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 Rock
The Catchiest Songs of the ’90s: The Verve, Smashing Pumpkins, TLC & The Cranberries
To me the definition of great hit song is one that is so catchy and undeniable that whenever it comes on you feel like your 50 Feet tall and invincible. Some…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger”: How Rocky III Created a #1 Hit
The story of the #1 hit Eye of the Tiger from Rocky 3. In the early 80s this Survivor co-founder Jim Peterik came home for Lunch and checked his answering…
- Professor of Rock
Top 5 Two-Hit Wonders of the ’80s: Ratt, Icehouse, Tone Loc & More
Coming up… Van Halen, Ratt, and more as we skip the one hit wonders to talk about the topic of top 2-Hit Wonders. ...But today I wanted to shake it up. What…
- Professor of Rock
The Songs That Should've Been #1 in 1984
Coming up, We’re going back in time to a perfect year in music and setting it right. Taking some top 10 hits and giving them their due at #1. Including some…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Pink Floyd’s Time and The Great Gig in the Sky Keep Dark Side of the Moon Timeless
Let's run it back with this classic! Pink Floyd The Dark Side of the Moon...Imagine if you will an album so legendary.. So in Demand that there were factories…
- Professor of Rock
Top Songs of 1969: The Final Countdown | The Zombies, Tommy James & More
Coming up…we take the time machine back to a year that changed everything with songs that were all over the map. We’ll tell the tale of Time of the Season that…
- Professor of Rock
The Greatest Novelty Songs of the '80s: So Bad They're Good
I'm counting down the top 5 most cringe-worthy 80s novelty tracks that are “so bad, they’re good.” We’re talking songs like Pac-Man Fever, Party All the Time…
- Professor of Rock
The Women Who Drove Rock Stars Wild—and Inspired Classic Songs
Coming up on today’s episode, we're back at it again. We’re counting down the most dangerously alluring song about females in rock history … These songs were…
- Professor of Rock
The Mamas & the Papas’ “Monday, Monday”: The #1 Hit Recorded in the Wrong Key
What is it about Mondays that gets us all down? It’s as if that day casts a shadow over us all, shifting the mood of the universe for a full 24 hours. With…
- Professor of Rock
Punchlines: Rock & Pop’s Biggest Musical Punchlines and Their Wildest Stories
In the music business, there’s a thin line between iconic and ironic. Some artists spend decades building a legacy, only to watch the internet reduce it to a…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter” Became a Haunting Masterpiece and a Point of Contention
All eyes were on this legendary band after they released their megalithic fourth album Led Zeppelin IV. Championed by many as the greatest rock record ever…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Songs of 1981: The Untold Stories Behind Journey, Devo, Blondie & Pat Benatar
Coming up… It’s nostalgia overload in a trip back to a perfect year in music. Including the provocative hit Whip It by Devo that sparked controversy so…
- Professor of Rock
Greatest #3 Hits of the 1970s: Bill Withers, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner & More
Today we’ve got 10 tracks that were going for the gold but came up just short… bringing home the bronze instead. That’s right, it’s another edition of our #3…
- Professor of Rock
The Doors’ “The End”: Why Jim Morrison Got Fired Over Rock’s Most Controversial Song
Coming up next… a song that was so offensive, the Doors were fired on the spot for performing it. Here’s what happened: Jim Morrison, was playing one of The…
- Professor of Rock
Top 8 Catchiest ’80s Songs: “Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Take On Me,” & More
The 80s gave us some of the most irresistible, inescapable songs ever put to tape. And today we're going all in on the neon decade, counting down my picks for…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: John Oates Details How "Out of Touch" Became Hall & Oates’ Final #1 Hit
Let's run it back! Coming up, an interview with one of the 80s great hitmakers. The most successful duo of the rock era, Daryl Hall and John Oates Everything…
- Professor of Rock
Top Songs of 1972: Neil Young, Harry Nilsson, America & Gilbert O'Sullivan
Coming up… We took a little break from this show but due to popular demand, we’re back. We take the time machine back to the 70s in a year full of classics…
- Professor of Rock
The 7 Catchiest Songs of the ’70s: “September,” “Come and Get Your Love,” “Long Cool Woman” & More
To me the definition of great hit song is one that is so catchy and undeniable that whenever it comes on you feel like your 20 feet tall and invincible. It’s a…
- Professor of Rock
Rock’s Biggest Betrayals: Supertramp, Iron Maiden, Badfinger & the Worst Backstabbing in Music History
The music industry has never had a shortage of shady handshake deals. What many have learned is to have a lawyer look over it and get it in writing. So many…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Led Zeppelin’s “Hey Hey What Can I Do” Became a Lost Classic for Decades
