Part One: Running Time: (15:33) Jade Springart talks to Mike Staff about starting as an intern at WRIF and working her way into the programing and on air staffs. Including working at the front desk, promotions, production and board operator duties along the way. Part Two: Running Time: (29:45) In 2015 Jade became the Music Director and learned under award winning programmer Mark Pennington . And she talks about the current state of the rock & roll radio business. Part Three: Running Time: (4...
Mar 29, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Part One: (Running Time: (19:27) Dave and Chuck The Freak talk about their early years in radio, Dave as a news reporter and Chuck working behind the scenes. From interviewing Grandparents at the age of 8 to forming their morning show on 89X to the listeners picking “The Freak” as Chuck’s nickname. Part Two: Running Time: (45:06) Their radio journey continues with Lisa, James “It’s Friday Bitches”, Operation “Dark Stall” and the derivation of “Penis”. Part Three: Running Time: (65:33) Dave and C...
Feb 08, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Part One: (Running Time: 18:05) Screamin’ Scott Randall talks about his early years in radio. Imitating Arthur P and Alan Allman to the point of starting to smoke to get a deeper sounding voice. Working in Ohio and Indiana doing hog reports and them coming back to Detroit to work at The Ritz. Part Two: (Running Time: 31:22) Scott makes the giant leap form the Ritz to doing mornings at 102.7 Z-Rock. He talks about how he got the Screamin’ nickname, doing radio with Alice Cooper and dating Ted Nug...
Jan 13, 2021•1 hr 32 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Part One: (Running Time: 18:04) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) continues his conversation with Mike Staff touching on Delbert, Davie Lee Roth , and the value of paying your dues. Part Two: (Running Time: 32:03) Recounting the 9-11 show, Woodstock 94 , Cold Call celebrity hang-ups and Drew talks about the role of his producers. Part Three: (Running Time: 47:58) Drew and Marc move to 105.1 The Sports Station and have to deal with questionable programing and talk about the late 1990s as Howard Stern, Te...
Dec 22, 2020•1 hr 54 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Part One: (Running Time: 18:10) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) recounts his early radio days at WVT, WROV, WAAF (Boston) and KMXX (Phoenix) on his way to WRIF. Part Two: (Running Time: 33:45) After 3 Years in Phoenix Drew and Zip take over mornings at WRIF . The stories include Arthur P welcoming Drew to town with a trip to the strip club, Trudi joins the staff and Drew meets Mike Clark for the 1st time at The Ritz in Roseville. Part Three: (Running Time: 56:53) The Drew and Zip show becomes Drew and...
Dec 16, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Part One: (Running Time: 14:15) The usual host Mike Staff is the focus of this discussion as WRIF’s Meltdown talks to Mike about his journey from Central to Specs Howard. Through WJR, WLLZ, WKLT, CD 106 and finally WRIF. Part Two: (Running Time: 28:17) Mike Staff reveals what it was like to live his dream of working at WRIF alongside A rthur P., Steve Kostan, Anne Carlini, Doug Podell and Drew & Mike . Plus his interviewing experiences with Alex Van Halen. Armored Saint and Sammy Hagar. Part...
Oct 28, 2020•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Part One: (Running Time: 12:31) Afternoon Drive host Meltdown talks about growing up outside of Buffalo and getting the call to move to Detroit to work at WRIF at age 26 and the idea of being born in Buffalo but made in Detroit. Part Two: (Running Time: 24:12) Meltdown reveals the story behind his nickname, working as a custodian calling into radio stations, his first radio gigs, his other nickname for a while The Big Unit and 3rd shifter parties. Part Three: (Running Time: 35:02) A conversation...
Aug 14, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Part One: (Running Time: 14:57) The host of Night Call and one of the original WRIF DJs Peter Werbe talks about the change over from WXYZ-FM to WRIF. The self-described anarchist, atheist and vegetarian talk show host talks about the early days with Dick Kernen , Russ Gibb, John Sinclair the 1968 riots and their connection to 2020. Part Two: (Running Time: 27:40) Peter talks about the changing culture and how Night Call survived over the years as WRIF’s ownership changed multiple times. Being te...
