Alternative Famous Firsts
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.
Laura Lee
Program Director/Midday Host
WWCD Radio : Streaming at WWCDRADIO.com
After an internship at K-ROCK in NYC, I sent my tapes out and ended up overnights at KWOD in Sacramento, CA.
Officially it was Michael Jackson during his Bad World Tour. I was 10 and my Uncle had tickets and took my mom, brother and I. As far as the first concert that I wanted to go to, that would be U2 during their Zoo TV tour. August 25, 1992 at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburg, PA.
U2 - Achtung Baby
Beck, May 2, 2000 at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in San Francisco. I was super nervous and can't remember a single question I asked him, but I remember how super kind the guy was to me. I will be forever grateful he gave me that experience. And not that you asked but my 2nd interview was with Jerry Cantrell, complete dick.
While I know what you're asking about, I want to spin it and talk about my first Dead Air DAVE experience because he was a big reason I even ended up in radio. He was working at K-ROCK in NYC when I interned there and he needed fresh voices for the weekend sponsorships. I thought it was so neat to hear MY voice on the radio. From there it was encouragement and help in making an aircheck tape and then I thought to myself, let's see what happens, and applied for jobs. When I did land a job, overnights at KWOD, I packed a bag and flew to the other side of the county. I had no idea what I was getting into and wanted to call it quits several times in the beginning but stuck it out and 24 years it's no longer a job, it's my career. I joke that there are times when I curse Dead's name, but I wouldn't change a thing. Radio shout outs to Ashok! He can be heard on 1010 Wins and WCBS 880 in NYC.
