Radio Memphis

What a strange trip it has been, eh?  Since February 25th to today (July 1) I have felt a bit like Tarzan swinging from vine to vine working on various things with various people and like Victor Frankenstein, gave life to an idea that who knows what impact will have on the villagers.

Radio Memphis came from a simple thought.  The radio business isn't run by radio people anymore.  The big corporations (lawyers and bankers) have destroyed what we all came to love.  It is ruled by consultants, those people who have never stood in a radio station much less tell a pro what the audience wants.  Scary stuff.  And it only gets worse.  But those tales we'll save for later. 

So what is this thing, you ask?  The internet is where everything is headed.  You and I use it so much for everything from shopping, watching TV shows, movies, looking at boobies and listening to radio stations all over the globe. 

My initial approach to this was to make sure it didn't sound like a couple of kids working out of mom's basement in the middle of the night playing punk records.  It had to be big and it has to sound big.  (Bad Dog would love that last line... inside joke, sorry.)  We're still playing some punk records and many other things.  But it wasn't all at my hands.  There were quite a few people who made this happen and I want to make sure everyone gets listed here.

First of all I would have to thank my former employers for a few things.  The experience I got and the kick in the ass out the door that ultimately freed me up to do just this.  There were a lot of casualties along the way and a lot of good people lost their jobs as a result.  They are still getting thrown under the bus for no damn reason.  Just recently, the gentleman who hired me and fired me saw the end of a 30 year career here.  What a shame.  But, I digress.  Those people helped make Radio Memphis whether they like to know it or not.  So, thanks.

Now, onto to those who were much more active in their participation.  Josephine.  My wife who has stood by me through thick and thin.  She carried the belief of this project since it was conceived and kept me from going totally insane.  Charlie Hodum.  Legal counsel to the stars.  Brian McMurry.  He's the genius behind the skull you see at the top of this post.  Leon Griffin.  The coolest man in Memphis.  He's the voice behind the station.  When you hear a guy telling you what the station is, it's him.  The best set of pipes in town.  Dave Thorn.  Vexar Dave to you and me.  Daniel Brown.  Web design at Company Zero.  Benjamin Deming.  App designer.  Shon Gale at Emanon Group, Eugene, Oregon.  All the kids at Direttore in Italy.  Claesson Edwards Audio in California.  Emily Bishop and Barb Elder at The Lamplighter for the great article.  Charles Stanford.  CPA to the stars.  Dianna Fryer.  Promotions and all around fire putter-outer.  David James.  Construction and protector of the generator.  Neely James.  Wife of David and fan number 1.  John "Bubba" Bonds.  Music gatherer and liaison to Memphis musicians.  Tim Mullins.  Justin Jaggers.  Rick Cail.  Paul "Pablo the pool boy" Daniels.  All of the Memphis musicians who made the library possible.  This is built for you.  To all those who remained faithful to the cause and remained a fan of mine throughout all that has happened.  This is built for you.

There are others that should be mentioned here, however if I did, it would cost them their jobs.  You know who you are and I love you for your support and love.

 I'm sure we'll be making some mistakes from time to time.  Please pardon as we go through some growth pains.  We're working on stuff all the time with this thing.  As a matter of fact the iPhone app is out now and Ben is working on the app for the droid phones.  Yes, there is a BlackBerry app in the works, too. 

As for me, I'll officially join the crew August 1 at noon.  It would be sooner, but there is this little unfinished business with my former employers.  In the meantime, July 23 at 3PM the first live showe on the station will happen.  It will be Vexar Dave (God help us all).  He'll be on 'till 7 and then we'll all meet at Neil's on Madison at McLean for our kick off party with The Fast Mothers.  It'll be a blast.  Come meet all of us.  Doors open at 9PM.

So, here it is.  http://www.radio-memphis.com  Enjoy it.  We built this for all those who want radio back they way it's supposed to be. 

Stay tuned... please.

The Theater Experience

I'm talking movie theaters here.  One of the problems theaters are facing these days are the mobile phone users.  God help us all.  There is nothing more irritating to me as a paying customer than going to a movie theater to see a film I have been psyched up for only to have the whole experience negated by the inconsiderate individual sitting a few rows in front of me sending out text messages during the movie.

