Professor of Rock

Gamut Podcast Network
  • 4.9 (14)
  • MUSIC
  • UPDATED DAILY

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 timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.

  1. 10 HRS AGO

    Rock’s Strangest Deaths and Disappearances: 5 Unsolved Music Mysteries

    Do you all remember Unsolved Mysteries? Well, today is a rock and roll unsolved mysteries episode. Today we're diving into five legendary stories of musicians who left us under circumstances that just don't add up. I’m talking about bizarre and suspicious circumstances… And we’ve got more questions than answers here. But all of them are great stories. From deathbed murder confessions to stolen bodies to disputed burial sites, these are stories that will leave you wondering what really happened. We've got the tale of Brian Jones one of the Rolling Stones, who was discovered drowned in his pool… But all these years later new details suggest it was something more eerie! Then there's the enigma of an indie singer-songwriter Elliott Smith whose death was officially ruled "undetermined" after a serrated blade was pulled straight out of his chest. Fans and investigators have been split over whether he took his own life or it was foul play. And don’t forget the bassist turned rocket scientist, Phillip Kramer, who claimed to unlock the secrets of the universe before making a chilling 911 call and vanishing off the face of the earth. Let’s get get into it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    27 min
  2. You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    10 HRS AGO ·  BONUS

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing Stop Saying Yes When You Want to Say No (Use This Simple Daily Practice to Set Boundaries Without Guilt) from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Peace is something we often treat like a destination, something we’ll finally reach once life quiets down, problems fade, and everything feels under control. In this episode, Jay challenges that idea. Peace isn’t something you arrive at, it’s something you build in real time. It’s the ability to stay grounded, even when life isn’t. He explains how peace rarely disappears in one dramatic moment. It fades gradually through small compromises, unspoken truths, tolerated behaviors, and the quiet ways we begin to lose ourselves just to keep everything else running. Over time, those choices add up, leaving us feeling drained without always understanding why. Jay invites us to take a closer look at the hidden cost of your relationships, your work, and even your own thinking. From the emotional weight you carry for others to how tightly your identity is tied to being productive, he shows that a lot of your exhaustion is not just about what you do, it is about what you are constantly holding together. Jay also challenges the idea that loyalty means sacrificing yourself, encouraging a more honest look at the people and patterns in your life. Real peace, as he explains, comes from clarity. It requires the willingness to see things as they are, not just how you wish they were. In this episode you'll learn: How to Identify What’s Draining Your Energy How to Reduce Emotional Labor in Relationships How to Break Free from Family Roles That Exhaust You How to Separate Your Identity from Your Work How to Build Daily Habits That Restore Your Peace If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or quietly disconnected from yourself, know that it doesn’t have to stay that way. Peace isn’t something reserved for a different life or a future version of you, it’s something you can begin rebuilding right where you are. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here: https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe  Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00 Intro 00:24 Reclaim Your Peace 03:59 When Family Dynamics Start Draining You 06:58 Choosing Depth Over More Friends 09:58 Who Are You Without What You Do 11:31 The Pressure to Always Be Available 14:51 How You Might Be Undermining Your Own Peace 18:05 #1: Identify What’s Quietly Draining You 19:25 #2: Build a Non-Negotiable Anchor for Peace 20:41 #3: Learning to Disappoint Without Guilt 22:23 #4: Designing a Space That Protects Your Energy 23:08 #5: The Power of Doing Nothing See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to team@podroll.fm.

  3. 2D AGO ·  BONUS

    FROM THE VAULT: How Dire Straits Revolutionized Music and Replaced Disco Icons ​​

    The fact is Dire Straits interrupted disco in the late 70s with the classic song Sultans of Swing that would take radio hostage! with their unique sound and singer Mark Knopfler’s gruff iconic vocals. but they were victims of the sophomore slump when their 2nd record faltered and flailed on the charts. Determined to bounce back with a statement album, Knopfler heard a song on the radio that flipped him out, Because the Night by Patti Smith and it triggered a series of events that led to arguably his best work. Making Movies An album that was so meticulous and exact that the title track of the record was cut from the album at the last second. It was a rough process to touch greatness, it even caused a bitter falling out with his brother and band mate… The 2 haven’t spoken in over 40 years. The story of two of the greatest songs from the album Tunnel of Love and Skateaway are next on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    23 min

  4. 4D AGO

    Career Killers: How Winger, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and After the Fire Lost Their Momentum

    So in the music business, the climb to the top can take years and years of grueling hard work. But a fall from grace? That can happen in the blink of an eye. Today, we are back with another episode of "Career Killers.” We haven’t done one of these in a while, so it’s time! We’ve got the story of Winger, who had to cancel their upcoming tour and call it quits after their credibility was destroyed by an MTV cartoon and 3 seconds of a rival band’s music video. Then, there’s the legendary prog-rock trio Emerson, Lake and Palmer, who literally spent themselves into bankruptcy by bringing a 70-piece orchestra on the road, only to be forced into a "disco" makeover that finished them off for good. And you won't believe the tale of the British new-wavers After the Fire who broke up their band just weeks before their song exploded into the top 5 in America… turning them into a "ghost band" with no one to take the stage. They lost all the momentum they’d worked years to gain. It’s a wild ride through hubris, heartbreak, and bad timing. Let’s get into it! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    31 min

