Professor of Rock

Gamut Podcast Network
  • 4.9 (207)
  • 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. 2h ago ·  Bonus

    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 they touched turned to Gold and Platinum. Here, John Oates tells the story of a number-one hit from the mid-80s that came at the crossroads of Analog and digital… Out of Touch, it was their final #1 hit after ruling the neon decade with 11 hits, and this one was one of their biggest and they almost gave it away. To put it all in perspective this song was actually a huge accident. Also on this same 1984 record, they had another hit where they spelled the chorus and if you were anything like me you were a little thrown by this… the story is 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.

  2. 2h ago ·  Bonus

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    Introducing KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS: How I Survived the Hardest Year of My Life from On Purpose with Jay Shetty. Follow the show: On Purpose with Jay Shetty Karl-Anthony Towns has spent his life chasing championships, but his greatest lessons came far from the basketball court. In this heartfelt conversation with Jay Shetty, he reflects on grief, faith, family, and the moments that shaped the man behind the jersey. From honoring his late mother's legacy to embracing God's timing, discovering purpose beyond success, and building a love rooted in friendship, this episode is a moving reminder that who you become matters far more than what you achieve. Sometimes the greatest victories aren't the ones the world celebrates, they're the quiet moments when you choose to keep moving forward with hope. With Love and Gratitude, Jay Shetty A State Farm agent can help you choose the coverage you need. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Visit: https://www.statefarm.com/  On Purpose is now Netflix and Spotify exclusive  http://www.netflix.com/onpurposewithjayshetty  https://open.spotify.com/show/5EqqB52m2bsr4k1Ii7sStc?si=33f7898fb334437c  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 https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe   Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast  What We Discuss: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:51 Winning an NBA Championship 00:03:13 What Comes After Your Biggest Goal? 00:06:12 Slowing Down to Celebrate 00:07:38 The Walk That Changed Everything 00:11:17 Choosing Calm and Forgiveness 00:14:48 Finding Peace in Quiet Moments 00:17:03 Everyone Sees the World Differently 00:18:42 Confidence Starts at Home 00:20:09 Losing Family During COVID 00:22:42 A Final Conversation with Mom 00:26:12 Letting Go with Love 00:27:23 Making Every Moment Special 00:28:50 "You Should've Drank More" 00:31:24 Feeling Her Presence Again 00:31:48 Living with Survivor's Guilt 00:34:05 Everyone Wants to Be Heard 00:35:51 When Therapy Looks Different 00:38:04 The Coach Who Changed Everything 00:39:53 A Love Story Over Uno 00:40:27 From Friends to Forever 00:41:32 What We Learned from Each Other 00:44:22 The Luckiest Bag in Basketball 00:46:09 Traded Without Warning 00:48:43 Feeling Welcome in New York 00:50:06 The Ultimate Courtside Stress Test 00:52:48 Bouncing Back from Failure 00:54:26 The Pre-Game Routine 00:59:12 Playing for the Dominican Republic 00:59:42 Carrying Your Country with Pride 01:01:28 The Moments People Remember 01:03:24 Karl Anthony on Final Five Episode Resources: YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/c/KarlAnthonyTowns  Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/karlanthonytowns/  Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/karltowns  X | https://x.com/KarlTowns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices 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.

    You Might Also Like: On Purpose with Jay Shetty

  3. 1d ago

    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, where Neil Young, one of rock's most cantankerous icons, had serious back issues but altered his style to create his lone #1 single, Heart of Gold. Instead of celebrating the song’s success, Neil decided to defy commercialism and purposefully write music that wouldn’t chart. Then America was accused of intentionally imitating this same notorious curmudgeon’s song by critics and the artist alike. It got worse when their song, A Horse with No Name, replaced said song at #1. Then there’s Harry Nilsson, the former bank worker who argued with his producer about transforming Without You into one of the first power ballads. He tried to sabotage the song at every end but it still hit #1; Without You would end up being a curse when he lost his voice after singing it so many times. Plus, a story of Gilbert O’Sullivan, a 21-year-old kid who wrote one of the most introspective masterpieces ever that no one thought was a hit, after it became one of the best-selling singles of all time. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  4. 3d ago

