Shows / Professor of Rock
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…
Episodes
Professor of RockThe New Radicals: One Hit, One Album, and a Sudden Departure from the Spotlight
Coming up…we uncover the story of the New Radicals' "You Get What You Give" a 1998 hit that took shots at healthcare giants, the banking industry, and…
- Professor of Rock
Jim Morrison Called 'Hello, I Love You' a Dumb Joke…The Label Made It a #1 Smash
The Doors were coming off a year that included their breakthrough to the masses with one of the most iconic songs of the rock era, Light My Fire hit #1 and it…
- Professor of Rock
The Secret Meaning Behind Modern English’s 'I Melt With You': Love in the Face of Nuclear Destruction
We've been singing this 1983 classic all our lives and come to find out it's about a couple hooking up during nuclear war? I Melt With You by Modern English…
- Professor of Rock
How Danny Elfman Created an 80s Classic in a Haunted Room—But Never Had a Top 40 Hit
Coming up next, one a scary story for ya. Our story revolves around singer-composer Danny Elfman who stayed in a haunted room where 7 people were murdered. He…
- Professor of Rock
How Strip Clubs Saved Def Leppard’s 'Animal' and Turned 'Hysteria' Into a Smash
Today, we’ve got a drama-filled double feature from Def Leppard, a band that ruled the airwaves with one album, Hysteria, from 1987 to 1989. At the time these…
- Professor of Rock
The Stories Behind 5 Banned or Disowned Songs in Rock History
Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 5 songs that stirred up so much controversy, for the most part, the artists themselves won’t perform them anymore. From…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind 'Lunatic Fringe': A One-Hit Wonder That Was Never a Hit in America
Today’s band Red Rider was a well-kept secret in their time and they had multiple hits in their homeland of Canada. In the early 80s inspired by several…
- Professor of Rock
From Fired to Headliner: How Lemmy Kilmister Made Motörhead a Metal Icon
"Coming up…the story of metal rock icon, Lemmy Kilmister who toiled behind the scenes as a roadie for the great Jimi Hendrix, and was fired from a band after…
- Professor of Rock
How Cass Elliot Overcame Rejection and Became the Voice of the Mamas and the Papas
Coming up… the strange tale of how a lead pipe falling at a construction site allegedly gave Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas one of the most iconic…
- Professor of Rock
How 'You Make My Dreams' Became Hall & Oates’ Most Beloved Song Decades Later
Coming up next, one of my favorite singers ever and one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of the past 50 years, Daryl Hall tells us the stories of many…
- Professor of Rock
Why Kansas Almost Left 'Carry On Wayward Son' Off the Album and How It Became a Classic
For just short of a decade today’s classic song Carry On Wayward Son by Kansas was the most-played song on rock radio... and it was almost never released. The…
- Professor of Rock
How The Carpenters’ 'Goodbye to Love' Accidentally Invented the Power Ballad
Coming up… we get into the story behind a Top 10 hit from one of the biggest duos EVER, The Carpenters. Known more for their angelic harmonies and light and…
- Professor of Rock
The Untold Story of Pink Floyd: Brilliance, Chaos, and the Greatest Albums of All Time
Okay, it doesn’t get any bigger than this. I’ve got an impossible task ahead of me and I don’t know how I’m going to do this. For this episode, I’m tackling…
- Professor of Rock
The Story of 'La Bamba': Ritchie Valens’ Legacy and the Coin Flip That Changed History
You can’t make this up… a foreign language song that was originally released as a B-side all of a sudden became a massive worldwide #1 smash nearly 30 years…
- Professor of Rock
Naked Rock Star Used Joan Jett’s Iconic Song as a Pickup Line at Her Hotel Door
Coming up, the story of an epic collaboration between one of rock’s most iconic rebels Joan Jett and one of the most prolific songwriters of the era Desmond…
- Professor of Rock
Teen Forgot Lyrics to 'Hanky Panky,' Made Up His Own, and Scored a #1 Hit
Coming up next… an interview with Tommy James, a legend who technically recorded his first hit at just 15 years of age. He snuck into a club and heard today’s…
- Professor of Rock
What Happened to 80s Hitmakers Information Society and Their Sudden Disappearance?
