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 RockDead or Alive’s 'You Spin Me Round': From 80s Hit to Guinness Record and #1 Again 21 Years Later
Today, we’re getting into the entertaining story behind an up-tempo 80s track that landed in the Guinness Book of World Records… You Spin Round (Like a Record)…
- Professor of Rock
Queen’s 'Bohemian Rhapsody': How Freddie Mercury Leaked the Song That Became a #1 Hit
Today’s featured song is an undeniable masterpiece. Not only has it been hailed not only as Queen's greatest track, but also as one of the foremost rock songs…
- Professor of Rock
The Grateful Dead’s 'Touch of Grey': The One Hit Wonder Who Played to 25 Million Fans
The Grateful Dead may have the most passionate & loyal following of the Rock Era. The Dead were jamming their way to the highest echelons of live music when In…
- Professor of Rock
Paul Young’s 'Every Time You Go Away': The #1 Hit with the Funniest Misheard Lyric
Coming up an interview with 80s icon Paul Young about his #1 hit Every Time you Go Away that has one of the funniest misheard lyrics of all time. As a kid I…
- Professor of Rock
Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth': The Supergroup That Didn't Know They Were One
Up next an interview with 2 rock hall of famers who were in the 60s band Buffalo Springfield. Stephen Stills, who also went on to form Crosby Stills and Nash…
- Professor of Rock
James Taylor’s 'Fire and Rain': The Desperate Prayer That Became a 70s Classic
Coming up it’s one of the most heart-wrenching stories of a classic song from real life… Fire and Rain by legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor...It's a…
- Professor of Rock
Motley Crue’s 'Home Sweet Home': The Epic Music Video MTV Had to Stop Playing
Today, it’s an epic track from a throwaway album… Or at least that’s what the band called it. This song though, it set a new standard for how rock bands wrote…
- Professor of Rock
AC/DC’s 'Moneytalks': The Biggest Hit They’ve Never Played Again
In 1980 AC/DC was on top of the world releasing one of the biggest-selling rock records in history Back in Black…Then they had years of dwindling sales, in…
- Professor of Rock
Earth, Wind & Fire’s 'September': The Classic Written by a Struggling Songwriter on Food Stamps
Coming up, we’re showcasing a song that boasts the most recognizable date ever used in a lyric. September 21st! For decades people have wondered why the band…
- Professor of Rock
Adam Ant’s 'Goody Two Shoes': The 80s Classic Misunderstood as a Critique on Prudery
Coming up the story of a very unique rockstar. Adam Ant... First of all his mother was Paul McCartney’s Housekeeper and he in turn got to walk Paul’s Dog and…
- Professor of Rock
Jackson Browne’s 'Somebody’s Baby': The Hit He Hated That Cost Him a #1
Coming up, legendary singer-songwriter Jackson Browne was asked to write a song for the 80s teen movie Fast Times at Ridgemont High. It was a Huge Departure…
- Professor of Rock
Huey Lewis’ 'Do You Believe in Love': The Rookie Music Video He Couldn't Bear to Watch
After hitchhiking across America and stowing away on a plane and bumming around Europe as a youth, Huey Lewis toiled in band after band trying to make it in…
- Professor of Rock
The Story of Jim Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” and Its Unexpected Rise to #1
Coming up….Jim Croce was an emerging superstar whose promising career started to enter its peak when he made a decision to quit the business altogether to…
- Professor of Rock
How Sting’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic” Divided The Police
Throughout the late 70s and early 80s THIS BAND WAS ON fire. Between the US and the UK, The Police had 14 Top 20 hits and for a while they were easily the…
- Professor of Rock
How Bob Seger’s “Night Moves” Turned Heartbreak Into a Breakthrough Hit
Bob Seger had been a regional sensation for over a decade but when it was all said and done he had only had one hit in 15 years and by 1976 it had been 8 years…
- Professor of Rock
How The Zombies’ “Time of the Season” Became a Hit After They Broke Up
Coming up, an all-time rock hit is put under the microscope by the entire band and this one has so many layers to it. Time of the Season by the Zombies was…
- Professor of Rock
How Boston’s Debut Album Overcame Rejection to Sell 17 Million Copies
It was the blockbuster record that put rock back on the front burner in the middle of disco…and it came out of nowhere… Tom Scholz and his upstart band Boston…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Dave Pirner: How “Runaway Train” Became a Hit and Helped Find Missing Kids
Coming up next, a rare interview with rock singer-songwriter Dave Pirner of 80s and 90s Minneapolis scene group Soul Asylum on the 1993 classic hit Runaway…
- Professor of Rock
How Foreigner’s “Juke Box Hero” Combined Two Stories Into an 80s Rock Anthem
Up next.. the story of an all time classic rock song from both the singer Lou Gramm and guitarist Mick Jones who wrote it.. All-time 80s anthem JukeBox Hero by…
- Professor of Rock
How A-ha’s “Take On Me” Overcame Failure to Become an 80s Classic
Coming up, it’s one of the most instantly recognizable and impossible to resist songs of the rock era. Take on Me by A-ha. It's music video ain’t chopped liver…
- Professor of Rock
How Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” Emerged from the Chaos of Tango in the Night
Coming up, it’s one of the darkest days of one of the rock era’s most storied bands. 1987's Tango in the Night was Fleetwood Mac’s 2nd biggest record. Most…
- Professor of Rock
Steven Tyler Wrote “Dream On” at 14 – The Song That Almost Didn’t Happen
Coming up legendary singer Steven Tyler of Aerosmith wrote one of rock’s greatest masterpieces at the age of 14. A 14-year-old kid! Not only that… This 70s…
- Professor of Rock
Revisiting the Top 10 Songs of 1982 – Which Hit Stands the Test of Time?
