How Alice Cooper Inspired Punk, Shock Rock, and a Rock Renaissance
I’m excited to share today’s interview.He’s had 11 Top 40 hits, sold over 55 million albums, and is one of only a few artists in history with a Top 50 album in six consecutive decades.But even more important — today’s guest is a rock pioneer who helped build and shape some of the most important musical genres and movements of our lifetime and beyond.Like shock rock, of which he’s the king. But also punk rock — Johnny Rotten’s tryout that got him the job as singer of the Sex Pistols was Alice’s song I’m Eighteen, and the first song Joey Ramone wrote for the Ramones was based on the chords of that same song. The seeds of punk rock came from Alice!And of course, hard rock and metal owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Cooper. KISS begged, borrowed, and stole from Alice — even they admit it — among many others.And what other living rock star was beloved by Groucho Marx, Mae West, and Salvador Dalí? Or was called a great songwriter by Bob Dylan? Or had a comic book series created about him by Neil Gaiman?He also waged one of the greatest comebacks in rock history in 1989 with Poison after critics said he was done — and then won the hearts of a whole new generation in Wayne’s World.We cover all of that, plus the real story behind the chicken and many other urban legends. You’ll get some surprises along the way — and some of the best stories I’ve ever heard in an interview.I’m recording this intro just hours before going in for serious surgery… hoping this isn’t my final interview. But if it was — I’d take it! Ha ha.Here’s Alice.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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FROM THE VAULT: The Shocking Story of 'I Touch Myself': Written by Men, Sung by a Rock Icon, and Still Debated
FROM THE VAULT: The controversial song about female self-love… was written by a dude? Ha ha. It's I Touch Myself by the Divinyls. This story is almost too good to be true, and yet it is. I have an interview with a Hall of Fame songwriter Billy Steinberg who wrote 5 #1 hits with his songwriting partner Tom Kelly. And all five #1s were for female artists. All 5 songs were huge in the 80s, but at the end of the decade, Billy met with a prolific Australian band and sheepishly gave them his private notebook of lyrics and asked what song they wanted to work on. And today’s iconic female rocker Chrissy Amphlett chose a song that was about self-love. I Touch Myself wasn’t quite finished so the band and the songwriting team tackled it. It’s pretty straightforward forward, and though it was controversial it became a global smash. Let's run it back, 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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Electric Light Orchestra’s Greatest Albums and the Birth of “Mr. Blue Sky”
Today, we're diving into one of the most innovative and enjoyable bands to listen to in rock history…it’s a group that blended symphonic grandeur with pure pop perfection. It's Electric Light Orchestra. And if you can’t get on board with these guys, you better check your pulse. And there’s great stories to get into along the way… Including the panic-written hit Evil Woman that may have been inspired by a wicked California groupie whose identity is still a complete mystery. But this singer, Jeff Lynne, got even when he lambasted her on radio. Then there's the tale of the double album Jeff said he would write in a month… Only he got writer’s block soon after, and he couldn’t break through it until one day the clouds literally parted and his depression fizzled and he wrote Mr. Blue Sky to chase away his anxiety, and it actually ended up being the happiest song of all time, as backed and certified by scientists. It’s a journey through five landmark albums that changed the sound of the 70s and 80s forever... 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.
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Songs That Almost Didn’t Happen: Pearl Jam, Tom Petty, Weezer & a Vanished Hit
I ended this series a few months ago because I didn’t think there were any great top 40 songs after 1994. Well, after months of reflection, I admit I was wrong. Most of the songs in today’s year countdown were reluctantly recorded, and were either not intended to be a single, or were an embarrassment for the artist who created it- and they ended up being masterworks... including the Pearl Jam song about a traumatized boy who watched a man he thought was his real father hurt his mother. He turned it into a song years before he hit it big, and never wanted to put the song out. Then there was the Tom Petty song that MTV initially banned, and then edited a lyric by playing a word backward that confused the hell out of listeners and changed the meaning of the song. Then there was the pissed off fan who offered Weezer a multimillion-dollar fortune to just go away, because they couldn’t match the majesty of their perfect debut album. Our countdown is next on Professor of Rock… 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.
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The Underrated Rise of Triumph: Canada’s Other Power Trio
Today we are telling the story of the other Canadian power trio that originated in the 70s. And their name isn't Rush. It's Triumph and they maybe the most underrated band of their time. Coming up, We've got the wild tale of how a single radio DJ in San Antonio, Texas turned these three unknown guys from Toronto into arena rock legends, back when that sort of thing could happen. Plus we’ll cover the anthem Never Surrender that ironically planted the seeds for the band's eventual breakup. It’s our latest episode of Short and Sweet, 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.
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.
Österreich