Coming up. It’s a subject we’ve talked about quite a few times on here. How does an artist or band blast onto the scene and hold the world hostage for several…
- Professor of Rock
How Dan Fogelberg’s Encounter With an Ex Inspired the 80s Classic 'Same Old Lang Syne'
Coming up, we celebrate Dan Fogelberg's The Innocent Age, an underrated masterpiece that deserves recognition for both its impact on the music industry and its…
- Professor of Rock
The Truth Behind Rock’s Wildest Urban Legends: Separating Fact From Fiction
The world of rock n’ roll has many of those wild, fascinating stories. As time goes on, the stories get wilder and wilder…the myths get further & further from…
- Professor of Rock
How a Toilet Brush Saved 'Dancing in the Moonlight' and Made It a 70s Classic
Today’s song Dancing in the Moonlight by King Harvest is one of the most beloved of the 70s. It is a happy-go-lucky singalong that no one can deny, yet it came…
- Professor of Rock
Guns N’ Roses Singer’s Sex Tape Ended Up on 'Rocket Queen'—A Controversial '87 Classic
Okay, we’re getting a little controversial here today. I mean, it’s unavoidable when you’re talking about the legendary and reckless Guns N Roses. As a way of…
- Professor of Rock
How Steve Miller’s Biggest Hit 'Abracadabra' Ended His Career—And a Fluke Revived It in 1990
Coming up….the story of a hall-of-fame rocker Steve Miller of the Steve Miller Band who found inspiration for the lyrics of his last BIG hit Abracadabra when…
- Professor of Rock
The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Pablo Cruise: From Yacht Rock Hits to Stepbrothers Fame
Coming up, I have an interview with a real blast from the past band, Yacht Rock sensation Pablo Cruise… They had 6 hits in the late 70s into the early 80s, a…
- Professor of Rock
Did The Beatles Hide a Massive Secret? Breaking Down the 'Paul Is Dead' Conspiracy
Is it the most elaborate cover-up in rock history? Some would say yes. For today’s episode, we’re covering The Beatles, a band that was at the forefront of the…
- Professor of Rock
This Weird Al Parody Became a Bigger Hit Than the Original Classic on One Chart
Get tickets for Weird Al's upcoming "Bigger & Weirder" tour. Dates will be announced on Monday, September 23rd. Check out Weird Al's website for more details…
- Professor of Rock
How Twisted Sister’s 'We’re Not Gonna Take It' Was Inspired by an Old Christmas Song
One of the so-called Filthy Fifteen, today’s rebellious rock anthem We're Not Gonna Take It by Twisted Sister never got a fair shake... not from parents, not…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind 'Stuck in the Middle with You': A Bob Dylan Parody That Became a Hit
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a room with people you couldn’t stand, but had no choice but to grin and bear it? Well, the two leaders of Stealers…
- Professor of Rock
How a Teenager’s First Song, 'Light My Fire,' Took The Doors to #1 and Changed Rock Forever
When legendary frontman Jim Morrison of The Doors told his band members they should go home and write some songs to fill out their live show and have more to…
- Professor of Rock
How The Cars Helped Rock and Roll Triumph Over Disco with 'Let’s Go'
What can you say about today’s band The Cars? They mixed two genres perfectly to become one of the greatest rock bands of the late 70s and 80s helping save…
- Professor of Rock
Six Forgotten 80s Classics That Deserve as Much Love as 'Don’t Stop Believin’'
You’ve heard them all a million times or more. The most overplayed songs of the 80s. Not only did they flood the radio airwaves back in the day, but since the…
- Professor of Rock
How Sweet’s 'Love Is Like Oxygen' Redefined Their Sound but Marked the End of an Era
Coming up... the story of the mini-rock symphony Love is Like Oxygen from Sweet, a band once dismissed by critics as a "bubblegum group" focused only on making…
- Professor of Rock
The 80s Classic 'Come On Eileen': Controversy, Claims of Theft, and an Unwilling Star
Where do I even start with this one? Over 50 musicians came in and out of this one-hit wonder band in its time... Dexys Midnight Runners. And its principal…
- Professor of Rock
The Hidden Meanings Behind 'Mellow Yellow': A 1966 Hit About Drugs and a Sex Toy
Coming up, the story behind one of the biggest hits of 1966 Mellow Yellow by Donovan. Packed with hidden meanings and controversial themes, this song, somehow…
- Professor of Rock
How John Cafferty & the Beaver Brown Band’s 'On the Dark Side' Became a Hit After a Movie Flop
Sometimes you hear a rock and roll story and it’s so good you feel like it was scripted or made up. Well, today’s story seems too good to be true, but it’s…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview With Sting: The Only Artist With Two Songs in the 10 Most Played Ever
Coming up… A Holy Grail interview. When I started doing this years ago I made a list of 15 artists I have to interview before I die and my top 3 were no…
- Professor of Rock
The Untold Stories Behind the Eagles’ Greatest Hits and Their Dramatic Breakup
From the early 70s to the close of the decade, the Eagles were flying high, having written a litany of beloved rock-era hits. As well as some classic rock…
- Professor of Rock
Celebrating the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders of the 70s With Stories From the Artists Who Lived Them
Coming up… Get ready to take a nostalgic journey as we countdown the Top 10 One-Hit Wonders of the 70s with the actual artists telling their stories… We have…
- Professor of Rock
How a Shy Donald Fagen Hit on His Professor’s Pregnant Wife and Turned It Into Steely Dan's 70s Hit
Once upon a time at a Halloween party in the 70s, a notoriously shy, unsociable future hall-of-fame rockstar named Donald Fagen got the courage to hit on a…
- Professor of Rock
How Corey Hart’s 'Sunglasses at Night' Made Him a Star—And Why He’s No One-Hit Wonder