Part of me wants to reach down and slap the back of their head and snatch the phone.  But I remember the story about the guy who said something to someone who was using their phone during a movie.  The phone user ultimately stabbed the complainer in the neck with a meat thermometer.  People certainly get touchy about these things and reacting with that sort of violence can be a turn off.  Sadly, to the benefit of the individual being the distraction.

So, it was with great joy I came across this bit of fun.  A movie theater in Austin, Texas called the Alamo Drafthouse has a policy, "we see you using your phone, we throw you out."  I rather like that rule.  And they enforce it.

But, before you get all pissed off with me for liking this sort of activity, keep in mind there was a time when one could go to the theater without these distractions.  "But, my babysitter might be calling." Or, "My house might be on fire and someone may be trying to call me."  Or, "I'm a doctor and I am on call."  We have heard them all.  Look, parents went childless on dates before there were mobile phones.  Seriously, what are the odds that your house will catch fire while you are at the theater?  Besides, what are you going to be able to do about anyway?  And if you are on call, don't you think you should keep that in consideration before going to the theater in the first place?

Back to The Alamo Drafthouse.  A patron gets caught using her phone and she get's thrown out.  She takes that very same phone and leaves a nasty message to the theater.  The theater, sensing a fine opportunity, takes the message and creates a public service message they run before the movie.  Bad language and all.  I absolutely love this.



Now, THAT is a great example of getting your message across.  Don't you just love it when people do wrong and think THEY are the victim?

There is something in that PSA that reaches down deep into my soul for some serious satisfaction.  Since we can't legally shoot the stupid (in most cases), there is a real bit of justice to this and I hope you all enjoyed that as much as I did.

Discuss amongst yourselves, I'm headed back to the movie.

Stay Tuned...

How About a Beer?

If it's one thing I am rather sensitive to, it's advertising.  Sensitive meaning that I am fully aware of it.  It's one of the side effects of being employed in the commercial broadcasting industry most of my life.  So, naturally, I am one of those people who are not all that phased about the messages that are constantly bombarding my TV, radio, film, internet or everywhere they exist.  So, it comes as a little surprise when one ad or another gets through my rather narrow filter.

This one did. So I did some research.  But here's the rub.  The ad I am talking about is a beer ad.  You have seen it.  Heineken.  The ad shows the grand entrance to a party by some man about town with a groovy band playing on this stage.  No, I don't care for Heineken.  Even if it is the number one selling beer in Ireland (after Budweiser... no joke).  What got my attention was the band.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour.  Never heard of them?  Me neither.  But they figured out how to sell records by putting hit songs on certain commercials.  Turns out they did it for an Apple iPhone or one their other "i" products.  Anyway, after doing a little research, I found this, the full version of the Heineken song with the accompanying video that tells the whole story of the party.  The actual commercial must have been edited from this piece.  The film is called The Entrance and that it is.  The song is called The Golden Age.

Dig it...





The band is Danish and the girl singing is Mette Lindberg and judging by her command of the English language, she seems to be singing this phonetically.  Not that there is any thing wrong with that.  She's good and I assume that is her real voice. 

An interesting side not about this band.  They were sort of discovered by Amy Winehouse.  They opened for her at a show in Copenhagen.  That turned out to be their first big gig. 

So, does this spot make me want a Heineken? Not really. But, I could certainly go for some fried chicken.  Figure that out, advertising consultant.

Stay Tuned...

Moving Along

So, it's been damn near 60 days since my last post.  It wasn't out of laziness.  I needed to spend some time listening to what is going on out in the real world.  I have to tell you, the more I listen to the real world, the more I am glad I am not a real part of it... (whatever that might mean).

The incredible string of bad luck I have endured since February 25th seems to have come to a close, thankfully.  Things are certainly looking up.  Everywhere I have been, I have been asked a ton of questions.  So, what I have decided to do here was to sit down with a trusted friend and have him ask me some questions, for you.  Enjoy!

