Duncan Campbell started the Campus Radio Sound System -- Auckland's first-ever reggae radio show -- in 1979. In these dark days, reggae was hard to come by in NZ: and to mailorder the volume necessary to run a show, it was necessary to get an importer's license from the Custom's Service. Duncan recounts the evolution of the show. (Episode 6, Parts 1-4 of 4)
Renee Jones - longtime Saturday Afternoon host, cartoonist, and industrious music industry worker -- tells of arriving at 95bFM in 1989, after an obsessive love affair with the station which began in her first year of high school. Being fired from Freak The Sheep, being considered "old school" while in her mid 20s, and deciding to marry her husband after hearing him on the radio (but not meeting him until later). (Episode 26 Parts 1-2 of 2)
Liz Tan was the youngest station manager in the history of bFM, taking the controls when she was 21. Along with her phenomenal organisational skills, she had great musical taste and could spot raw talent: it was Liz who encouraged her teenage pals Slave & Otis to think about broadcasting. Liz in now in the business of motion pictures. (Episode 7, Parts 1-3 of 3)
Another of "The Andrews" who stormed the hippie b-astion of Campus Radio at the dawn of the 1980s and got the radio station on the path to the future with consecutive broadcast licenses and ready for FM. Andrew was one of the crew who transplanted the station to Ohakune for a legendary 3 week stint, and was the station manager for two years - without his parents knowing until they saw him on TV. (Episode 27 Parts 1-2 of 2)
If the Historical Society had a Higher Hall of Fame, Jude Anaru would be a guaranteed inductee. In the 1980s, Jude was pivotal to radio b becoming bFM and finally getting a proper 24-7 365 days of the year licence from the RBA, and also for setting in place guarantees that meant bFM still exists today. (Episode 9, Parts 1-3 of 3)
Hugh Hughes, the character formerly known as Hugh Sundae, was something of a broadcasting prodigy after he found his way into bFM at age 14. By age 17, he was standing in for breakfast host Graeme Hill for a 6 week period, ensuring that high school lost any appeal whatsoever; and before he was 20 he was co-hosting a TV show with Bic Runga. He's even been to Mongolia (tho he doesn't talk about that here). (Episode 28 Parts 1-2 of 2)
In the first of the bFM Historical Society's NZ Music Month shows, Peter McLennan of the hallelujah Picassos and Dub Asylum talks of his parallel music and broadcasting career. Pete selects tunes representative of his time as a run of station heavy-on-the-reggae DJ and as host of the Sunday arts programme, The Culture Bunker. (Episode 10, Parts 1-2 of 2)
Host of the RnR Wire for more than 11 years longer than he expected to be and still there every Friday 12 - 2, Troy kind of lives in his own world where every piece of new music has the potential to deliver thrills and make life worthwhile. Often, people disagree. Like the "upper middle class clique" at 95bFM in the 90s who were like "the colonial aristocracy cricket team not allowing the natives and the women to join in". (Episode 29 Parts 1-2 of 2)
Continuing the 95bFM Historical Society 'NZ Music Month" theme, it's Paul Casserly of the Strawpeople. Paul was a programme director, Wire host, inventor of long-running shows and features, and - perhaps most importantly -- the voice of Dad in the legendary series "Dad's Tips". Included in this episode, there is the 'Dad Is Dead' instalment. (Episode 11, Part 1-2 of 2)
From his first show on bFM -- a one-off Wednesday night "chill out" mix he called "b By Candlelight" -- Mike Havoc has brought a unique sensibility to the airwaves. Engaging and polarising, his sharp opinionated wit and overflowing enthusiasm for his favourite high-adrenalin joyous music has sustained him through the highs and lows of the last 16 years. Yes, when Helen Clark became PM the second question she was asked was whether she would continue her Monday on-air discussions with Mike. (Episode 30 Parts 1-3 of 3)
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