"I've
finally come to the realization that it's
over. The part of my life that could
entertain as a novel is through. What a
trip. I really never intended it to be
this way. This will probably be the
singlemost trying project I've ever tried
to finish. With each story I'll close
another chapter in my life. Chapters that
resound in astonishing detail. Since I
kept a audio journal during this period in
my life, I can relive each experience as
if it was happening at the moment. It's
really unsettling, but makes for great
stories."
I wrote that in
the fall of 1991 at 16. Is that mind boggling? How
little we change huh? I am a chronic chronicler
and have been for quite some time. I've always had
something in me that felt the need to capture the
moment at all costs before it fades away. Everything
is a story, a lesson, valuable, important...if you
chronicle it. It wasn't until I went back and
read this "WTVN Journey" that it really hit me.
The journal I kept during that period is sooooo
detailed. It's like I just knew these were
special times and I wanted to be able to relive
what it felt like...
...and
THANK GOD because now I couldn't be happier. As
I reread these accounts of the fights with
Cannon, the struggle with the art of "talk radio", the
overall feeling of that time - I was there. It was
1995. Of course added to all this is the fact that
I have the tapes and I can hear myself, I
took video, so I can see myself (did I ever
fuckin' not have that hat on?) - and the entries are
so personal and sincere. These were always for my own
eyes and I held nothing back. It is a joy to
re-live. But at a bit of a mental cost...
I've actually
woken up mornings thinking I had "The Late Show"
that night. In order to put this together I've
literally surrounded myself with the show. While
working on the site I just play the 6 hour shows
back to back to back. I've had to read and edit for
grammar every word of a 200 page journal - and finally
had to work together mp3s and videos of literally
never before heard clips. Well you may have heard them
live, but I found tapes I didn't even know
I had. It has been an extremely encompassing job.
And about 3 people are going to give a shit.
LOL.
The clips and
videos will help the random stranger find some
enjoyment out of this, but I'm well aware that this is
almost 100% for me. Basically, all the pieces were
there to completely chronicle my life from 1995-1999
exactly like the present "Journey"...and no one else
is gonna do it. So there you go.
The WTVN Journey
is broken up into weeks. I wrote only a small
paragraph per show or meeting or event... so breaking
them up individually was out. It works out quite well
in a weekly format and is easily skimmed for the
majority of you. ;-) The highlights:
-Obviously - go
through and click all the clips of audio and video.
They're pretty fun.
-Entrywise the
first couple are fascinating only because I go
from a job at Gatorade to a paid position at a
GIGANTIC station almost too easy.
-The rest
dealing with career stuff is skimmable but houses
some fun little spats with Steve Cannon (who even
I forgot was so crazy) that old listeners will
just love. Neither of us work there now so it's all
fair game I guess. The prankers that literally
destroyed the show is interesting, but probably
only to me. Hearing my dad talk about OJ on the
phone (next year he's in studio...talk about a
radio voice) is just awesome. Anyway, I look
forward to your feedback on the boards as to what
any of you find interesting...
Two entries
off-topic to radio are pretty cool too:
And of course the
piece de resistance (which is also this
entry's
video) is
the night I videotaped a full 6 hour show at the
station. It may just be me, but I can watch hours
of this. Amazingly, I never did it again! In fact
the only other video of me at WTVN was taken by a Mr.
John Ricardi in 1996 or 1997 and I honestly don't
know if he even has it anymore. I was a bit more
of an audiohead back then...but honestly, that's kinda
cool for this project. Hell, it's about a radio
show.
So enjoy the first
30
entries
that tell a story no one really knows. It was an
incredible time for me and it's still an inspiration
all these years later. Look for the first part of 1996
(before Darryl takes over at the end of August) in the
coming weeks...
