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
From Steely Dan to the Doobie Brothers: The Origins of ‘What a Fool Believes’
The incredible story of What a Fool Believes. We have interviews with both Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald who both wrote it. It became a huge hit for the…
- Professor of Rock
The Craziest One-Hit Wonder Stories in Rock History
So many so-called one-hit wonders have a quirky, unexpected charm—sometimes playful, sometimes totally bizarre, but always endearing. They’re like musical…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” Redefined Rock Music Forever
ON THIS DAY in 1967, The Beatles began a 15-week reign at #1 on the US album chart with their iconic album Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. FROM THE…
- Professor of Rock
Alice Cooper’s Most Controversial Hit: The True Story of “School’s Out”
Today, we are taking the time machine back to a shocking hit from the 70s: School's Out. It was from Alice Cooper, a rock star who defined the words SHOCK and…
- Professor of Rock
Countdown: The Greatest Rock Songs of 1990 and the Stories Behind Them
You requested it, so here it is. It was the dawn of a new decade with some of the most intriguing music of the rock era, and some of the most interesting…
- Professor of Rock
Guilty Pleasures Countdown: The Songs We Secretly Love to Sing
Coming up—we’re counting down the songs we’re not supposed to like… Some call them guilty pleasures, others call them bad. Some call them cheese. But when…
- Professor of Rock
How Eagles Became Rock Icons: Producer Bill Szymczyk Tells All
Coming up next, one of the greatest producers of the 70s and '80s, Bill Szymczyk, gives us the lowdown on working with one of the greatest bands of the rock…
- Professor of Rock
Inside the Greatest Supergroup Ever: The Untold Story of “We Are the World”
Oh man, we got a great one for you next… Brand new interviews and insights on the biggest selling #1 hit of the 80s: We Are the World. And the group USA For…
- Professor of Rock
Van Halen, The Beatles & More: The Most Misunderstood Songs in Rock History
You know, sometimes, songs that become classics aren’t quite what we think they are. Hidden meanings, mistaken lyrics, or misunderstood messages. All of those…
- Professor of Rock
1968’s Greatest Songs: Janis, Otis, The Beatles, and a Chilling Surprise
Up next is our final countdown of our top song of each year countdown…We’ve covered every year from the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and we have one left. Can you guess…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: Why Beastie Boys Hated Their Own Hit "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)
FROM THE VAULT: On this day in 2004, The Beastie Boys' album "To The 5 Boroughs" debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. To celebrate, we’ve got the story of those…
- Professor of Rock
The Secret Behind Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” and Its Mysterious Drums
When Led Zeppelin released their debut album, it literally made the entire world shake. Nobody had ever heard a band like this… They took over America, touring…
- Professor of Rock
Top ’90s TV Theme Songs: Friends, Seinfeld, X-Files & More
Alright, we’ve done it three times before, and every time it was a Gas. I’m talking about the greatest television themes countdown. We’ve done the 60s, the…
- Professor of Rock
How Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” Saved Lives and Changed the World
Coming up next, a very interesting interview that was a little off at first but got better as we went along. It’s about Soul Asylum's Runaway Train, a song…
- Professor of Rock
Exclusive Interview: Gary Numan on His UK Success, U.S. One-Hit Wonder, and Finding Peace
Up next, an interview with Gary Numan about several songs that shook radio in different parts of the world. The first one, Are Friends Electric, was a hit in…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How the Bee Gees Rose from Collapse to Conquer the 70s: Top 5 Songs of the Gibb Brothers
FROM THE VAULT: The Bee Gees or the brothers Gibb. Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb have sold more than 220 million records over their storied career. In this Bee…
- Professor of Rock
When Kiedis Bombed Live and Loggins Got Fired—Then They Made History
Sometimes, taking a bold leap or making a risky move can seem like career suicide—until it isn’t. Coming up, we’ll reveal six incredible stories of artists who…
- Professor of Rock
The Untold Stories of 1972’s Greatest Hits: Bowie, Seals & Crofts, and The Hollies
Coming up, a year that was so great we had to reformat our countdown to 12 songs, truly compelling masterworks here... including the song All the Young Dudes…
- Professor of Rock
The Genius of Brian Wilson: A Farewell to Pop’s Most Profound Composer
Today, we have a very special episode of Professor of Rock, and I’m going to get right into it. We lost a true musical Genius recently. But Ya know.. I’ve been…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Bon Jovi Rose to Fame with Anthems of Hope and Resilience
FROM THE VAULT: The thing about Jon Bon Jovi and his incredible band is the music they've created has always got your back. From "Livin' On A Prayer" and "You…
- Professor of Rock
The Wildest Rock Supergroups That Almost Happened: Michael Jackson, Freddie Mercury, and Llamas
From rock royalty to wild misfires — today we’re covering the greatest supergroups you’ve never heard of… but won’t forget any time soon. We’re telling the…
- Professor of Rock
He Lost the Bet...Then Wrote Their Biggest Hit in Minutes!
