Alternative Famous Firsts
Dustin Carlson
APD/MD/Afternoons
KDKB (ALT AZ 93-3)/Phoenix
KWWW - Kw3 Wenatchee WA. Started as a weekend board-op for Rick Dees and Casey’s Top 40. Worked my way up to Nights and Production Director for the cluster
Van Halen (Van Hagar) at the Gorge Amphitheater circa 1994ish
God this is embarrassing but I think it was Paula Abdul’s Spellbound. In my defense, growing up in Wenatchee, I’m lucky it wasn’t Amy Grant (or country).
Davey Havok of AFI backstage at the House of Blues in Vegas. He was the nicest guy ever with two beautiful women at his side. I had a shitty piece of recording equipment that I spent most of the time fighting with. I was nervous as hell and fumbled through the whole thing. That interview was never heard by anyone.
I mean they all just kinda blur together after over 25 years in the business. Thankfully most of mine are just recurring nightmares. Back in my audiovault days I definitely forgot to put the station in auto once or twice when I left the studio. There was also that ONE time where I forgot to send the music log and the station went non-stop commercials at midnight but who hasn’t done that at least once?
Hilary Doneux
APD/MD/Middays
91X/San Diego
Host of “The Punk 60” on KNAC/Los Angeles
TSOL
Duran Duran “Rio” (I think)
Can’t even recall! O from Fluf probably, may he rest in peace.
Overnights at KNAC – I had the studio monitors in program instead of air. We were off the air for a WHILE & I thought that was the end of my career!
Steve Craig
Program Director, Brand Manager & Midday Host
WNNX (99X)/Atlanta
Afternoon Drive at KLOM (Daytime AM station) in Lompoc, California 1978. Fired after 3 months for staying on past sign-off in order to play the new Boston song “Don’t Look Back”.
Beach Boys, Chicago & Santana at Anaheim Stadium (Bicentennial Concert) July 3, 1976.
1st REAL Concert… Happened a month later. For my Birthday, my girlfriend took me to see this band called The Ramones at The Roxy in L.A. (their first west-coast appearance) August 12, 1976 30-minute set that blew my face off. Changed my life! Interesting that the live recording of that concert would be released decades later as “The Ramones at your Birthday Party”!!
“Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by the 5Th Dimension - first single I bought with my own money (1969).
Steve Perry of Journey (1979) He used to stop by the KIOY (K-104) studios outside of Fresno, California on his way to Hanford to see his parents. I was the night jock on the air, and he knocked on the front door asking if we were playing his new record… I invited him in and we chatted on air & played “Lovin, Touchin’ Squeezin”… twice!
BEST dead air experience… When I answered the door and saw Steve Perry there… I was floored, was probably talking and gushing too much, and my record ran out. (It was Prince “I Wanna be your Lover”) but, what a great recovery! “…Sorry, Steve Perry was at the door, and I’m the only one here…
