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 RockPaul McCartney’s Bond Anthem “Live and Let Die”: From Criticized Theme to Rock Classic
When music critics found out former Beatle Paul McCartney was writing a movie theme back in the 70s, the reactions were definitely mixed. Yeah, some were…
- Professor of Rock
Andy Fletcher: The Quiet Force That Held Depeche Mode Together
As many of you no doubt already know, we recently lost another musical legend. On May 26 Depeche Mode’s own Andy Fletcher passed away from natural causes at…
- Professor of Rock
Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill”: 80s Classic Finally Hits #1 After 37 Years
"Coming up….the story of an art rock heroine Genius named Kate Bush and the story of her beautiful and compelling 80s hit, Running Up that Hill (Deal With God)…
- Professor of Rock
Nirvana's Nevermind 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition: A Deep Dive
Get the Nirvana Nevermind 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition here: https://shop.nirvana.com/products/nevermind-30th-deluxe-5cd Learn more about your ad…
- Professor of Rock
How The B-52s’ Rock Lobster Inspired John Lennon’s Return to Music
Coming Up a song that missed the top 40 in the early 80s but has since then Rock Lobster by the B-52s has become a modern day standard and a major influence…
- Professor of Rock
The Enduring Legacy of I Melt With You by Modern English
Up next the story of one of the greatest new wave singles ever released from the lead singer and songwriter of 80s band MODERN ENGLISH, mr. Robbie Grey on the…
- Professor of Rock
Stone Temple Pilots’ Defiant #1 Hit and Scott Weiland’s Personal Struggle
Everyone loves a love triangle, right? Just as long as you’re not the one on the outs. Well, today’s song was written by Stone Temple Pilots. Frontman Scott…
- Professor of Rock
How Naked Eyes Transformed Always Something There to Remind Me into an 80s Classic
80s New Wave band, Naked Eyes consisting of Pete Byrne and Rob Fisher took the Burt Bacharach and Hal David classic (There’s) Always Something There To Remind…
- Professor of Rock
5 Overlooked 80s New Wave Gems That Deserve More Recognition
Introducing the story of 5 cult classics from 80s New Wave. I’ve said it before, Some people are sticklers for labels or genres. I’m calling them new wave…
- Professor of Rock
How Steve Stevens' Blazing Solo Made the Top Gun Theme an 80s Classic
Coming up, 80s guitar hero Steve Stevens who shredded and co-wrote many of Billy Idol’s greatest songs had his gear set up in a studio when film composer…
- Professor of Rock
How Led Zeppelin’s All My Love Became Robert Plant’s Emotional Tribute
In the late 70s, Led Zeppelin divided their fanbase when they released an album that, well... didn’t rock... Or at least that what the naysayers said…
- Professor of Rock
The Best 80s Songs from Stranger Things Season 3 and Why They Matter
Stranger Things Season 4 is just around the corner and in celebration we’re counting down the Top 5 songs from Stranger Things Season 3. In this episode, we’re…
- Professor of Rock
How Jefferson Starship Reinvented Themselves with Jane – Inspired by Toto?
Up next Jefferson Airplane revolutionized 60s rock with a rebellious psychedelic spirit, but after a split they changed when the decade ended. Transforming…
- Professor of Rock
The Haunting Story Behind Lullaby by The Cure – 80s Creepiest Song?
The unorthodox track known as Lullaby by Robert Smith and the Cure has so many stories tied to it. It came from the 1989 classic Disintegration that record…
- Professor of Rock
How a Radio Ban Kept Howard Jones’ No One Is to Blame from Hitting #1
In a year of blockbuster albums songs and artists the English synth domino Howard Jones Quietly released his sophomore album Dream into Action after several…
- Professor of Rock
Narada Michael Walden on Producing Whitney Houston & Prince’s Legendary Basketball Skills
Coming up: legendary producer Narada Michael Walden tells us two stories that will make you laugh with joy! One of the most successful producers ever tells us…
- Professor of Rock
Rupert Holmes on the Story Behind Him – The 80s Hit About Infidelity
Rupert Holmes tells the story behind the top ten hit HIM from 1980 after hitting #1 at the end of 1979 and early 1980, with Escape the Pina Colada song . Learn…
- Professor of Rock
Wang Chung on Turning Down Michael Jackson to Record Dance Hall Days
Coming up. A combination of two interviews with the co leads of 80s synth band Wang Chung, Jack Hues and Nick Feldman who wrote several hits that defined the…
- Professor of Rock
How Stevie Nicks’ Landslide Saved Her Career and Led to Fleetwood Mac
Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham were lovers who had been trying to make it in music for years. After some fiery arguments, years of failures and poverty…
- Professor of Rock
Breaking Down the Top 10 Songs from This Week in 1970
Coming up, we’re going to go behind the Top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1970. 52 years ago. This top 10 has one of the greatest most revered…
