Styx's “Renegade”: The Accidental Hit That Made Tommy Shaw a Rock Legend
Coming up an interview with one of the defining voices of 70s and 80s rock: Tommy Shaw. He joined Styx after they already had a couple of hits, but they weren’t exactly established. But after Tommy came aboard, they were unstoppable with a two-singer attack that made them twice the threat... especially with today’s song Renegade... an all-time classic rock magnum opus. It came from images in the singer’s head from old westerns he watched as a kid, and he came up with a famous a cappella part that wasn’t planned. The producer just pulled the music out after it had been recorded, and the band all looked at each other in disbelief. Then Renegade was tacked on as the B-side to a song the label thought would do well, but DJs loved Renegade and turned it over and made it a classic. Up next, Tommy Shaw breaks down his most famous song. 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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Improv Magic: The Untold Stories Behind Pink Floyd, The Who, and More
Improvisation is the X factor behind some of the greatest tracks of the Rock Era—moments of spontaneous genius nborn from gifted talent and instinct. On this episode, we’ll get ninto the captivating stories of how a teenager walking down the street decided to visit a studio that caught his eye. His name was Barrett Strong and he laid down a scratch vocal on a song he improvised… That scratch vocal became Money (That's What I Want), the first big hit for a label that npretty much became it’s own genre… Then a fiddle player got a random invite to a session and the band, The Who, had no idea who he was but he started playing and it was so powerful it put the finishing touches on 1 of the greatest rock anthems ever... Baba O'Riley. Plus the 16 year old opera singer who was supposed to sing a small part in a lower octave but decided to sing it much higher and it became thedefining vocal of the famous hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight… Plus the unknown singer Clare Torry who was supposed to sing a couple of notes over a musical bed but just belted out a wordless display of sounds that astonished Pink Floyd and became a crucial part of The Dark Side of the Moon, an album that spent 18 and a half years on the charts. Improv Magic…Part 2, 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.
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FROM THE VAULT: How David Gilmour’s Voice Elevated Pink Floyd’s Greatest Songs
FROM THE VAULT: David Gilmour’s Most Powerful Vocal Performances with Pink FloydIn this special vault episode, we shine a spotlight on one of rock’s most iconic yet often underrated voices: David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. While his guitar solos are legendary, it’s his soaring, soulful vocals that gave depth and emotion to some of the band’s most powerful songs. From the haunting beauty of Comfortably Numb to the raw emotion of Dogsand the melancholy ache of Wish You Were Here, Gilmour’s voice helped define the Pink Floyd sound. Professor of Rock breaks down the vocal highlights that made Gilmour not just a guitar god, but one of the great vocalists of the rock era.Also, on this day in rock history, Pink Floyd released their groundbreaking debut album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which reached number 6 on the UK charts and marked the beginning of one of rock’s most legendary journeys.Hear the Stories. Relive the Music. Only 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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Oldies But Goldies: The Untold Stories Behind the 1962 Hits That Changed Music
It was the year of golden oldies. In fact, it was the year that was described when people say the oldies but goodies. So many incredible songs, including the rise of the instrumental track Telstar by The Tornados that would spark the British Invasion, and it was recorded in a kitchen, along with a one-hit wonder, Monster Mash, that we play every single year for a month. Plus, The Twist, a song that hit #1 twice by the same artist (Chubby Checker) 2 years apart… It’s an artist I tried to get an interview with, and was told it would cost six figures! And there was Can't Help Falling in Love, the song from 1784 that was written from a woman’s perspective that Elvis Presley took to #1 centuries later. And then there's Loco-motion, the song that was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin that they had their babysitter Eva Boyd record a scratch vocal to just to show it to the star, they really wanted to sing it. When she rejected it, they released it as is, and it became a #1 hit four different times. Great guests, and a host of other timeless classics & are 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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Ozzy Osbourne’s Greatest Songs: A Tribute to Heavy Metal’s Icon
He was the madman who redefined heavy metal… an unlikely rock hero who became a legend. With the passing of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, 2025, the world lost more than the “Prince of Darkness”—we lost one of music’s most passionate, misunderstood, and enduring voices. Today, we’re celebrating Ozzy the only way that feels right—by taking a deep dive through the songs that shaped his legacy. Because behind the bat-biting headlines was a man of depth, kindness, and resilience. Let’s tell Ozzy’s story the way it was meant to be told… through the music that changed everything, including Paranoid, the 3-minute filler Song that made rock and Roll Dangerous and the light behind the Prince of Darkness, 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.
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