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 thinking a lot about it. And GENIUS simply doesn't cover it. For Brian Wilson, there should be a higher word or title for him that could never be bestowed up on anyone else in music history... Only him. In my opinion, He composed the highest vibrations in popular music-period. He was a light in a sometimes very Dismal world, and his music will continue to cut through the darkest times. I’ve mentioned this before, but when I started doing interviews, I made a list of 15 legends I wanted to have a deep conversation with before I left this earth, and at the top of that list was Brian Wilson.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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24:47
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 Give Love a Bad Name" to "Wanted Dead or Alive" and "It's My Life", their music gives us redemption and faith against all odds. Mostly it's music of hope, which is a powerful thing, especially in the times we live in. As Jon Bon Jovi says "You live for the fight when that's all that you've got". You got to keep the faith.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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17:47
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 stories of rock legends who almost joined forces but just couldn’t get it together… And others that actually made it to the stage and into the studio. Among them, there’s a soap opera-inspired band (featuring soap star Rick Springfield) that mixed reality television with arena rock, decades before it became a thing. Then there’s the band Hindu Love Gods that came together during a drunken jam session and accidentally cut an album that became a cult classic. We’re also covering two of the biggest icons in music history, the King of Pop and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. They had a project that was thwarted by llama drama in the recording studio. That’s right — an actual llama derailed this legendary collaboration. Plus, the near-miss Beatles-Stones supergroup that could have become the biggest band of all time. It's next on Professor of Rock.Head to http://acornsearly.com/por to download the Acorns Early app to help your kids grow their money skills today.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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30:50
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 their sound and its impact on the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Crosby, Stills, and Nash. SO many great stories here in our Evolution series. Including their first album that blew up radio with harmonies that moved the soul, including the Suite: Judy Blue Eyes about a torrid love affair that’s break up was so painful the singer can’t even say the famous woman’s name and then there was the vinyl cover where the photographer set the band members up in the wrong order while sitting on a couch in front of a house…They were supposed to correspond with the group name that would appear above them on the album.. No big deal, he said, we’ll just go back after the weekend and re-shoot the cover shot. Problem is that when they went back to the house, and couch was gone… over the weekend, it had been demolished! And then there was the guy who bet band member Graham Nash 500 bucks he could write a song in a few minutes… Not only did he win the bet, but the tune Just a Song Before I Go became the famous group’s biggest hit. It’s an all-star episode… 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.
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23:37
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, and today’s song, The Gambler, his most famous one, is a major reason why… It’s a song that everyone knows and loves, even if they won’t admit it. It’s a song that changed the fortune of a computer programmer forever. A tech guy who was working a graveyard shift wrote the song, and in the process, he elevated a middle-aged singer whom the pundits said was done. They said at 40 Kenny was way past his prime, over the hill, they said his career was over, and left him for dead. But The Gambler launched him into superstardom. The song was so good that it became a hit TV movie and a metaphor that’s been used a million times. Up next, the making of a storybook song that grabbed an indelible piece of pop culture… in his own words. 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.
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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