Crash's untimely departure from Atlanta inspired me to start SaveCrash.org. It says something that I wasn't similarly inspired to start Save99X.org (still available.) His WBCN bio gives a funny theory to his appeal, but I think his appeal stems from the fact that he's a big hearted guy who is comfortable enough in his own skin to share every embarrassing detail about his life. He also has the perspective of having been a part of both 99X and Q100. Here are his thoughts:
It's a mixed bag, on one hand the Bert show gets their much needed and deserved signal boost. There won't be a woman 18-44 from Warner Robbins to Helen who won't know about the Bert show. On the other I feel for my friends who are left to pioneer the face of the new world with, "visual radio". Right??? Steve Craig has amassed enough musical knowledge he should already have a gig by the time I finish typing this. I never met Jenners but he seemed like a good guy and one can only wish him well with a wife and three kids to provide for. I seriously doubt Leslie is going to have a tough time relocating to L.A. and jumping on board with any music related company. The woman has more contacts than Charlie Sheen and she's no dummy. She should take a year off, travel around the world and get a cushy job in a big office somewhere doing what she does best.
I came to town in 1989 and from Power 99 to 99X that was my life in radio. Almost 20 years watching people come and go, (including myself) and seeing that radio station evolve. Unfortunately like life on Mars something disastrous wiped it all out in a matter of no time.
As things unfold at 100.5 it will be interesting to see how much time and effort is spent keeping it alive. Q-100 reminds me of Obi-Wan in episode IV A New Hope. "If you strike me down I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." No wait, I'll do you one better, "with great power comes great responsibility" yeah, that sums it up. 99.7FM, from Warm 100, to Power 99 to 99X to Q-100. I would imagine if the Dickey's are smart they'd sign the Bert show to a ten year deal and watch the cash come in. If the regular guys are indeed coming back they should be able to recapture their loyal fan base. However, if they get canned again they would have tied me for most times fired in the same city. I'd have to come back just to get fired again and hold the record.
I guess personally I'm glad things worked out the way they did. Had I survived after my little incident I too would have been a casualty of war. Instead I'm in Boston with my two friends having a great friggin time. Why I'm doing an event tomorrow night where I'm encouraged to drink to excess and I won't get suspended for it. You got to love what little of old school radio still exists. All I have to do is not show my nipples and CBS will take good care of me. Atlanta is a much different world than it was three years ago. I still remember the staff meeting we had when John Dickey was introduced. I had a bad feeling back then and I'm sure folks like Axel and Mark Owens are having that same feeling. The good thing about the people that worked at 99X is they were a collection of the best talents in the country, except Roach, he was a douche nozzle. It's not fun relocating but that's our business, we were fortunate to have a company like Susquehanna for so many years, it's the reason we all stayed as long as we did.
Good luck future radio on the internet, good luck Regular Guys with your smaller more intimate gathering of rednecks inside the perimeter and God Bless The Bert Show, the acorn that became the oak.
And don't forget to catch Toucher and Rich on WBCN.com from 3p-7p Monday through Friday.
