The first concert Madison ever saw was Julian Lennon in Saratoga Springs, New York (an admission she's hesitant to mention). Her perfect song? "With or Without You" by U2. She became a DJ early on: "I knew I wanted to be in radio when I realized I was too ugly to be in the movies." Of course, thousands of guys would disagree, including one slightly more famous SIRIUS XM personality: "Howard Stern telling me I was cute has been my best experience here." If she weren't a DJ, she says she'd be a babysitter because kids dig her. Or a hooker. Which would still be better than the worst job she's ever had: "I was a chimney sweep. God, that sucked."
Photograph by Matthu Placek.
Dave Kendall Fridays 9 pm – 3 am ET
Dave Kendall created, produced and hosted MTV's 120 Minutes from 1986-1993. The show is credited with bringing artists like Midnight Oil, Sinead O'Connor and The Cure to a mainstream audience. His various on-the-road exploits include traveling across Europe with Depeche Mode, Erasure and Nitzer Ebb, getting a lesson in advanced audio from The Edge on the U2 Zoo TV tour, and bungee jumping at Lollapalooza. His favorite memory, however, is traipsing around Tijuana with Johnny Rotten trying on dresses in the pouring rain. After 120 Minutes, Dave went on to produce various music shows for radio and television and while also volunteering for an AIDS Charity in Thailand.
Larry the Duck | email Weekdays 6 am – 9 am ET
Saturdays 4 pm – 10 pm ET
Larry The Duck has been a DJ since alternative rock's 1st Wave. He has interviewed – among others – Duran Duran, Erasure, The Psychedelic Furs, John Lydon and P.I.L., The Ramones, Patti Smith, Johnny Marr, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Robert Smith. So, who was his favorite interview? "Jim Henson!" Yes, Larry actually got face time with the creator of the Muppets. "It was one year before he died. I got to speak with him for 90 minutes in the studio during his press tour for Labyrinth." You might remember that 1986 film: Henson directed it, and David Bowie starred. Larry's favorite concert memory: "U2 in December 1981, on the last night of the October tour. Bono was pretty tipsy. The place went so nuts that they played 'I Will Follow' twice." Larry The Duck has lots of great stories like that – catch them Saturdays on 1st Wave!
Photograph by Matthu Placek.
Richard Blade | email Weekdays 3 pm - 9 pm ET
Weekends 10 am – 4 pm ET
If you "Google" Richard Blade, you'll find a lot of web sites dedicated to the best music of the '80s: new wave. But Richard isn't just a fan: he was also instrumental in breaking many of the best bands of that – or any other – decade, including Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears and many others. More recently, Richard co-produced the VH1 show Bands Reunited, and, although they didn't get around to reuniting The Smiths, Richard still hopes that the impossible may one day happen. Whether or not he can get Moz back with the band, you can still hear Richard playing their classics all the time on 1st Wave.
Swedish Egil | email Mondays - Thursdays 9 pm - 3 am ET
Sundays 4 pm – 10 pm ET
Yes, Swedish Egil really is Swedish (he was born in Malmo, Sweden). He has collected over 50,000 recordings, and is known far and wide for his incomparable knowledge of new music. He left his homeland for the U.S. in the late '70s and America has been very, very good to him. Back in Sweden, he pumped gas. In the U.S.A., he became a booking agent to major nightclubs and events, and also started his radio career. He's done tons of interviews over the years, and he's quick to cite his favorite: "Moby, who I interviewed for First Wave. He’s a great success story in rock and electronic, both genres that I love."
As a child, Darrin was interviewing visitors to his house with a toy microphone; a couple of years later he was attending a series of concerts (including The Smiths, Siouxsie & The Banshees, The Ramones, Public Image Limited) at New York City's legendary Pier. Little did he know that, just a few years later, he could be interviewing many of those artists just a few years later. With a real microphone! (Among those he's shared studio time with: Billy Idol, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Psychedelic Furs and Howard Jones.) But besides spinning tunes on 1st Wave Saturday and Sunday mornings, Darrin is also one of the behind-the-scenes masterminds of the channel. He proudly points out, "There is not a terrestrial station like this anywhere in North America, and it has been incredible getting such a passionate response from our listeners."
Photograph by Matthu Placek.
First Wave plays the great songs that helped bring “alternative rock” to the forefront of pop culture and awareness in the 1980s. It plays music when individual expression through music trends was first accepted, and everyone wanted to look like the video stars of MTV. Hear the first wave of alternative music from the era that defined alternative. If you ever wore a skinny tie, had spiked hair, or pogoed to the beat, 1st Wave is for you. Longer on synthesizers than guitars, First Wave makes it okay for rock fans who want to dance!