Coming up… we're putting the spotlight on Sunglasses at Night, an iconic '80s anthem-ditty created by Corey Hart who caught the attention of two of the most…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interviews With Crosby, Stills & Nash: The Story Behind 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes'
Crosby Stills & Nash Tell the story of their first hit SUITE: JUDY BLUE EYES the song that put them on the map as one of the world's first supergroups. In this…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Neal Schon Interview: The Untold Story Behind Journey’s 'Any Way You Want It'
Coming up next. When guitar legend Neal Schon of Journey was an unknown 14-year-old kid, he told his parents he was going to a sleepover at his friend’s hour……
- Professor of Rock
The Shocking Truth Behind 'Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini': Fraud Exposed After 50 Years
Coming up, an interview with with throwback icon Brian Hyland about a song that every generation living on this earth knows by heart... Itsy Bitsy Teenie…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind The Cure’s 'Just Like Heaven': A Near-Tragedy That Created Musical Perfection
I have a question for you all? How many perfect songs are there in the world. Where every second of it is exhilarating… That no many times you listen to it, it…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Stevie Nicks’ 'Stand Back': Inspired by Prince and a Wedding Night Detour
Stevie Nicks, one of rock’s most revered singers, was on her way to a secretive honeymoon after getting married. During the drive to the couple’s destination…
- Professor of Rock
Recounting the Top 10 Songs of 1988: The Best, the Worst, and Their Lasting Legacy
Up next we’re going to count down the top 10 songs of this very same timeframe from the year 1988. We have interviews and stories from the artists… as well as…
- Professor of Rock
Falco’s 'Rock Me Amadeus': The Misheard Lyric That Turned Into a Global Phenomenon
Coming up… the wild story behind Rock Me Amadeus by Falco, one of the most unexpected global hits of the ‘80s. It was written in German which happened to be…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview: Rita Coolidge Reveals How 'Layla' Was Stolen From Her
Coming up, an interview that really surprised me. Sometimes I do an interview and think I know what to expect and then the unexpected happens and it turns into…
- Professor of Rock
The Story of 'Zombie': The Cranberries’ Powerful Anthem That Became a Timeless #1
It’s hard to understand why a song that was hit all over the world wasn’t released in the US. Today’s song Zombie by the Cranberries was never released in…
- Professor of Rock
How Michael McDonald’s 'I Keep Forgetting' Became a Rap Hit Decades Later With Warren G
Michael McDonald has over 1,200 songwriting credits and has played on more than 700 recordings dating back to 1972, yet for years, no one knew his name outside…
- Professor of Rock
How Judas Priest’s 'Living After Midnight' Began as a Joke and Became a Metal Classic
Rob Halford the metal God himself and the raging front man of Judas Priest tells the story of the band's metal masterpiece: British Steel and the song Living…
- Professor of Rock
How Phil Collins Took a Risk With 'Another Day in Paradise'—And It Became a #1 Hit
Did today’s featured artist Phil Collins make too much music? Between Genesis and his solo career, we’re talking 20 studio albums in about three decades…
- Professor of Rock
How the Scorpions’ 'Rock You Like a Hurricane' Almost Had an F-Bomb in the Chorus
So apparently one of the greatest classic rock songs of the 80s, Rock You Like a Hurricane by the Scorpions, almost didn’t happen because when the song was…
- Professor of Rock
How the Mamas and the Papas’ 'Monday Monday' Was Recorded in the Wrong Key and Still Hit #1
What is it about Mondays that seems to bring everyone down? It’s as if that day casts a shadow over us all, shifting the mood of the universe for a full 24…
- Professor of Rock
The Tragic Story of 'Bittersweet Symphony': How Richard Ashcroft Lost Everything
Coming up… The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony was so mesmerizing, so ear-catching that it hypnotized an entire generation… It was on its way to becoming one of…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview: How The Association Created 'Windy' and Other Forgotten Classics
Coming up next, the story of the the most upbeat hit song ever Windy by The Association. IT’S ALMOST unfair how infectious and addicting this classic hit and…
- Professor of Rock
How Mazzy Star’s 'Fade Into You' Became a Hit They Never Wanted—and Why They Vanished
For decades, Mazzy Star has walked the line between obscurity and popularity… between camouflage and captivating the masses. Originating in LA’s Paisley…
- Professor of Rock
The Truth Behind Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 'Sweet Home Alabama' and Their Alleged Feud With Neil Young
The alleged feud between Lynyrd Skynyrd and Neil Young has long been a topic of fascination for Rock fans and pop culture enthusiasts. What began as a lyrical…
- Professor of Rock
The Tragic Undertones of 'Don’t Stop Me Now': How Queen’s Hit Reflects Freddie Mercury’s Life
Queen's Don't Stop Me Now is about the most fun-loving, let-it-all-go without-a-care in the world track in rock history. But it was not a hit when it first…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview: How The Monkees’ 'Last Train to Clarksville' Hid a Protest Message and Hit #1
Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees is a song with a secret message. One that never would have gotten airplay if the music industry knew what this squeaky…
- Professor of Rock
How Toto Became Rock’s Ultimate Underdogs and Refused Rolling Stone’s Spotlight
Coming up next… Toto is currently the biggest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snub this side of Boston. Especially since between the guitarist Steve Lukather and…