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:

The High Stakes Behind Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours” Success Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Coming up an interview with one of the pioneers of Thrash Metal: Anthrax... In our exclusive interview, we’ll find out why guitarist Scott Ian from Anthrax’s classic 1985 music video for Madhouse was banned by the suits at MTV. And how a Stephen King book inspired their next 80s classic record. And how a failed duet called I’m the Man with the Beastie Boys became their breakout hit when they had to do it on their own. All of this is Next on Professor of Rock.

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The Rise and Disappearance of Looking Glass and “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” Oct 05, 2023

Show notes

Coming up….the saga of how a teenage girl at a clothing store completely bewitched a journeyman lead singer- Who wrote a song just minutes after meeting her that would become the fastest-selling debut single since the Beatles… The story of MY SHARONA by The Knack. This song eventually outdid them with 10 million copies sold. Times were good for The Knack with Doug Fieger...they had the #1 song of 1979 and this girl Sharona broke up with her boyfriend to be with Knack singer Doug Feiger but then just as quickly as their fortunes rose they fell… By 1982 the band vanished from the charts forever and Sharona broke up with the singer. Find out what happened to the band and the girl in from a song that is really the Halley’s Comet of rock, next on Professor of Rock.”

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The Rise and Fall of Milli Vanilli: From Fame to Infamy Oct 04, 2023

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Sometimes you just gotta kick back and let it rock. And that’s what today’s song is all about. One of the 80s’ ultimate party anthems, Poison and their hit Nothing But a Good Time is a high-octane antidote for the daily grind. But even though it nearly reached the top of the charts and anchored a multi-platinum record with Open Up and Say Ah!, this song actually came from humble beginnings. Living in a hole-in-the-wall warehouse, complete with cockroaches, this band was really slumming it. But at the same time, they were hustling hard. With an unrelenting work ethic for promotion their band they hit the streets and clubs of LA… determined to make a name for themselves. They even tried to hijack Van Halen and Motley Crue fans out in the parking lot before their shows. These guys would stop at nothing to make the big time. It was platinum or bust for Bret Michaels, CC DeVille, and Poison … But either way, these guys were determined to enjoy every minute of it. The story is coming up… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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How Eric Clapton’s Heartbreak Inspired “Layla” Oct 03, 2023

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There’ve been hundreds of hits based on the apotheosis baby I made a horrible mistake and I want you back but this one is the king of all those songs…a 70s classic as told by the singer. He wrote it when his wife walked out on him… after he wrote it he knew it was A #1 hit He was so sure he guaranteed the record label… Well, he was right and decades later it’s still one of the biggest songs ever with every generation. The song was helped by a huge pause right before the chorus that made the ending of this song legendary find out the story next on Professor of Rock.

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The Tension Behind Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water” Oct 02, 2023

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They’re one of the greatest Duos ever. A rare and unique pairing that comes along maybe once a generation. Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel…AKA Simon and Garfunkel… Over the span of half a decade, they became so popular that at one point their records owned the top 3 spots on the US Albums chart. Sadly, however, this partnership didn’t last. Fraught with jealousy and bitterness, their relationship came to a passive-aggressive climax with the final song they recorded for their final album. Bridge Over Troubled Water became a #1 hit and a wedge between them. After the song’s writer Paul Simon gave it to Art to sing, he soon came to regret it. It was blowing up and legions of fans were cheering for his partner. Infuriated, Simon wished he had kept it for himself. Soon after, the two were irreconcilable. Find out how this song put the final nail in the coffin of this iconic partnership… NEXT on the Professor of Rock.

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The Dark Legends Behind “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones Sep 30, 2023

Show notes

Coming up, the story of the epic 70s rock track with so many dramatic subplots, it should’ve been made into a full feature bio-pic- like Bohemian Rhapsody or Walk the Line. Derek and the Dominos classic Layla The roots of Layla go back to the the writings of a romantic tragedy by a 12th century poet that was a foreshadowing to Romeo & Juliet. Hundreds of years later, an adaptation of his work found its way to an all-time legend…Eric Clapton... a man who stole his best friend George Harrison’s wife! and that’s just the start... of a song shrouded in murder, drug abuse, tragedy, and despair. The tangled web of one of the all-time greatest songs of the Rock Era is NEXT on Professor of Rock... and it’s a doozy.

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How Steve Perry Transformed Journey into Arena Rock Giants Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Coming up a song that has become a classic rock standard and one that started it all for one of the greatest American rock bands in history... Journey… The song? Wheel In the Sky from their 70s classic album infinity... To think it wouldn’t have happened if the road manager hadn’t insisted on pulling the tour van over to get a candy bar.. or Take a piss, depending on the story! At the time the young virtuoso Neal Schon pulled out his guitar and created a riff that would live on radio forever but it also needed a legendary vocal and 2 different singers would end up recording it. Robert Fleischman, and a young kid named Steve Perry. Find out what version got released as the iconic guitarist and founder tells us the amazing story in an exclusive interview next of professor of rock.

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How Toto Turned a Shelved Instrumental into the #1 Hit “Africa” Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

Glam Metal band Europe wrote a keyboard instrumental to be the opening music for their live shows…to play while they were walking out on stage… Then half the band HATED it…and they actually shelved it for 5 years. Then they needed a song for their next album and dusted it off thinking it would be no more than a filler track. It not only became their signature song.. it became a stadium rock anthem that would rule our culture and it’s still killing it. The story of Europe and their hit the Final Countdown that ruled 1986 and 1987.

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The Story of Madness: How Our House Became a Global Smash Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

It’s interesting how a band can blow up on the other side of the pond in the UK and be one of the most renowned bands of it’s time and then over here in the States are just a one-hit wonder… Well, today’s band and song are a lot more than that! The band Madness were trailblazers in their native England with 30 top 40 hits over the course of the 70s 80s and 90s with 17 of those going to the top 10. In America, they conquered the charts in 1983 with their only hit stateside but it was a big one. Our House by Madness was a monster smash. It’s a classic we all still sing along to pretty much every week. Madness is a band where every member came from a working-class family trapped in cramped quarters and several members even had criminal records before they hit the big time. It’s a compelling story of a band of brothers who rose above poverty and crime to create a musical movement that changed everything. We break down this sentimental classic by the “working man’s Pink Floyd"…NEXT on Professor of Rock.

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The Story Behind Don Henley’s The Heart of the Matter: Interviews with JD Souther and Mike Campbell Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Coming up… separate interviews with 2 legends behind one of the most truthful and compelling songs of the rock era: The Heart of the Matter by Don Henley written for his solo album The End of the Innocence. It's a song that’s changed so many people’s lives including mine with a message that’s so life-affirming and real it should be required listening… It’s just universal. And one of me most important parts of the song was written improv when its legendary singer was recording it… They needed a verse and he sang what came into his head on the spot and it tied the song together. You have to hear this story and interview coming up with 2 of the 3 co-writers of this song, JD Souther who wrote 3 #1 hits for the Eagles including Best of My Love and Heartache Tonight, and Mike Campbell the former guitarist, producer and co-writer of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

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