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Those who know me best were anything but surprised when I flashed a child-like excitement over the prospect of joining the air staff at 97.1 FM, the Drive. The passion I have for rock and roll often exceeds my affection for ballgames, movies or hobbies and I love the radio station. Additionally, a backdrop change had been high on my "to-do list" for some time.
Flapping my gums about sports in Chicago since the late 1980s was a dream realized early. I know I've had a lot of luck along the way and that a lot of important people have had my back. And I'm also grateful for the many listeners who've kept showing up for me. Stop after stop.
In the spirit of transparency, however, I admit to entertaining the thought "is that all there is?" more and more frequently.
It isn't any longer. Beginning early in March, the radio road takes a much-welcomed turn when I team with Pete McMurray to bat leadoff for the Drive. The reality it's the freaking Drive giving us the keys makes it too sweet to believe. This is the crown jewel of Chicago radio and I've got a roster spot.
Once again, my real life is exceeding the dreams I had for it. I'm well stocked with gratitude.
This is my natural habitat -- classic rock with splashes of "guy talk," including sports, especially the Blackhawks and the NFL. Big Chief MacHawk lives, but also heeds the Master's call and gets the Led out.
The Master called early. I was 8 or 9 when summoned by the rock and roll Gods. It doesn't seem like just yesterday, but my recall is vivid. As I lied on the couch on a brutally cold winter day, the sun already set, my mother was listening to the radio while preparing dinner. From the Magnavox console, there ascended a long, hypnotic keyboard solo. It was Ray Manzarek, who I later would learn was the glue for the Doors.
My antenna up, Ray's solo moved seamlessly into Jim Morrison crooning the first verse of "Light My Fire" an octave higher than he had the first few times through. I joined at the chorus because I wanted to, but it wasn't really a choice. Rock and roll chose me. Something whispered "you're coming with me."
I did. A paper route funded a collection of 45s. First album: Elton John's "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy." First concert: Rush, "2112" tour. First heartbreak: Lynyrd Skynyrd's plane going down in 1977. Baptism: doused by a firehouse-wielding Mick Jagger during the encore of "Satisfaction" on the Stones' "Some Girls" tour at Soldier Field in 1978.
In high school, I wrote music for the school paper. Yeah, I was Northwest Indiana's "William Miller" from Cameron Crowe's "Almost Famous." I'd be at the International Amphitheater, the Hammond Civic Center or the Stadium for a Cheap Trick, Yes or UFO show. There was a mini-notepad in one pocket and a half pint in the other. Friday nights were for "man up time" on the football field, but Saturdays were reserved for flying my freak flag.
The toggle between sports and music never ended so I did both at my college radio station, WBST 92.7 FM, at Ball State. "Here's a little somethin' from a band called the Pretenders" was the mantra overnights while afternoons were spent writing, producing and delivering sports updates.
My love for classic rock never waned, but my "tolerance" of sportsradio minutia did. So when Greg Solk, who oversees the Drive and 29 other stations owned by Hubbard Radio, called me in October to share his vision for the station and interest in my participation, there was no hesitation. Securing this gig the Drive became my new mission.
The Drive sparkles more than any station in town and I trust Solk's radio acumen as much as anybody's. He's a radio prodigy, tabbed to be program director at the Loop when he was 21. In 1988, Greg gave me my first big opportunity at AM-1000. I was 26 and had no business -- even as a substitute host -- following a program as big as "The Steve and Garry Show." But Solk believed in me and coached me up, suggesting what to do instead of what not to do. Now, here we are again.
For the most devoted Drive fans, rest assured the backbone of the radio station will remain the music. I promise you I'm here largely because I am an enormous fan of the station and I also will miss Steve Downes weekday mornings. He and Kathy Voltmer took me to work for the past five years.
One of my fondest radio experiences in this millennium was working with Steve, providing sports commentaries on his morning show on a different classic rock outlet, shortly before the Drive was born. The torch that's being passed has burned brightly and has warmed many for a long time. "Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive" perfectly depicts Steve Downes. It's an honor to be next.
I've been a card-carrying member of "The Stroud Crowd" for years and I'm also delighted to be under the same roof with Bobby Skafish for the third time. He's invariably the coolest cat in the room and we're teammates again. Thank Jah.
I also look forward to a reunion with the affable Matt Bisbee, long considered to be the gold standard of imaging directors in Chicago. Overnight host Greg Easterling is a former co-worker and a pen pal. Evening host Phil Manicki and I swap hockey texts from time to time.
My partnership with McMurray is off to a good start. He's punctual and has good hygiene. We're in lockstep on many approaches to doing radio. Pete is a versatile dude and he's always cheerful.
As I write this, I haven't stepped into the studio or seen my office yet, but already it feels like a comfortable new home. What becomes the mission statement next is ensuring the Drive's morning regulars still feel at home. I'm being driven to madness waiting to get started on that.
The way..ai ...ting is the hardest part. *Special Edit
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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”
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