What in the hell happened to that radio station you used to work for?
Good question. (laughs) Honestly, I haven't listened to it since I left.  I have heard stories, complaints, anecdotes, theories, all of that.  I did read a pile of Facebook postings regarding the situation and to be honest, I did take a certain pride in knowing what John and I did was considered pretty decent in comparison.  Remember, they let me go for whatever reason they deemed necessary and as a result, I am no longer in the loop.  Like they are going to ask my opinion. (laughs)

And if they did, what would tell them?
I'm in no position to offer advice to them.  They are in control of their own thing there.  That's their business.  They let me go.  I didn't quit.  What they choose to do is strictly up to them.  If they wanted to put poetry readings and sausage recipes on, that's their prerogative.  I'm out and I don't need to be telling them what to do.  They don't need me apparently, so knock yourselves out.  I honestly hope they get what they want. 


Are you angry or bitter about what happened?
I was for awhile.  Who wouldn't be?  You devote that much time and effort to something and to a group of individuals whom you think are behind you and then a series of events happen, out of your control and the next thing you know, your ass is on the street.  The powers that be made their decision for whatever reason they wanted.  I'm okay with that now.  I can and do honestly wish them the best of luck.  You can only be angry for so long and then you have to let it go.  Sure, I could find something to gripe about, a lot of people already have.  But in reality it does no good to bitch about something that is not of your control.  The way I see it, this is nothing more than the universe telling me to move along and find something else. 

Seriously, what do you think?
Seriously, I can't elaborate.  It's not that I legally can't, per se.  It's just not nice to say bad things about a place or the people who are there since so many great things came from my experience there.  14 years is a long time.  During which, I took from there 50 years of experiences.  I got the opportunity to spend some time with some great people and develop some relationships with those people I will always cherish.  I like to think I gave them their money's worth.  And I also like to think they still are getting their money's worth.

Aren't there bastards there?
(laughs) There are bastards everywhere.

Did they hold you to some sort of non-compete?
Yes.  That is the nature of the business.  I can tell you that I tried to weasel out of it, but that is a long story best told through my attorney.  The short of it is that I have to stay off the air until the end of July.  So, as I understand it, I am free and clear by August 1.  There again, you never know when you are dealing with a corporate machine.  We shall see what happens when that date rolls around.

In the meantime, have you been offered any jobs back on the radio?
I have.  Once again, I can't really go into detail here.  What I can say is that they came from some rather unlikely sources in that I would have never considered in the past.  One of which is something that may come to pass in that they are willing to wait for my non-compete to expire.  Once again, we shall see what transpires at that time.  Timing is everything, you know?  On the flip side of this, one guy I talked to said that his best advice to me was to leave the market.  Considering the source and the competitive nature of this industry, I must be thought of as a threat to their well-being.  I rather like that.  I took that as a compliment.

How about outside of the radio business?
Seriously, what am I going to do?  Look at me for Christ sake.  I'm pathetic.  The only thing I know how to do I was already doing.  I have been in this crazy business for so long that I wound up shooting myself in the foot as far as a career change is concerned.  Honestly, I don't think I would be happy doing anything else anyway.  Granted, with the current economy, things aren't looking great for anybody.  Nevertheless, my options are always open.  Just as long as there is a decent health plan with dental.

So, what are you doing now?
Not much.  I don't get out that often and when I do, it is a quiet moment with my wife and friends.  It's funny, when I was working, I felt the ever present ticking of the clock which kept me thinking I was about to miss something.  The clock still ticks, but now it's ticking off time until I can get back to doing what I want to do.  You know what I mean?  It seems to tick louder and slower.  I'm learning patience, not very well mind you, but it is a learning process I'm trying to enjoy. 


You mentioned earlier that you were told to leave Memphis.  Would you actually consider that?
Not at this point.  There is no reason for it.  Things are bad all over.  I was told a long time ago by a friend in this business that you have to make your own breaks.  It's so true.  That's how I got this last gig.  Sure, it would be easy to pull up stakes and leave here.  But, look at what all I would be walking away from.  I have been here a long time.  It's hard to just get up and go to another city where no one knows who you are and you are trying to start over in place you don't know.  Sure, it happens and it used to happen a lot more.  But these days are different, the business is different, people are different.  It's good to have some familiarity with the community you live in and work for.  Memphis, despite it's troubles is a good place.  There is a lot here.  Besides, why build a new audience when there are a few people here who already know me?