Coming up, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this very same week from the year 1982. But that’s not all. After we count them down, we’re re-ranking…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Steve Stevens: How Billy Idol’s “White Wedding” Became an MTV Classic
Up next one of the greatest guitarists of the rock era, Steve Stevens tells the story of meeting legendary singer the new wave Elvis… Billy Idol and working on…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Eric Burdon: How “We Gotta Get Out of This Place” Inspired Bruce Springsteen
Up next an interview with legendary singer Eric Burdon of the rock and roll hall fame band the Animals who’s signature song has empowered so many over the…
- Professor of Rock
What Happened to Breathe? The Rise and Disappearance of an 80s Hit Machine
A lot of people forgot about this band from the latter part of the 80s… Today’s act actually scored three US Top 10 hits from their debut album All That Jazz…
- Professor of Rock
How Eagles’ “Desperado” Became a Classic Without Ever Being a Hit Single
Most people assume that today's song from one of the biggest bands ever was a #1 hit because it’s such a classic radio standard...played all the time. In…
- Professor of Rock
How Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town” Went from Deep Cut to Rock Anthem
After years without a hit in their native land and a grand total of zero hits in America, Thin Lizzy was on their last leg… Phil Lynott and co were told by…
- Professor of Rock
Why Lynyrd Skynyrd Had to Lock Their Producer Out to Record “Simple Man”
Coming up, were covering one of the biggest songs from a legendary rock band that has been streamed over a billion times and despite it’s popularity It never…
- Professor of Rock
How Warren Zevon’s Joke Song “Werewolves of London” Became His Only Hit
Warren Zevon was told by one of the founding fathers of rock, Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers that he should write a novelty song about a horror movie icon……
- Professor of Rock
How Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll” Was Created by Accident and Became an Encore Anthem
Today the lords of rock Led Zeppelin are back in full force. We take Another deep dive into the heaviest band in history with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John…
- Professor of Rock
Banned Decades Later: The Story Behind The Zombies’ “She’s Not There”
It was one of the most storied #2 hits in rock and roll history from a band that was criminally underappreciated in their day. The Zombies' 1964 classic “She’s…
- Professor of Rock
How Christopher Cross Made Grammy History With “Sailing” and Hid His Awards
“Over the first 22 years in the history of the Grammy Awards, no single artist had swept the so-called “BIG FOUR,” Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Album…
- Professor of Rock
How Asia Turned a Country Tune Into 1982’s #1 Rock Hit “Heat of the Moment”
Coming up.. they were a rock supergroup Made up of parts from 3 legendary Prog rock bands Yes, King Crimson, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and a new wave band The…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind the 1979 Sci-Fi Hit About a Robot Hooker That Topped the Charts
Coming up next an artist who changed everything. He grew up with aspergers. He was lonely and misunderstood but found solace in the writings of science…
- Professor of Rock
How a Trucker’s Outburst Inspired Bachman-Turner Overdrive’s 70s Classic “Let It Ride”
Coming up, another great story from an interview I did with one of rock's greatest storytellers. Mr. Randy Bachman from the Guess Who and Bachman Turner…
- Professor of Rock
Why Billy Joel Is Embarrassed by His Iconic Hit “Piano Man”
On the run from a dishonest record label and a bum contract, multi-platinum, grammy award-winning, rock hall of Famer Billy Joel dropped off the grid and hid…
- Professor of Rock
How Barry Gibb Dominated the Charts With “Stayin’ Alive” and Made History
Up next we go behind the signature song behind a ground-breaking album that boasted 11 Top 40 singles on the Hot 100, and seven #1 hits*. Just unbelievable…
- Professor of Rock
Why Phil Collins’ Hit “Take Me Home” Deserved More—and His Rock Hall Snub
In the space of just over two years, Phil Collins scored twelve Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. 12...That’s insane. And actually, that list includes…
- Professor of Rock
Ann Wilson on the Struggles of Recording Heart’s Classic Hit and Legal Battles
Wow. You’re in for a treat, the greatest female rock singer in history, Ann Wilson takes us through her band, Heart’s greatest Hidden gems including a walk…
- Professor of Rock
Unraveling the Mystery Behind Tears for Fears’ 80s Classic “Head Over Heels”
Following on the heels of two gigantic #1 Hot 100 hits in 1985, today’s featured song the 80s classic Head Over Heels, written by iconic synth rock pioneer…
- Professor of Rock
How Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald Accidentally Created the Hit “This Is It”