How Led Zeppelin threw this song away is beyond me. Next we break down a classic rock hidden gem Hey Hey What Can I Do which was the B side to the 45 of…
- Professor of Rock
Remembering Bonnie Tyler: The Story Behind “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and Her Legendary Voice
I am heartbroken to hear the news about Bonnie Tyler’s passing. Bonnie died in a hospital in Portugal, where she was being treated for an illness, according to…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Forgotten Classics of 1986
I was thinking the other day, it’s hard to believe that the year 1986 was 40 Years ago. Talk about a Phenomenal year for music. There were so many classic Hits…
- Professor of Rock
The Most Addictive Songs of the ’60s: The Association, Simon & Garfunkel, The Troggs & More
Today we cover a decade that produced some of the catchiest, most enduring songs ever recorded — tracks so deeply embedded in our psyches that you can hum them…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: The Dark Legends Behind “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones
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…
- Professor of Rock
Counting Down the Greatest TV Theme Songs of the ’70s
Today, we’re going back to the 70s for another helping of great TV theme songs. This time we’ve got some perfect themes that will take you back, including a…
- Professor of Rock
The Greatest #3 Hits Ever: Love Shack, Luka, Dirty Laundry & Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
Everyone talks about the Runner ups… The #2 hits the one that almost got to #1, but what about the #3s? Today we are doing something nobody does… Counting down…
- Professor of Rock
Top 5 Artists Who Hated Their Biggest Hits: The Who, R.E.M., The Turtles & More
We All Love This Legend But He Wrote THE MOST IRRITATING Song of the 70s & Even He Admits It! For many artists and bands the song that makes you famous is the…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind “Brandy”: Looking Glass, Guardians of the Galaxy & an Unlikely #1 Hit
I’ve got a special treat for you today. It’s an interview I released years ago but got taken down within a few hours over copyright claims… Well I worked it…
- Professor of Rock
Female Hidden Gems: Brandi Carlile, Cowboy Junkies, Natalie Imbruglia & More
Alright, it’s been a long while since we covered one of these. Today, we’re coming back to a channel favorite: Female Hidden Gems! For this countdown, we’re…
- Professor of Rock
The Greatest Songs of 1970's: The Stories Behind “Love Hurts,” “Lovin’ You” & More
Coming up… It’s our final TIME IN BOTTLE COUNTDOWN for now. I’ve really enjoyed doing this series of songs that take us right back to the moment these song…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: Debunking the Urban Legend Behind Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight”
Let's run it back! The 80s classic hit In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins has arguably the most famous urban legend behind it in rock history. Told and retold…
- Professor of Rock
The Mamas & the Papas: The Truth Behind Mama Cass, “California Dreamin’” & the Pipe Story
I love the Mamas and the Papas. They had such a unique style with hits like California Dreamin' and Monday Monday, but today I have a really strange tale. It’s…
- Professor of Rock
The Women Who Inspired Rock Classics: Top 10 Femme Fatale Songs
Alright guys, you better watch your step… We are about to count down the greatest “femme fatale” songs of the rock era. And every one of these songs is based…
- Professor of Rock
The True Story of Player’s #1 Hit “Baby Come Back”
Peter Beckett, lead singer of the band Player, tells the story of the group's huge number one hit, Baby Come Back, the smooth 70s classic that has now become a…
- Professor of Rock
Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll”: The Accidental Guitar Hero and the Hit Nobody Expected
Behind the platinum records and the sold-out arenas, the music world hides a shadowy world of surveillance, syndicate deals, and criminal acts that most fans…
- Professor of Rock
How The Byrds Changed Music Forever with “Mr. Tambourine Man”
Coming up next on of the most important interviews I’ve ever done with one of the greatest legends in rock history. He was the leader of a band that was…
- Professor of Rock
Rock & Roll True Crime: The Dark Stories Behind Mariah Carey, The Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd & Dave Navarro
Behind the platinum records and the sold-out arenas, the music world hides a shadowy world of surveillance, syndicate deals, and criminal acts that most fans…
- Professor of Rock
1981’s Greatest Songs Countdown: Stevie Nicks, Quarterflash, Alan Parsons Project and a Beatles Reunion
For a limited time, our listeners get 50% off FOR LIFE, Free Shipping, AND 3 Free Gifts at Mars Men at Mengotomars.com. Coming up next, it’s time to go back…
- Professor of Rock
Punchline Countdown: 5 Music Stars Mocked by Pop Culture Despite Gold & Platinum Success
Fame is a fickle beast. One minute you're on top of the world, and the next you're the butt of the joke. It’s a fine line between icon and punchline. That…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Frankie Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” and His Risky Solo Breakthrough