    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 song that you are grateful when it get stuck in your head because it never gets old. Today we’re gonna celebrate the 7 catchiest songs of the 70s that are sonic masterworks… including the tale of a struggling songwriter who was surviving on food stamps. But when her phone rang out of nowhere and Earth, Wind and Fire's Maurice White asked her to co-write his next album… she was saved from the brink. And the hit song September they wrote together is a guaranteed bad mood killer. Then there’s The Hollies, who released their biggest US hit after their frontman had already quit. Sitting at home, he had to watch their song climb the charts while another singer performed his parts on tour. Would he get back with the band? And finally… right in the middle of tracking the all-time feel-good classic Come and Get Your Love, the studio door swung open, and the drummer’s wife walked in and served divorce papers while he was behind the kit. But he didn’t slow down or even miss a beat. Find out what happened next on Professor of Rock. Let’s get started. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  5. 5d ago

    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 musicians were pushed out, had their royalties stolen, & screwed over every which way but loose... Today we have some of the biggest backstabbing stories in rock history. Including Supertramp co-founder Roger Hodgson, who walked away from his band with a gentleman's agreement. He had written a lot of hits, and his co-singer promised not to play his hit songs in exchange for the band name.… But then, when ticket sales plummeted, he reneged on the deal and toured under the name, played the hits, and then wouldn’t let the fans see a final reunion. Then there’s the Iron Maiden heavy guitarist who was fired from the band after his manager caught him listening to the Eagles on their tour bus. Plus the tragic story of Badfinger, a band of gifted songwriters who trusted the wrong guy. Too little too late they discovered their business manager had stolen all their money and bankrupted the band, and the damage was enough to end their lives… Victims of the biggest fraud in history. 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.

  6. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    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 Immigrant song Written by the world’s biggest rock band Sadly, it never made it onto its intended album, Led Zeppelin 3 or any of the six that followed. And yet it has been hailed as a top-notch tune, living for decades as a holy grail rarity. A status reinforced by the fact that Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones and John Bonham never played it live. It’s a 70s hidden gem for the ages. One that was forgotten to almost everyone aside from avid record collectors and classic rock DJs. Would fans ever get their hands on this incredible track? Find out... 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.

  7. Jul 14

    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 a statement, which was posted on her official social media channel. Bonnie was a force to be reckoned with, one of the distinct and emotional voices of the last 50 years. She will continue to blow the minds of listeners for the next 500 years with songs that are not only powerhouses of the last half century but standards of their times like Holding Out for a Hero, It’s a Heartache, and of course, the 80s classic Total Eclipse of the Heart. Today I wanted to share a show we did about 5 years ago, but we put in this one an uncut video of our story behind that perfect song. Rest In Peace, Bonnie. Thank you for the music. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. Jul 14

    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 that a lot of them missed out on hitting #1, but they deserved to be. Today we are going to fix that, as we take the time machine back and put it right, with 10 songs that are #1 in our hearts. Including the making of the Dream Academy classic Life in a Northern Town, mentored by one of rock’s greatest lyricists, and produced by a guitar legend, yet passed over by dozens of record labels who wanted NO part of it. Plus the futuristic 1986 song Silent Running that describes our day to a tee but got banned years later because it was deemed too dangerous for us to hear. What were they hiding? Plus the perfect song that was, unsurprisingly, a 1 hit wonder because no band in history could’ve followed it up. It was just too perfect. And Danger Zone that was turned down by half a dozen legends, so the producer, in a panic, called a singer in who was working in a studio close by and he laid it down and it became his biggest hit. And to think it was co-written by a guy who fixed the producer's brakes on his car. And finally the greatest song of all time, Level 42's Something About You, at least in my humble opinion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

See All (1.7K)

Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
207 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
    1.7K
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Professor of Rock | Gamut Podcast Network
  • Show Website
    Professor of Rock

You Might Also Like