Since February 25th; you lost your job, one of your best friends passes away, you had a death in the family and your house was damaged in a storm.  How did you keep your sanity through all of that?
Who says I did?  I lost a lot.  My source of income went away along with the sole reason for getting up at 4:30 in the morning.  John's passing was tough, I was by his side at the hospital when the last rites were given.  My sister's husband Allen, he died of Alzheimer's at the age of 55.  It was expected but still quite sad.  I was unable to attend the funeral and I still feel bad about that.  Then came the storm.  That was pretty scary since I was just sitting in my office at home.  I went to look out the front door and not 30 seconds later, this giant tree limb came crashing through the back wall of my office.  Had I been in there... well, who knows?  Yeah, I had a ticket on the old shit train.  I took the ride and hopefully all the bad stuff is behind me now.  The house is back together, my family continues to heal and I have enough memories with John to write a book.  As for the job.  Another one will come along.  In fact, I can see it coming over the next hill.  I'll be back on the air soon enough.  I hate to sound like someone's grandmother, but the old saying about "this too shall pass" is very true. I'm glad I went through it.  Now I've rediscovered my sense of humor.  After all this, all I can do is laugh now.  God, maybe I did lose all my marbles! (laughs)

Stay Tuned...

All Good Things...

... Come to and end.  Bad Dog used to tell me when someone in the house broke something, his mother would say, "This is why we can't have nice things."  I know the feeling.  Somebody broke something.

Since February 25, my life got turned upside down.  Here I was, looking forward to 2011.  So many prospects lay before us all.  Bad Dog beating leukemia, the show getting better (which it was) and many other things that come to mind as the new year gets underway.  Then, the bottom fell out.  When I was fired, Bad Dog was pissed.  Very angry.  Then, not two weeks later (March 10th), he was gone.  The following Saturday (March 12th), I got word from my family that my sister's husband, Allen had passed.  He too was 55 but had been battling Alzheimer's.

I told my wife that all of this at one time was almost too much for one man to bear.  I've certainly had my ups and downs and all of this has seemed to happen so fast.  To be honest, accepting all of this has not been very easy on everyone else either.  I have heard from so many of you the sadness you feel.  I continue to be humbled by your words. 

Just the other day I was in a store when a fan of the show approached me and shook my hand.  He said he was speechless and felt bad about the whole situation.  I thanked him and said that I too was speechless and felt bad.  What else do you say when these things happen like this? 

What makes this thing unique, from my perspective at least, was that I was caught up in a storm that I neither caused, nor had control over.  Yet so many emotional things have been said, both positive and negative about it all.  I may had been told that I was now the "odd man out" but, as I have learned over the recent days, I was actually quite the opposite as so many of you have been so inclusive to me.  For that, I can never have the right words to express my gratitude. 

We lost a great man with Bad Dog.  We lost, what Bad Dog and I thought (as apparently most you thought) was a good show.  And I lost a great brother-in-law in Allen.  So many people have been hurt by these things that it can become almost too much to bear.  But we persevere, heads held high and being able to count who are true friends are.  And thankfully, those numbers have been many.

Things will get better, they always do.  "This too shall pass."  My mother keeps telling me.  There will never be a replacement for Bad Dog or Allen, however, I might be able to replace that show with something new someday. Hopefully, here in Memphis where once again we'll play records and tell a few jokes and occasionally reminisce about Bad Dog.

The next step in all of this is happening now.  I am being asked what my plans are.  To be honest with you, I have no idea.  As I mentioned before, things have moved pretty quickly so far.  There's no telling what may come around the next turn.  Whatever it is, I will be sure to let you all know.  In the meantime, stick around.  I'll be here for the foreseeable future and somewhere along the way, my sense of humor should start to return.  Assuming of course, I actually had one to begin with.  Feel free to drop me a line here, or by email or on Twitter or if you happen to run into me in public somewhere, I'd love to shake your hand.  We'll commiserate together.  It's easier that way.

Stay Tuned...