- Professor of Rock
Cy Curnin of The Fixx on the Chilling Relevance of Stand or Fall and Red Skies
Coming up a british new wave paragon of the 80s Cy Curnin of the Fixx takes us behind his band’s haunting first album. Released in 1982, the 2 biggest singles…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Donnie Iris’ Ah! Leah! – An 80s Classic That Endures
This nerdy 80s rocker gave me some much needed motivation as I stood at the highest diving platform at the massive community pool trying to get the nerve to…
- Professor of Rock
How Nena’s 99 Luftballons Became an Unlikely Cold War Anthem
To many in the US, today’s international artist is simply known as the “balloon chick.” That’s in no small part thanks to her #2 US hit about lighter-than-air…
- Professor of Rock
How George Harrison Inspired Led Zeppelin to Write The Rain Song
Known to many as hard and heavy rockers, Led Zeppelin has written some of the greatest pulse-pounding classics of the past half-century. But at one point they…
- Professor of Rock
Peter Cox of Go West on We Close Our Eyes and the Iconic 80s Bassline Connection
Today we talk with the lead singer and co-writer of one of the best British new wave duos of the 80s… The soul surviving hit making group, Go West. Go West was…
- Professor of Rock
Perry Farrell on the Wild Story Behind Jane’s Addiction’s Been Caught Stealing
Legendary Jane’s Addiction frontman Perry Farrell grew up stealing clothes from a thrift store and even stole from a commercial airline This is the hilarious…
- Professor of Rock
How Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Under the Bridge Became an Unlikely Anthem
While driving home from rehearsal one day, Anthony Kiedis of Red Hot Chili Peppers was in a melancholy mood. Flashing back to his former drug-induced days, he…
- Professor of Rock
Breaking Down the Top 10 Songs from This Week in 1983
Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this VERY same week from the year 1983 39 years ago. This top 10 has a very unique event… Michael…
- Professor of Rock
The Turbulent Story of Sweet and Their 70s Hit Ballroom Blitz
If there was ever a cautionary tale about a rock group making a deal with the devil to hit the big time, it would be the story of the rise and fall of SWEET. A…
- Professor of Rock
Rush’s Moving Pictures at 40 – Breaking Down Their Landmark Album
Coming up, We Break down the biggest selling album of Rush’s storied career, celebrating Moving Pictures 40th Anniversary by unboxing the Deluxe 5 Lp set. You…
- Professor of Rock
Andrew Farriss on Writing INXS’s Need You Tonight – A Hit Born in Chaos
In early 1988 the INXS song Need You Tonight went to #1… becoming the signature hit for a legendary band with closet full of hits and memorable songs..Not bad…
- Professor of Rock
Top 5 Hidden Gem Songs from 80s Movies – Underrated Classics
WE count down the top 5 hidden gems from 80s movies. When you do this, it’s almost impossible to avoid the great John Hughes. He fingerprints were all over the…
- Professor of Rock
How a Barroom Comment Led to One of the Biggest Movie Songs of 1990
up next one of the most under appreciated singers of the 80s had a few years of bad luck in the industry… until he was in the right place at the right time and…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Gordon Lightfoot’s Sundown – A Hit Fueled by Jealousy
While Canadian Singer-Songwriter Gordon Lightfoot was at his secluded Farm entrenched in writing his new album, his drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend went out on…
- Professor of Rock
How Dire Straits’ Romeo and Juliet Turned Heartbreak into an 80s Classic
One of the most heart wrenching love songs of the 80s steeped in a happy go lucky feel. Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits is a bit of conundrum. Find out what…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Tears for Fears’ Sowing the Seeds of Love – The Hit That Just Missed #1
in 1989 a song was released that blew up radio with its sophisticated, multi-layered pop elegance. (sowing) the Seeds Of Love By Tears for Fears would capture…
- Professor of Rock
Can We Save the Album? Preserving Rock’s Greatest Art Form
In world of Autotuned, plastic pop fast food music, is there anyway to save great music? Is there a way to save one of the most important art forms in history…
- Professor of Rock
How George Michael’s Faith Became One of the Biggest Albums of the 80s
George Michael was a part of the big 80s duo that had 3 #1 hits and one of the most successful albums of 1985 Wham Make It Big… then he went solo and went even…
- Professor of Rock
When John Fogerty Was Sued for Plagiarizing Himself – The Old Man Down the Road Trial
the true story of John Fogerty formerly of Creedence Clearwater Revival CCR who was put on trial for plagiarizing himself. Sued for writing a song that sounded…
- Professor of Rock
The Rise and Sudden Fall of a Huge 80s Band – What Happened?