Jun 14, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Part One: (Running Time: 15:28) Weekend Personality and syndicated radio host Steve Black talks about growing up in Flint and listening to WWCK along with the Detroit stations WRIF and WLLZ . Steve’s journey from dreaming of being a Foley Artist to becoming a musician and finally a DJ. Part Two: (Running Time: 25:00) The Ted Nugent years. Steve and Mike explore the rivalry between Z-Rock and WRIF . Becoming the co-host for the Ted Nugent Morning show and the mammoth task of competing with Drew &...
May 29, 2020•58 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Part One: (Running Time: 15:51) Former WRIF Program Directors Tom Bender and Fred Jacobs recount their journeys to the Riff and explain the roles of a Program Director, General Manager and Consultant. Part Two: (Running Time: 29:21) The evolution of WRIF under the watch of Tom and Fred including the hiring of Ken Calvert and JJ and The Morning Crew . Arthur P organically helps to rebrand the station as The Home of Rock & Roll. Part Three: (Running Time: 42:47) The iconic WRIF bumper stickers...
Apr 14, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Part One: Running Time: 15:34 The radio background and real story of how Jim Johnson and George Baier got together to become JJ and the Morning Crew . With stops at WWWW from 78-79, WRIF from 79-86, then WLLZ from 86-92 and finally at WCSX from 92-08. Part Two: Running Time: 29:19 ABC Radio assembles the first Riff All-Star lineup with JJ, George, Ken Calvert, Arthur P., Steve Kostan and Karen Savelly . The historic TV commercials start to air with the real Dick the Bruiser (the wrestler) coming...
Mar 14, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Part One: Running Time: 11:25 Dick’s journey to working at WXYZ and becoming the 1st Program Director at WRIF . Part Two: Running Time: 25:27 Making the decision to hire Cicero Grimes (Arthur Penhallow) from a station in Ann Arbor and the loyalty he and other personalities like Dan Carlyle, JJ & The Morning Crew and Dave and Chuck the Freak were able to build with the listeners. Part Three: Running Time: 38:11 The longevity of WRIF, radio’s future and the amazing legacy Dick has built as the...
Feb 14, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Part One: (Running Time: 15:27) Steve’s radio journey growing up in Detroit and going to Redford Detroit high school. Attending Lawrence Tech , O.C.C. , and Western . Dan Carlyle taking Steve under his wing. The first gig a WABX. Part Two: (Running Time: 32:24) Turing down WPLJ in New York and getting hired by WRIF . Playing Pine Knob in 1981 with the Dick The Bruiser Band . Local bands and the power line-up of WRIF in the 80s with Arthur P. , Ken Calvert and Karen Savelly . Part Three: (Total T...
Jan 14, 2020•1 hr 12 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Part One: (Total Time: 11:25) Karen’s journey growing up in Detroit and going to school at Wayne State. The collage years working at WAYN , WDTE and WWWW . Karen’s four years at W4 and three at WABX leading to her spot at WRIF . Part Two: (Total Time: 25:27) Working in the old broadcast trailer and the 80s all-star lineup at the Riff. Karen’s long relationship with Bob Seger , having dinner with Queen and seeing The Who at the Silverdome. Part Three: (Total Time: 38:11) Working with J. , George ...
Dec 14, 2019•43 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Part One: (Running Time: 17:59) Ken falls in love with radio as a kid, and describes his 1st overnight shift in Detroit along with his journey from Collage radio to WWWW . Plus his interview with Queen. Part Two: (Running Time: 39:53) Ken's 1st gig as a Program Director. Working for Epic and Columbia Records along side Keith Richards and Bruce Springsteen , In 1979 JJ and The Morning Crew encourage him to join the team at WRIF . Part Three: (Running Time: 56:11) Working with Karen Sevelly , the ...
Nov 14, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Part One: (Total Time: 12:23) Arthur’s journey from his birthplace in Hawaii, to San Francisco and into the U.S. Air Force. Joining a band called The Vegetables and becoming The Magic Rooster in Ann Arbor. Part Two: (Total Time: 23:01) Who is Cicero Grimes ? WXYZ becomes WRIF and Ken Calvert , JJ and The Morning Crew join the team. Part Three: (Total Time: 49:30) The Home of Rock & Roll, Baby! WRIF bumper stickers and Maui Time. Part Four: (Total Time: 60:25) The Up Side of Anger movie, Indu...
Oct 11, 2019•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 1