Coming up next, the evolution of one of the most legendary groups ever through their greatest songs…and we have all three principles here to tell the story of…
- Professor of Rock
Kenny Rogers on “The Gambler”: The Song That Made Him a Legend
Coming up next is an interview with Kenny Rogers, a legend we lost a few years back… He was voted the greatest singer in the world several times by the people…
- Professor of Rock
Celebrating Brian Wilson: The Musical Genius Behind The Beach Boys | Bonus Tribute Episode
Today, we honor the life, genius, and lasting legacy of Brian Wilson—co-founder of The Beach Boys, and one of the most visionary minds in rock history. In this…
- Professor of Rock
Banned by MTV, Rejected by Radio: The ’80s Hits Too Hot to Handle
Some songs were made to push boundaries — stirring up scandal, controversy, and uncomfortable conversations. On today’s episode, we’re featuring songs that did…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: How Tom Petty Proved His Label Wrong with Free Fallin’
FROM THE VAULT: An unlikely superstar partnership turned 3 simple chords into the biggest solo hit of a rock icon’s career. The story of the making, and the…
- Professor of Rock
The 16-Year-Old Who Outsold The Beatles —Top 11 Songs of 1967
COMING up next, we are taking the time machines back to the Summer of Love, the birth of psychedelia, and the year when music truly became art. With 11 of the…
- Professor of Rock
How Rick Astley’s Label Hated His Song—Then It Took Over the World
Coming up next, the fascinating story of the 80s mega-hit Never Gonna Give You Up that topped the charts in at least 25 countries. And it almost never…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Most Soul-Stirring Female Vocal Performances of the ’80s: Aimee Mann, Stevie Nicks, and More
Coming up, we’re moving into the shadows of the '80s to uncover the most chilling, emotionally gripping performances of the decade. They were the songs that…
- Professor of Rock
How a Paul Simon–Mentored Band Created One of the Most Haunting One-Hit Wonders of the ’80s
Some songs are just BLESSED…seriously, it just seems like certain songs are touched by the hand of God where the miraculous and unexplained happens… Well…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind “Juke Box Hero”: Lou Gramm’s Vocal Feat and Fan Inspiration
Up next.. the story of Juke Box Hero, an all-time classic rock song from both its iconic singer, Lou Gramm, and guitarist Mick Jones, who both wrote it. It's…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Guitar Solos of the ’70s: Ritchie Blackmore, David Gilmour, and More
Songwriters have stated many times that you never know where or when a clever lyric is going to strike. It’s also that way for a guitarist. A catchy riff can…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: The Story Behind Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams – Stevie Nicks’ Heartfelt Breakup Anthem
FROM THE VAULT: When you listen to the modern day standard "Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, you may not immediately hear the sadness. You may not recognize that it…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: 5 Forgotten 90s Songs Featuring Tonic, LIT, Sponge, Garbage, and More
FROM THE VAULT: Hey Music Junkies, the Professor of Rock, always here to celebrate the greatest artists and songs of all time; If you love music, you’ll want…
- Professor of Rock
The ’70s Hit Randy Bachman Wrote as a Joke—That Hit #1 in 22 Countries
Coming up next, we're firing up the time machine and heading to an iconic year in the 70s… Can you guess it? It was the year Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home…
- Professor of Rock
Ranking the Greatest Classic Rock Songs of All Time: The Ultimate Showdown
I really screwed up a few weeks ago. I was counting down the greatest songs of 1976 and left out More Than a Feeling, one of the greatest songs in classic rock…
- Professor of Rock
How “The Power of Love” Became a #1 Hit—and a Soundtrack Tragedy
Coming up, an interview with one of my favorite people, Huey Lewis, about one of the biggest #1 hits of the '80s, The Power of Love. It’s become legendary both…
- Professor of Rock
How Two Teens and a Cheap Synth Launched OMD into Pop History
Coming up, the legendary duo Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark, or OMD for short, tells the story of their career in 5 key songs that helped invent the iconic…
- Professor of Rock
Men at Work Ruled the ’80s—Then Vanished. Colin Hay Explains Why
Coming up, an interview with a true 80s icon, Colin Hay, who people forget was on a Beatles-like trajectory... if only for a couple of years. But those years…
- Professor of Rock
Sex, Cheese, and Controversy: Ranking the 5 Most Ridiculous ’70s Songs
Coming up, we’re gonna get into the dark underbelly of the 70s, where bad taste reigned supreme, controversy sold millions, and critical acclaim was strictly…