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- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview with a Music Legend – A Moment I’ll Never Forget
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The Story Behind Harry Chapin’s Cat’s in the Cradle – A Timeless Wake-Up Call
The story of Harry Chapin’s beautiful and poignant masterpiece, Cat’s in the Cradle. You think you know the story but you really don’t. How Harry’s wife Sandy…
- Professor of Rock
How Wedding Bell Blues by The 5th Dimension Became a Real-Life Love Story
My favorite married couple in music history Billy Davis Jr. and Marilyn McCoo who were in the 5th Dimension together in the 60s recorded this funny Laura Nyro…
- Professor of Rock
How Jack Tempchin’s Peaceful Easy Feeling Became an Eagles Classic
Hall of Fame songwriter Jack Tempchin tells the story of the 70s classic hit Peaceful Easy Feeling that he wrote one night after being stood up by a girl and…
- Professor of Rock
How Chris Cornell and Eddie Vedder’s Duet on Hunger Strike Made 90s Rock History
When Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood dies tragically in 1990, Soundgarden singer Chris Cornell was devastated. He was trying to work through his emotions…
- Professor of Rock
Martin Page on Writing Hits for Others Before His Own House of Stone and Light
Up next an interview with one of the greatest songwriters of the 80s and 90s. Martin Page co-wrote 2 #1 hits in a row… These Dreams for Ann Wilson and Nancy…
- Professor of Rock
Steve Perry’s Oh Sherrie – The Solo Hit That Shook Journey Fans
Steve Perry took a break from legendary band Journey and created his first solo album Street Talk, Up next we go deep into his top 3 1984 hit Oh Sherrie…
- Professor of Rock
Rick Springfield on the Mystery Behind Jessie’s Girl and Its 80s Legacy
If you’re a Child of the 80s this song was like a rite of passage. A quintessential 80s classic Jessie’s Girl by Rick Springfield went to #1 the day MTV…
- Professor of Rock
How Cheap Trick’s Surrender and Live at Budokan Made Them Legends
What if our PARENTS were ACTUALLY as weirdly COOL as we think we are? 70s classic Surrender by Cheap Trick is about that very thing. It was conceived when…
- Professor of Rock
How Huey Lewis and the News Crashed the Charts with Sports in 1984
I say it all of the time. 1984 was the greatest year in music history. It was so fiercely competitive, Only 5 albums went to the #1 spot, the least amount in…
- Professor of Rock
Counting Down the Top 5 Songs by Bread – How I Became a Fan
Have you every hated a band or artist and then something happened that transformed you into a major fan? I used to hate the band Bread. the soft rock…
- Professor of Rock
Revisiting the Top 10 Songs from This Week in 1985 – Who Stands the Test of Time?
Up next we’re going to go go behind the top 10 songs of this same week from the year 1985 then we’ll recalibrate them based on their all time performance. Who…
- Professor of Rock
How Quiet Riot’s Cum On Feel the Noize Became an Accidental 80s Metal Anthem
Coming up, the story of Quiet Riot and their classic 80s hard rock hit Cum On Feel the Noize which was of cover of the UK hit by Slade. Singer Kevin Dubrow and…
- Professor of Rock
The New Wave Legacy of Sire Records – Hits That Defined a Generation
Celebrating the legendary record label Sire Records that represented: Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Erasure, Talking Heads, Ramones, The Cure, Echo and the…
- Professor of Rock
Suzi Quatro on Her Trailblazing Rock Career and Overdue Rock Hall Recognition
A candid conversation with female rock pioneer Suzi Quatro who paved the way for everyone from Joan Jett to Ann Wilson of Heart to Pat Benatar. Suzie Q tells…
- Professor of Rock
Top 5 Hidden Gems from 80s One-Hit Wonders
It’s a mashup of two shows: Bottled Lightening meets 80s hidden gems. I count down my top 5 hidden gems from the 80s that were also one hit wonders. From…
- Professor of Rock
How Van Halen’s Runnin’ with the Devil and Eruption Kickstarted 80s Rock
In 1978, Van Halen launched their first album featuring a hellish classic rock tempest that crushed the status quo, and introduced a superstar musician for the…
- Professor of Rock
Steve Vai on Learning from Satriani, Frank Zappa, and Teaming with David Lee Roth
Up next one of rock premier guitar virtuosos tells us how he learned guitar from Joe Satriani as a teen and cut his teeth with Frank Zappa and then starting a…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind Gordon Lightfoot’s The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald – A Haunting 70s Epic
The haunting 70s saga of the 29 members who lost their lives, the crew of the Edmund Fitzgerald. How Gordon Lightfoot wrote a masterpiece that brought peace to…
- Professor of Rock
The Motels on the Story Behind Only the Lonely and the Dark Side of Fame
The story of one of my favorite songs ever the dark and atmospheric 80s top 10 hit, Only the Lonely by the Motels…over the course of interviewing artists about…