  5. 5D AGO

    DATED Countdown: “Voices Carry,” Axel F, Madonna Controversy & Animotion’s Double Hit Story

    Coming up, we focus & rank a group of songs that depict a specific year in popular music so remarkably well, they sound exactly like the moment they came out. It’s our latest edition of DATED. Including singer Aimee Mann, who was kidnapped as a child, and after she was rescued, had to learn to speak again from the trauma. Her voice became a beacon to many on one of the most haunting songs of the year, Voices Carry. Plus, Axl F, a track created by highly sought-after composer Giorgio Moroder, that was dangerously close to getting axed by two of the most powerful producers in Hollywood, because he had failed to come up with a theme song for a future movie phenomenon... but a slip of his elbow on the keyboard jump-started a classic. Plus, the Madonna video shoot that almost went haywire as she was nearly attacked by a male lion because it was ‘her time of the month.’ And the 80s band Animotion that was a one-hit wonder twice. Once in 85 and then 3 years later with a whole new band with the same name! let’s do it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    35 min

  6. 6D AGO

    9 More Wild Rock Stories: Def Leppard’s “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” Iron Maiden’s 666 Curse & Rod Stewart

    Not long ago, after the channel reached 1.5 million subs, I shared a video on the Professor of Rock Greatest Hits: my top 9 picks for the greatest song stories in the history of this channel. In the comments section, I was flooded with requests for a Greatest Hits Volume 2. So here it is…. 9 more hits with new stories and insights... including the #1 rock band Def Leppard, who followed up their 1983 blockbuster album Pyromania, with what looked like the costliest flop in music history.: Hysteria. They were so in debt when the album came out. Their first 3 songs didn’t live up to expectations, and their 4th single Pour Some Sugar on Me was their Hail Mary, but it was sucking… that is, until it started getting heavy rotation in strip clubs across Florida. It became an overnight smash and saved the album from obscurity, helping it sell 25 million copies. Then there’s Iron Maiden, whose recording sessions for a satanic panic album were plagued by a poltergeist. And afterwards, the producer was so freaked out that he crashed into a bus full of nuns…When he got the final bill for repair, it was 666 bucks. Find out if the curse ended. Plus the story of Rod Stewart, whose most celebrated song was born from the single most embarrassing, and premature, encounter of his life. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    38 min

  7. MAY 2

    1970 Deep Dive: John Lennon’s “Across the Universe,” Gregg Allman, and Songs That Flopped but Became Classics

    Today, we put one of rock’s greatest years, 1970, under the microscope and explore songs that we all know and love but failed as hits. There’s a story about Gregg Allman, who was so excited to lay down a song that came into his head, he got high and broke into a closed recording studio in the middle of the night. But he was struggling to find that one lyric to finish it, and it was his roadie who gave him the perfect lyric. But did he do right by him and give him any royalties for it? We’ll find out. Plus John Lennon, who was annoyed by his wife and made that annoyance into the classic song Across the Universe, except for the fact that when he recorded it, he couldn’t hit the high notes, so in a bizarre idea, he went outside the recording studio and selected 2 fans to record those high notes. He regretted it for the rest of his life, calling the song crap, but it has become an all-time classic, and finally, the classic rock song that came from an angry wife’s pissed-off rant. It’s a special episode of NEXT on Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    27 min

  8. MAY 1

    Top Rock Sibling Rivalries: Oasis’ Liam & Noel, The Everly Brothers Breakup, The Carpenters Conflict

    Rock and roll has always been a family business. And family… well, family is complicated. Growing up together, fighting together, making history together — and sometimes, destroying each other's dreams in the process. Today, we're counting down the most explosive sibling rivalries in rock history. And trust me, these stories are gonna entertain! Like the legendary Everly Brothers, whose decades of resentment finally detonated onstage — in front of a live amusement park crowd. The show prematurely ended with a smashed guitar and a stunning confession. Or how about the two brothers, Liam and Noel Gallagher, whose lifelong war with cricket bats and potato insults started back in their tiny shared bedroom… fighting over who had the best shoes. And then there’s the Carpenters brother-sister duo, where the brother called all the shots, literally telling his sister what notes to sing on every record. And when she finally broke free to make an album of her own… he destroyed it. Yeah, we all might need some therapy after this one. It’s brotherly and sisterly love gone so very wrong… next on The Professor of Rock. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    32 min
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Hosts & Guests

Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

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 timeless tracks were made, the creative breakthroughs, the near-breakups, and the powerful moments that defined music history. Each episode is a masterclass in rock culture and nostalgia—whether it's a chart-topping ‘80s anthem, a one-hit wonder with a wild backstory, or a candid conversation with the legends themselves. Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only on Professor of Rock.

Information

  • Creator
    Gamut Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    1.6K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Professor of Rock | Gamut Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Professor of Rock

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