Coming up two legendary artist tell the story of an all star collaboration Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald and their 70s classic This Is it. At the time…
- Professor of Rock
How Billy Squier’s “Rock Me Tonite” Video Ended His 80s Rock Reign Overnight
Coming up, the story of a journeyman rocker, who finally scored fame when he reached his 30s. Billy Squire’s breakout hit The Stroke was a provocative…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Elvin Bishop’s 70s Classic “Fooled Around and Fell in Love”
It was a top 3 hit in 1976 barely missing the number one spot only to come back decades later to hit number one as part of the bestselling soundtrack from…
- Professor of Rock
How Johnny Cash Made Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt” His Own—and Changed Trent Reznor’s Mind
Up next: he’s an American institution… Even people who hate Country Music the genre he’s most tied to Love him. Johnny Cash the man in black… he’s the kind of…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with Thomas Dolby: Playing Live Aid With David Bowie and Writing for Michael Jackson
My favorite thing in the world is when I do an interview that Leaves me Speechless. Where it blows my mind like "Did that really just happen?" Well this is one…
- Professor of Rock
Interview with John Oates: The Story Behind Hall & Oates’ “You Make My Dreams” and the Vanished Synth
Up next John Oates of rock duo Daryl Hall and John Oates or Hall and Oates tells the story of the feel-good 80s classic You Make My Dreams. the song came as a…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Journey’s "Separate Ways" – Inspiration, Legacy & Revival
Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain from one of America’s most popular rock bands Journey watched their bandmates guitarist Neal Schon and bassist Ross Valory go…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind John Mellencamp’s Fight for “Jack and Diane”
John Mellencamp was hellbent on making his record label eat their words… His label was focused on grooming him to be the next Neil Diamond, they said his album…
- Professor of Rock
How Huey Lewis’ “I Want a New Drug” Led to a Ghostbusters Lawsuit
THIS BAR band came out of nowhere in the eighties to take over radio… Huey Lewis and the News stole the spotlight... Especially in what may have been music's…
- Professor of Rock
Elton John’s 80s Comeback: The Hit That Revived His Career
Elton John and Bernie Taupin were one the most prolific songwriting teams of the Rock Era- So far they’ve collaborated on more than 300 songs. From 1973…
- Professor of Rock
How a Drummer’s Mistake Created WAR’s Classic Hit “Low Rider”
One of the most famous openings in music history came from the drummer playing a mistake. Low Rider by WAR became a 70s classic due to this happy accident. He…
- Professor of Rock
Pink Floyd’s “High Hopes”: The Controversy Behind Their 90s Comeback Hit
Coming up. It was the most anticipated album of its time. Pink Floyd with David Gilmour at the helm hadn’t released a new album in over 6 years! An eternity in…
- Professor of Rock
How “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” Became the Most Played Song of the 20th Century
Many have called it the best record ever made. And the ultimate rock and pop record. It is the ultimate expression and illustration of a recording technique…
- Professor of Rock
John Denver’s Rise and Fall: The Story Behind “Rocky Mountain High”
He didn’t have movie star looks like Burt Reynolds or the rock n’ roll flamboyance of Elton John. Instead, he wore granny glasses and sported a dutch boy…
- Professor of Rock
Don Henley’s “Dirty Laundry”: The Eagles Breakup and His Scathing Media Critique
By 1979, tensions were running high within the ranks of America’s most iconic band the Eagles… Don Henley, Glenn Fry, and co had released 6 albums over the…
- Professor of Rock
Interview: Patty Smyth & Sammy Hagar on Van Halen’s Search for a New Singer
They were coming off a diamond-selling album. A hard rock band at the peak of their career with a singer-guitar duo that was second to none. Van Halen with…
- Professor of Rock
Aerosmith’s “Janie’s Got a Gun”: The Song That Almost Got Censored
As a father of 3 daughters this was the most difficult song that Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, one of America’s great rock bands ever had to write… It actually…
- Professor of Rock
The Untold Story of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”: Bonnie Tyler, Jim Steinman, and the Meat Loaf Feud
Today’s song… what can I say? There’s just nothing else like it. I mean it’s dark, it’s moody, it’s theatrical rock. Listening to it takes you on a…
- Professor of Rock
How KISS’s “Beth” Became an Accidental #1 Hit After DJs Flipped the Single
The snobs and the critics thumbed their noses at KISS as a party rock band with high theatrics and no technique. Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley, and…