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Professor of Rock

Professor of Rock

By: Gamut Podcast Network
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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.

© Professor of Rock | Gamut Podcast Network
Music
Episodes
  • 8 Truly Demented Rock Songs That Somehow Became Classics
    Apr 23 2026

    Sometimes the most memorable songs aren't the ones that scale the charts, but the ones that defy all logic. I’m talking about tracks that stop you cold …Dead in your tracks and make you ask, "What the hell did I just listen to?" Like Angine de Poitrine. Today, we're celebrating 8 of Rock's Strangest Songs that broke every rule in the book. Including the Peter Gabriel who ruled 1986 with an iconic record, only to wait 6 years to put out a follow-up because his new song Digging in the Dirt sent him into utter madness as he delved into the minds of the truly demented to write a song that seems harmless, but lyrically isthe strangest, creepiest song of its time. We've also got the story of Frank Zappa who woke up his 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit at 3 AM to record a monologue of 80s Southern California slang over a heavy guitar riff. Then there's the tale of a 60s artist Napoleon XIV who wrote a song about going insane that was so controversial it was banned nationwide,. And we’ll dive into a family band, The Shaggs, foretold by prophecy, attempting to play rock and roll without ever having actually heard what rock and roll was supposed to sound like!


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    33 mins
  • Top 11 Dated Songs of 1979 Countdown: Styx, Anita Ward, Dr. Hook, Rod Stewart, and More
    Apr 21 2026

    Coming up, we turn the spotlight on 10 songs that embody the period of the Rock Era when disco was on its last leg, and rock was making a comeback!. It’s our latest Dated countdown.

    Songs that are distinctly of their time….including one song, Pop Musik, that got its pre-chorus from a perfume bottle, another one, When You’re In Love With a Beautiful Woman, that may never have been recorded if the writer hadn’t stalked a famous band’s manager into the restroom, pitching it at the urinal.

    Plus a #1 hit that rocketed to the top of the chart after being synced in one of the most controversial scenes in tv history, plus Ring My Bell, a song that has been banned from casinos because every time it’s played it’s musical vibrations make slot machines and black jack tables pay out by 10X plus the naughty Rod Stewart song that got me kicked out of church as a toddler when I sang it during a prayer and the song Babe that Dennis DeYoung wrote as a private song for his wife’s b day present that was never supposed to be heard by the public but hit #1…


    These stories and more as we get into details about 11 DATED songs from 1979, 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.

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    32 mins
  • FROM THE VAULT: The Iconic Miami Vice Soundtrack – How It Defined 80s TV and Music
    Apr 19 2026

    The story of the biggest tv soundtrack of the 1980s: Miami Vice from the Theme by Jan Hammer to the two Glenn Frey tracks You Belong to the City and Smuggler’s Blues… cowritten by frequent Eagles collaborator Jack Tempchin who tells the story of writing them. Get ready for a showstopper we’re going back to 1985.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    19 mins
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