on Professor of Rock.

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How Eurythmics Created Sweet Dreams and Turned Heartbreak Into a Global Smash  Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up a saga of two musicians that fell in love, and put a band together, but the band broke up, and so did their romantic relationship. Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart formed then formed Eurythmics… They were Thousands of miles from home and broken up but the couple decided to stay united, professionally, and continue to make music together. The future looked bleak, the darkest point was a day when the couple had a huge fight and Annie Lennox was convinced her career as an artist had come to an end. Suddenly, Dave Stewart began playing a riff so riveting, so powerful, it shook Annie Lennox right out of her state of depression, and she began blurting out her deepest, darkest feelings, like a patient opening up to a psychiatrist. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) was born...They knew they had something great..but when they showed it to Music execs they said there’s no chorus no hook…This musical response to the suits would prove to be prophetic…The whole song is a hook… he was right when Sweet Dreams became a 1983 #1 smash. The story of a song that made them international superstars is NEXT on Professor of Rock.”

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The Story Behind Bow Wow Wow's I Want Candy and Its Journey as a Cultural Icon Nov 26, 2023

Show notes

It's known as one of the 80s most Iconic one hit wonders. It leads the pack of most infamous one hit wonders of all time! Only problem is "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow wasn't actually a hit. It barely made the top 50. But it's such a huge part of our culture it will go down as one of the biggest non hits ever. In my interview with former Bow Wow Wow singer Annabelle Lwin tells the story of recording this classic and how the band had overcome censorship to get their music out. Malcolm McLaren was the who put the band together. and when they released an early singer with a scantily clad Annabelle on the front. it caused outrage. Also most people don't realize that I Want Candy was a remake of one old 60s tune. Annabelle tells the entertaining story next on Professor of Rock.

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How Journey's Open Arms Went from Loathed to Loved and Became a Power Ballad Classic Nov 25, 2023

Show notes

How I learned to love a song I once hated… Journey and their #1 power ballad Open Arms…But I’m not the only one. Neal Schon the guitarist of Journey also loathed it and refused to play it live for some time. Written by Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain… Well first of all, et me ask you...Have you ever disliked a song so much, that for most of your life, you just couldn’t stand to listen to it? I’m talking about one of those tracks you always skipped on the album or that had you reaching for the dial when it came on the radio. Sure you have. We’ve all got songs like that. But let me ask you this. Have you ever had a song that you hated, that you later learned to love after hearing it in a different context? Well, today, we’re covering Open Arms by Journey… From their 1981 classic album Escape… I hated it for decades until I was caught off guard and heard it with new ears. And now I love it…Find out what changed my mind and how it became Journey’s biggest song ever even though it was rejected by Jonathan Cain’s 1st band… with interviews with the band members NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Black Sabbath's Iron Man and How It Redefined Heavy Metal Nov 24, 2023

Show notes

Coming up Next. A song that came from a rock frontman’s desire to spit in the face of the "put a flower in your hair hippie persona" of the 60s. I’m talking about Ozzy Osbourne from Black Sabbath...He called the movement crap and he and his band with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward only wanted to muck up the mainstream… So they wrote a haunting metal classic called Iron Man… At first, it was called Iron Bloke... This song did a perfect job of ripping up the mainstream. The goal with rock masterpiece…at least for Black Sabbath was to create a song that would scare the hell out of people. and they pulled it off in spades… With a classic vocal that was sung through a Household item… A metal fan…we get the straight scoop behind the scariest song of 1971… one that still haunts us on Professor of Rock.

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How Dire Straits Revolutionized Music and Replaced Disco Icons  Nov 23, 2023

Show notes

The fact is Dire Straits interrupted disco in the late 70s with the classic song Sultans of Swing that would take radio hostage! with their unique sound and singer Mark Knopfler’s gruff iconic vocals. but they were victims of the sophomore slump when their 2nd record faltered and flailed on the charts. Determined to bounce back with a statement album, Knopfler heard a song on the radio that flipped him out, Because the Night by Patti Smith and it triggered a series of events that led to arguably his best work. Making Movies An album that was so meticulous and exact that the title track of the record was cut from the album at the last second. It was a rough process to touch greatness, it even caused a bitter falling out with his brother and band mate… The 2 haven’t spoken in over 40 years. The story of two of the greatest songs from the album Tunnel of Love and Skateaway are next on Professor of Rock.

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The Story of "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen: A $50 Hit That Changed Music Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

The story of Louie Louie by The Kingsmen

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The Chilling Tale of a Kidnapped Musician Forced to Write a Hit Song Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, the terrifying story of a songwriter named John D. Loudermilk who was kidnapped by three men while sleeping in the backseat of his car during a late-night blizzard. Allegedly, his captors abused him for three days, until they found out that he was a professional songwriter in the Nashville music scene…and then.. they made him a deal…. agree to write a song about the injustices put upon the Cherokee people… or die. Loudermilk who had written songs for Johnny Cash, the Everly Brothers, and Roy Orbison agreed to their demands to save himself and honored the deal by writing a song that eventually became a massive global smash, the 70s hit Indian Reservation (the lament of the Cherokee). It would later be picked for Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere and the Raiders and became the biggest-selling song until Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean. The incredible story the writer told about writing the song was hard to believe… That’s because… he made the whole thing up. The truth surrounding one of the biggest pop smashes of the Rock Era is revealed. NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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Eddie Van Halen Interrupted Sammy Hagar During Sex to Write "Finish What Ya Started" Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, we’re giving you a rare inside look at one of the most power-packed partnerships of the rock era. Two mighty musicians at the top of their game went on a massive decade-long run… Eddie Van Halen and Sammy Hagar… Van Halen kicked out four straight chart-topping records and 17 Top 10 rock singles. in just 9 years. For this episode we’re zeroing in on one of those tracks: the 1988 classic hit Finish What Ya Started. We’re telling the hilarious story behind its after-hours writing session. I actually got this one straight from this band’s legendary frontman the Red Rocker himself Sammy Hagar. And it’s really one of the funniest songwriting stories you’re ever going to hear. This famous guitarist interrupted his singer in the middle of an intimate night with his wife to write this song… and that’s what he wrote the song about.. the story is NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Emotional Power of The Beatles’ "Let It Be" and Its Timeless Legacy Nov 18, 2023

Show notes

The Beatles...They are easily the biggest band ever. But after they broke up officially in 1970, the world hoped for a day they would reunite. but It seemed impossible. And yet following a decade of solo careers, for all four, Paul McCartney both solo and with Wings, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, and George Harrison there were behind-the-scenes talks of a reunion. it was actually going to HAPPEN! However, these plans were tragically cut short when John Lennon was taken from this earth. It was one of the darkest days in rock history. But then years later thanks to a near-forgotten demo tape, a reunion became a reality, as much as it could be… The surviving band members used this demo to record two new songs. Free as a Bird and Real Love. They also meant to do a third track called Now and Then, but the quality of the cassette was so poor they couldn’t finish it. Today we relive the history of all three songs including their new song, Now and Then… the poignant song has taken a band that has been broken up for over 50 years back to the top of the charts on Professor of Rock.

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