Coming up, the story of Can't Take My Eyes Off You, a song that has had a huge impact on pop culture since its release over 50 years ago. Before it dominated…
- Professor of Rock
Rock’s Most Dysfunctional Families: The Kinks, Heart & 4 More Legendary Sibling Rivalries
Man, we’ve really got the good, the bad, and the ugly on today’s episode. Today we're queuing up another rock sibling rivalry countdown…last time we had Donnie…
- Professor of Rock
Weird Al Yankovic Reveals the Stories Behind His Greatest Parodies, From Michael Jackson to Nirvana
Today we have a special interview with the President of Parody, music’s greatest jester... legend Weird Al Yankovic in an uncut interview that covers his…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: Peter Frampton Turned Procrastination into a Historic Success
We're bringing back this absolute CLASSIC! Up next an exclusive interview with 70s Legend Peter Frampton the singer write guitarist who had failed as a solo…
- Professor of Rock
The Songs That Ruled 1989: Roxette’s Surprise #1, Sheriff’s Comeback & Aerosmith’s Revival
Coming up, we’re popping the lid off another Time Bottle to let the music do the talking, with songs that transport us back to the end of a decade of great…
- Professor of Rock
Mark Slaughter on “Fly to the Angels” and the Loss That Changed Everything
Coming up… an interview with hard rock singer Mark Slaughter on his band, Slaughter's biggest hit: Fly to the Angels. It’s one of the most gut-wrenching songs…
- Professor of Rock
Rock’s Greatest Vault Songs: The Hits That Never Got Released
Some of rock’s greatest songs never make the album. Instead, they get buried in a vault and forgotten for decades. Today I’m going to unearth some of the…
- Professor of Rock
Double-Cross! The Wildest Betrayals in Music History
Today I have a new show for ya all. Ya know, sometimes the music industry can seem more like a blood sport than an art form. For every legendary band forged in…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Tommy James’ “Draggin’ the Line” and His Near-Death Collapse
Tommy James was the leader of one of the most successful acts of the 60s, Tommy James and the Shondells. Together they had 14 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Pearl Jam’s “Daughter” Became a #1 Hit Despite Their Rejection of Fame
Let's run it back! It was Pearl Jam against the world when they were working on their follow up album to Ten that sold more copies that even Nirvana Nevermind…
- Professor of Rock
Countdown: The Greatest Hits of 1977 and the Stories Behind Them
Coming up, a year of classics and all-time songs. The songs that will take you back because they sound exactly like the year they were ruling the charts in the…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Times Rock Stars Sabotaged Their Careers, Concerts, and Hit Songs
You gotta see this! Back by popular demand, it’s time for another sabotage countdown. In the past, we’ve told stories of bands that undercut rivals on stage…
- Professor of Rock
Is Journey's Steve Perry the G.O.A.T...? The Professor of Rock and Black Pegasus Discuss!
I’ve never done this before. Coming up I show a fellow YouTuber and rapper my favorite Journey song "it's a classic" and get his immediate take as we discuss…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Modern TV Themes: The Songs That Defined Stranger Things, The Sopranos, and More
You know, a great TV theme song is more than just an earworm. The best of the best rewire your brain so that, decades later, hearing it, you’re teleported…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: Eddie Van Halen Tribute
Let's take it back with this POR Classic! We lost one of the most influential and innovative guitarist of the Rock Era, when Eddie Van Halen succumbed to his…
- Professor of Rock
Top Songs of 1983: The One-Hit Wonders, MTV Classics, and Forgotten Stories Behind the Hits
Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that…
- Professor of Rock
UNCUT Interview: Michael Anthony Reveals the Stories Behind Van Halen’s Biggest Hits and Hidden Gems
Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that…
- Professor of Rock
Rock Legends vs. the Critics: The Most Infuriating Music Reviews Ever
Today we’re firing up the hot take machine and taking on the worst opinions from those who I’ve never really seen eye to eye with … “ the so-called music…
- Professor of Rock
Unsolved Mysteries of Rock: The Singer Strangled by Her Own Band Merch
A few weeks ago, we had our first episode of Unsolved Mysteries of Rock and Roll, and I got hundreds of requests for another episode. So today, we're pulling…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How "Walk Like an Egyptian" Broke Up The Bangles
Let's run it back! It’s a song with a storied history and a bittersweet legacy. But you’d never know just listening to it. That’s because this is one of those…
- Professor of Rock
The Wild Stories Behind 1975’s Biggest Songs: Styx, Average White Band, Carl Douglas & More
Coming up, we’re going back to a year that was all over the place with some wonderful variety and unconventional songs that became beloved, hits that defined…