- Professor of Rock
FROM THE VAULT: Sammy Hagar on Van Halen’s 1988 Hit “When It’s Love”
FROM THE VAULT: The Red Rocker, Sammy Hagar tells the story of Van Halen’s 1988 top 5 hit: “When it’s Love" from their magnificent album 0U812. The song was a…
- Professor of Rock
1983’s Greatest: Prince, Lionel Richie, and the Hook That Labels Didn’t Hear
So a few weeks ago, I told you we had our final top 10 songs of the 80s, but I was wrong… We have one more I overlooked, and arguably its best year: 1983…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind “Beds Are Burning” and the Protest Hidden in a 1987 Rock Anthem
In the mid-80s, just when we thought we had seen everything, out came a large and possessed 6-foot-6 bald singer named Peter Garrett who scared the hell out of…
- Professor of Rock
TV’s Most Iconic Themes: The Wild Backstories Behind the ’60s Greatest Intros
On today’s episode, the songs are coming at you from every channel on the dial—we’ve got songs about superheroes, secret agents, and stranded castaways. It’s…
- Professor of Rock
Why “Things Can Only Get Better” Is Scientifically the Happiest Song Ever
Coming up next… I found an interview I did years ago with 80s icon, Howard Jones, that I thought was lost! This legend takes us through his songs that were the…
- Professor of Rock
The Zombies’ “Time of the Season”: Hit After Breakup, Forgotten Then Reunited 50 Years Later
Up next, we have the whole band sitting down to share the story of an absolute Zombies classic. Today’s classic Time of the Season was so ahead of its time in…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 Guitar Solos of the ’80s: From Eddie Van Halen to Unexpected Legends
It was the decade full of blistering shredders, but the greatest solos weren’t just about melting faces—they were about moving hearts. Some of the most…
- Professor of Rock
Top 10 of ’76: Rock Anthems, Accidental Hits, and Freddie Mercury’s Masterpiece
Coming up, we jump inside the time machine and travel back to a year of radio magic… as we count down the top song of the bicentennial. Including the story of…
- Professor of Rock
“Ten Years Gone”: The Zeppelin Masterpiece Too Complex for the Stage
Robert Plant, rock's greatest frontman, was given an ultimatum by his girlfriend. Choose me or your music. Sure, Robert was deeply in love and was dirt poor…
- Professor of Rock
5 Rock Career Killers: How One Interview Ended Quiet Riot’s Reign
Some music careers collapse slowly, others implode in an instant. In the world of rock, where egos are amplified and every move is under the microscope, even…
- Professor of Rock
The Story Behind “Rocky Mountain Way” and Its Untouchable Bass Line
Coming up next a classic rock standard that came to legendary guitarist Joe Walsh while he was mowing his lawn. He saw the beautiful scenery around him, the…
- Professor of Rock
How a German Song Became an ’80s Classic in English
Coming up next, After the Fire, a band that became a one-hit wonder… After they broke up. Today’s song, Der Kommisar, is a true classic from the 80s, but it…
- Professor of Rock
Sex, Fire, and Spray Paint: Untold Stories of '70s Album Covers
Coming up, we’re counting down the Top 10 intriguing and in some cases most bizarre stories behind the greatest album covers of the 70s… We’ve got a lot packed…
- Professor of Rock
From Laughable to Legendary: The Wild Stories Behind Rock’s Unlikely Classics
Coming up, it's a countdown of some of the greatest songs of the Rock Era from a year that is always in the conversation for the best year in music history…
- Professor of Rock
Van Halen’s 5 Greatest Deep Cuts—and the Wild Stories Behind Them
Coming up next, a crash course on the top 5 of the greatest tracks from one of Rock’s Heaviest bands, Van Halen. They had 3 different singers over the course…
- Professor of Rock
How Improv Created Rock Legends—From Bon Scott to a Kid in the Studio
Coming up, we turn the spotlight on those spontaneous bursts of brilliance when rock legends threw out the script and created something historic on the spot…
- Professor of Rock
1970’s Top 10 Showdown: Beatles, Jackson 5, and a Legendary One-Hit Wonder
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
Shawn Colvin’s “Sunny Came Home”: The Dark Story Behind Her Grammy-Winning Hit
Coming up next, an interview with the famous singer-songwriter Shawn Colvin, who’s renowned for her confessional writing and character-driven narratives... but…
- Professor of Rock
How “She Sells Sanctuary” Made The Cult Legends—Fights, Theft, and a Violin Bow
Today’s story has it all. A song by The Cult called She Sells Sanctuary that divides fans so much that one punched the singer Ian Astbury in the face. Then, a…
- Professor of Rock
The Stories Behind Iconic Girl-Named Songs: From “Brandy” to “Beth”
Coming up, it's the ultimate countdown of classic crushes, heartbreaks, and unforgettable anthems. Some of these songs were written about real people, while…