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)
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)
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)
Debbi Gibbs 1983 to 1989 Unlike many of the 95bFM Historical Society alumni, Debbi DID in fact graduate - with a degree in architecture. However, she hasn't ever been an architect: instead, she managed the Straitjacket Fits & the Headless Chickens in the 80s and 90s, and and went on to manage producers - like Flood. Debbi was at the helm on b at the pivotal time when it was to broadcast throughout the year and switch to the FM frequency. *** THIS WAS THE FINAL EPISODE OF 95bFM HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 40 years = 40 interviews. Dubhead would like to thank all the participants for their graciousness; and tips his hat to EVERYBODY who has contributed to radio b since 1969. (Episode 40, Parts 1-3 of 3)
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)
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)
Graeme Hill - aka Graeme Humphreys of the Able Tasmans - was the first regular breakfast host, a programme director, and a contributor to the school of "ït isn't bullying, it's the filter of talent". Here he discusses...oh dear. Perhaps you should just listen. (Episode 12 Part 1-2 of 2)
Andrew Bishop arrived at 95bFM in 1981, around the same time as his friend Francis Hooper. They both went on to found fashion boutiques and labels, and their time at bFM coincided with a post-punk shift in sensibilities which affected not only music and fashion, but also the belief that bFM's kind of broadcasting could affect those outside of stereotypes. Also, he was in the band Sons In Jeopardy. (Episode 19 Parts 1-2 of 2)
Could somebody with a background in commercial radio make it in the murky world of 95bFM without being laughed out of the building? Bill did. After radio experience in Whangarei, Hamilton, and Belfast in Northern Ireland, Bill arrived at bFM as Production Engineer, moved across to being Program Director during the mid-90s boom time, and was the breathing news radio voice of Vas Deferens. (Episode 17, Parts 1-2 of 2)
Stuart was the sales representative for the short-lived 95bFM magazine Monitor, which succeeded the mid-80s incarnation as The Book of Bifim. He went on to be the manager of such 90s bFM stalwarts as Supergroove, Semi Lemon Kola and Thorazine Shuffle, as well as founding the AK venue now kniown as the Dog's Bollix. (Episode 20, Parts 1-2 of 2)
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