The Rock of Boston Signs Off.
I have a heavy heart this morning. WBCN, 104.1 is gone. Of course, the "Rock of Boston" that we loved so well has been gone for awhile, thanks to the global re-programming of once-independent media. A lot of people don't know this, but 'BCN is the direct reason I moved to Boston from Dallas in 1985. I followed a girl here who had been hired, by Oedipus, to be a 'BCN rock-jock. You may remember her; Lisa "Trax Spins Great Wax" Traxler.
Through 'BCN I met rock stars and never missed a big event. I was backstage, I was in the air-studio, I was even on the 'BCN party boat when they had the annual fireworks. I met all the jocks and the non-air people. I played the Rumble. I did sound for bands at The Rumble. I drank cold Stoli shots with Mark Parenteau, talked sports with Bill Abbate, and sat at a studio console with Carter Allen. I gave Tami Heide a ride home once when she was a little too tipsy after a big Boston rock-scene party at The Hard Rock. I was at a small, by-invitation solo performance by Elton John. Through 'BCN I did a mixing session for Roger Waters (and he bought me beer -- on a Sunday). Eddie Van Halen left a half-a-dozen crushed cans of Schlitz Malt Liquor in the back of my car. It was high times in the Hub for young Drew.
(Lest I forget: I engineered 50 live broadcasts on WBCN from 1988 to 1990).
But my experience is a small speck on the big 'BCN picture. 'BCN was a lot more than a radio station. It was a part of the culture of Boston when Boston was a big important rock-music mecca. It was the capitol of rock. If not for 'BCN we might never have heard of Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, or U2. WBCN was one of the greatest and most important rock radio stations in the world, and should go down in history as the phenomenon that it was.
It was free-form. It was a rebel. It was a generation. It was independent. It was a force of nature. A booming voice. In the world of Rock, 'BCN was a giant. 'BCN rocked like a fuckin' hurricane. 'BCN kicked ass and took names. It sounds corny, but 'BCN really was the soundtack or our life and times back then.
No matter how big 'BCN's britches were, the station never stopped supporting the Boston local music scene. Hearing my record on 'BCN was one of the highlights of my young life. Oedipus and Carter Allen understood that you had to continue mining for new fresh talent, cool new sounds. When they found something good, they promoted it. They knew the next Bono could emerge from a basement in Allston.
It's a sad testament to the times that the 'BCN era has passed -- pushed out by increasing homoginization of, well, everything. Traditional radio as we know it is dying faster than Axl Rose's brain cells. Thank you CBS for killing one of the last great icons of Boston Rock's Glory Days.
As they used to say at the station in the '80's, "B-C'N Ya!"
Rock on old friend, rock on!
Rock-Jock Generation:'BCN Airstaff in The Golden Era, circa '87
1 comment:
Drew -
The demise of our beloved station has made all of us BCN'ers want to make sure we convey our heartfelt thanks to those who were part of the art.
Those of us from "The Rock" truly do appreciate everything you did for us, for the listeners, and for the many musicians you worked with on our behalf. Your description of the things you did for the station is accurate, and I'd like to add that you did a GREAT job.
One last anecdote, though - once Tami and I were on the way to the BCN-trum in Worcester, turned on the radio on the way there, and YOU were on the air! We were amazed - it seemed like you were everywhere at once. Kathryn Lauren interviewed you about something or other...and we laughed that you had mastered the art of being ubiquitous.
On behalf of all at 'BCN - thanks, Drew, be being a talented, creative, and fun member of our extended family.
Your pal
Lisa Traxler
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