Alternative Famous Firsts
Tamo
APD/MD/Midday Host
WWDC (DC101)/Washington, D.C.
I was a Promotions & Programming Assistant at WROX/ Norfolk, VA. I was going to ODU & wanted a big job in Corporate America - I wanted to wear a power suit to work so badly. I'm embarrassed to say that even though I grew up listening to WOWI & WNVZ, I knew nothing about radio. I needed an internship & when the radio station was presented as an opportunity, I thought, "Sure! It's in the tallest building in Downtown Norfolk...big, fancy, corporate media company...let's go!" Let's just say I showed up to my interview in said power suit, while the guy interviewing me was wearing board shorts and flip-flops. The rest is history.
Snoop Dogg at The NorVa. I think The Clipse opened. They brought strippers on stage in between acts. A lot of weed smoke. It was wild.
Oh Jesus, I don't know. Probably Alanis Morrisette "Jagged Little Pill" from the K-Mart in Virginia Beach.
Brand New at The NorVa. I'll never forget it - I was in class and I get a call from Pam Bucci, and I run out to take it because it’s mf'n Pam Bucci. She says, "I know you love the band, so I told your boss that either you do the interview or no one does the interview." Pretty sure I recorded the interview on one of the old handhelds, but I honestly don't remember because I for sure blacked out from nerves/excitement.
At which station? lol. I mean, the most memorable time was when I was WROX and we were broadcasting live from Warped Tour. Katy Perry was about to come by for an interview (Jay Michaels was the PD then, and even though we were Alt Rock, we were quick to play “I Kissed A Girl”). I tripped over the extension cord and took the whole station off air. Took a couple minutes for everything to reboot once we got plugged back in, but we got the Katy interview!
Dave Levora
PD/Morning Show Host
KQCJ (Planet 93.9)/Quad Cities, IA
I started out hosting a two hour specialty show called "The Sunday Night Alternative," Sundays at 10pm on KLYV-FM in Dubuque, Iowa. (1992-1995).
Jonathon Brandmeier and The Leisure Suits at Poplar Creek Music Theatre on June 25th, 1988.
My first album was The Soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever but my first 45 was Debbie Boone, "You Light Up My Life"
Working nights in Dubuque, I interviewed Mike Score of A Flock of Seagulls. The PD kept reminding me to make sure to "ask a lot of questions about their hair." There was an awkward silence and then Mike explained he was bald.
My first time reading the obituaries on WDBQ-AM, I mispronounced the last name of a recently deceased Dubuquer. Imagine the WORST word you could say on the air. Yep. That one. Hearing it come out of my mouth, I realized that my lifelong dream of being on the radio was over before it began. I felt a nervous laugh coming up so I shut my mic off and waited until I had composed myself. The dead air felt like forever but it was probably closer to ten seconds. I'm so sorry, Mrs. Kuntz.
Jeremy Pritchard
Brand Manager, PM Drive & Host of the Rock & Roll Happy Hour
KBZT (Alt 94/9)/San Diego
94.3 KIK FM - KIKF-FM Orange County. I was one of those nerds who knew early on what I wanted to do when I "grew up." My milk and cereal was always KROQ growing up in Orange County, but even as a pimply teen I knew I had zero chance with that station, so I fell back on my second love of 90's power Country music and the OC station, KIK-FM. As a listener I was a rabid pain in their collective asses, calling in to bitch about dubs from songs because I knew they were playing music from both CDs and carts. Once I got into a college, I got an internship with the station so I could "fix it from within" only to realize I had no F'ing clue what went on in a radio station day-to-day. Given a little perspective, I put my nose to the grindstone and proceeded to learn what I could from whoever I could and that eventually led to me getting a board op gig running remotes and Angel's Baseball games.
Garth Brooks, Fresno, Ca - Aug 25th 1997. Don't judge. Little High School Jeremy was living in two worlds, I was caught between all the cool things happening with Alternative music developing in the 90's along with the star studded Country scene. So, when a friend had a couple of extra pit tickets to see Garth Brooks in Fresno, I busted my ass to convince my sister (who is 10 years older than me) to hop in her Geo Storm and drive 6 hours one way for her brother's first concert.
Pearl Jam - Ten. I was 10 and this controversial band had an edgy song with the same name as mine, of course I was all about it. I'd steal the cassette from my sister when she left her room unguarded and I would listen to it on repeat. There are few albums I know note for note, this was the first one, from Once to Release plus the very cool hidden track, it's all burned into my mind.
The Calling. I had no idea what I was getting into when I was told I had to interview this band. "Wherever You Will Go" was a song that was heating up the charts and I had never done an interview before. First of all you have to understand, this was 2001, the internet was still mostly dial up and there was no easy prep site. I was forced to prep from CD liner notes and fan bulletin boards. I'm so glad the interview got destroyed by an accidental mishap with the bulk eraser, because afterwards I was told that I pronounced the name of their new album Camino Palmero wrong for the entire interview despite being corrected by the band everytime I screwed it up.
Why must I relive this? I was running the board for an Angels game and had to run to the bathroom mid inning. The game had been slow and we still had two outs to go, so I figured I had time to relive myself. It felt like ten seconds after I sat down, we got a walk on first and an immediate double play. The inning was over, I heard the lock out and I was still mid push. The worst part of this situation was since the station owner also collected cars and the radio station was attached to his museum/warehouse and the bathroom was 100+ yards away from the studio. I made that 100 yard cheek-squeeze sprint and only missed one 30 seconds spot in the break. I spent the next 15 minutes watching the hotline, just waiting to get my ass chewed by my PD.
