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Professor of Rock

Gamut Podcast Network
Professor of Rock
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1629 episodes

  • Professor of Rock

    Top 10 Modern TV Themes: The Songs That Defined Stranger Things, The Sopranos, and More

    2026-06-05 | 33 mins.
    You know, a great TV theme song is more than just an earworm. The best of the best rewire your brain so that, decades later, hearing it, you’re teleported straight back to the year you first heard it. We’ve had a lot of fun with this TV theme song series, covering tracks from all across the rock era. Today, we’re at it again, counting down the Top 10 picks for the best modern themes… We’ve got the Duffer brothers who stole an indie song off Bandcamp to use as the music for their series Stranger Things that they pitched to the biggest streamer in Hollywood… It not only got their show greenlit, but it became the biggest show of its time. But what happened to the band that wrote the song? Find out. Plus, the band Alabama 3, who sold their song for 500 bucks to The Sopranos, a TV show that became one of HBO’s biggest ever. They regretted it when the Theme song made Millions. And finally, a singer forgot that he had a meeting with a TV producer about writing the Big Bang Theory theme song. He only had 15 mins before the meeting was going to start, so he wrote a song in 5 minutes and recorded it in less time than that. It became so big it made more money than the #1 band's entire catalog combined! Let’s do it.

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  • Professor of Rock

    FROM THE VAULT: Eddie Van Halen Tribute

    2026-06-03 | 19 mins.
    Let's take it back with this POR Classic!
    We lost one of the most influential and innovative guitarist of the Rock Era, when Eddie Van Halen succumbed to his long battle with throat cancer. He was only 65 years old. the word Legend is thrown around too much in the world we live in now. The over use of the term waters down the meaning for true legends and make no mistake the word legend was coined for EVH. Here at Professor of Rock, we want to honor to the Legend Eddie Van Halen through the music.
    Not only was Eddie one of the all-time greatest guitarists, he was also a master composer, lyricist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. He was a lightning fast player, a relentless originator, and a veritable trailblazer. Here we break down Eddie’s top 5 song from both David Lee Roth era and the Sammy Hagar era including Runnin’ with the Devil, Dreams, 5150, Panama, Best of Both Worlds, Mean Streets, I’m the One, Jump, When It’s Love, Poundcake and more with commentary by Sammy Hagar.
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  • Professor of Rock

    Top Songs of 1983: The One-Hit Wonders, MTV Classics, and Forgotten Stories Behind the Hits

    2026-06-02 | 31 mins.
    Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits.
    Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today… Let’s get into it.

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  • Professor of Rock

    UNCUT Interview: Michael Anthony Reveals the Stories Behind Van Halen’s Biggest Hits and Hidden Gems

    2026-06-01 | 46 mins.
    Coming up, the stories of 11 songs that defined the sound of another great year in music. Maybe the greatest year in music history. 1983. So many classics that will take you back to the good old days, including the massive hit by a band that nobody could pronounce. Plus 6 former criminals who formed the band Madness and had one of the most famous one-hit wonders ever, Our House, yet in the UK they had 30 huge hits.

    Plus, the controversial music video for a bizarre remake of Puttin On the Ritz from the Great American Songbook that is now banned for its use of blackface, plus the song that was rejected by record execs for not having any hooks…the bewildered songwriter screamed back at them, the whole song is the hook; he was right, and the song hit #1…So many great songs today…
    Let’s get into it.
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  • Professor of Rock

    Rock Legends vs. the Critics: The Most Infuriating Music Reviews Ever

    2026-05-31 | 35 mins.
    Today we’re firing up the hot take machine and taking on the worst opinions from those who I’ve never really seen eye to eye with … “ the so-called music Critic.”
    On this episode, we’re going to break down the most insufferable takes from institutional gatekeepers, and all around pretentious, smug, and out-of-touch pundits… whom sometimes I wonder if they really even enjoy music. I’ve got a few things to say in response to this critical garbage. Stay tuned for the story of Led Zeppelin, a band that dominated the 70s, but had critics from one particular magazine trying to undercut them every step of the way.
    Plus, you won’t believe it. There is a prominent British music personality who has dismissed an entire decade of music for being too jingly jangly and ripped The Beatles, a band that changed the entire face of music overnight. Also, there is Pearl Jam, the ultimate anti-corporate rockers, who some reviewers accused of manufacturing a derivative record just to pick the pockets of teenagers. And Eric Clapton, the guitarist who went from being ranked the 2nd greatest guitarist ever to the 35th best, just because his views weren’t PC enough for the magazine making the list. You’re not gonna believe some of this crap.
    Let’s get into it.
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About 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 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.
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