KBAZ
Encyclopedia
WWBZ was a radio station
based in Chicago, Illinois. In early 1991, WFYR-FM (103.5), an adult contemporary and AC/oldies
station in Chicago for many years, was sold by its parent company Summit Communications to Major Broadcasting of Chicago. Major, a newer company had success with a high-energy hard rock
format in Salt Lake City at KBER
-FM. On March 29, the sounds of Whitney
, Rod
and Elton
gave way to 24 hours of "Rock Rock ('til you drop)
" by Def Leppard
.
At noon on April 1, the station "snuffed the fire and stoked The Blaze!" But this was no April Fools' Day
joke. The Blaze had come to Chicago, featuring acts such as Skid Row, Billy Squier
, Ratt
, Ozzy Osbourne
, Slaughter
and other hard rock and pseudo-metal bands. The initial on-air staff consisted of Steven Craig (mornings), Steve Seaver middays (now at The Loop), former "Fire" morning guy Brian Kelly in afternoons, music director Kevin Lewis and Leslie Harris at night, as well as several WFYR holders and some new folks including Jimmy Novak
, Brad Jeffries, "Major Tom" Johnson, Scott Childers, and Ryan Cherry (Meyers).
As WWBZ pumped out The Best of Rock, not everyone was happy about it - especially Scott Loftus and the folks who built up a loyal following at north suburban WVVX-FM (103.1) in Highland Park
(once known as "The Eighties Channel", now Viva 103 - WVIV-FM
). The show "Real Precious Metal, or RPM as it was known, was a heavy metal show that aired nightly, and featured some of the less commercial and harder edged acts, as well as some local bands. The staff quickly dismissed The Blaze as "poser rock". However, with a strong signal and plenty of street-buzz, The Blaze quickly took off. The RPM show lasted a while longer at 103.1, and briefly aired on WYSY-AM/FM "Y-108" in Aurora
in 1993.
In addition to the Blaze jocks, helicopter reporter Major Tom was a hit with listeners with his irreverent morning and afternoon traffic updates. "...It's a time-sucking abyss on the Ike...your blowin' chunks southbound Tri-State into the 82nd Street toll bucket! Major Tom
, back to ground control with Whitesnake
- on 103-5 the Blaze!" Tom also buzzed a Jonathan Brandmeier remote in Lincoln Park
which was live on The Loop. When Johnny B figured out what was going on, he went to a commercial. 1992 brought Blazefest, a rock memorabilia show and concert at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park. Crowds rapidly outpaced expectations and ticketholders saw Saigon Kick
and headliners Warrant
.
By 1994, Major sold the station to Evergreen Media, parent company of WLUP-FM (97.9) and WMVP
-AM (1000). Glam rock had started to run its course and Major made a tidy sum on the sale. They divested into television by producing "The Mort Downey
Show", as well as syndicated radio formats. While Evergreen kept the Blaze format thru the spring, it eventually gave way to active rock
WRCX, "Rock 103 5", featuring a commercial free "A-Z" kickoff around July 4. When WRCX ended its run in 1998, the station became Jammin' Oldies and most recently flipped to become "Kiss 103.5."
at the 1360 spot on the dial. The WWBZ call letters most recently resurfaced on the US East Coast. WWBZ was a beach music
station in Charleston, South Carolina
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
based in Chicago, Illinois. In early 1991, WFYR-FM (103.5), an adult contemporary and AC/oldies
Oldies
Oldies is a term commonly used to describe a radio format that concentrates on music from a period of about 15 to 55 years before the present day....
station in Chicago for many years, was sold by its parent company Summit Communications to Major Broadcasting of Chicago. Major, a newer company had success with a high-energy hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
format in Salt Lake City at KBER
KBER
-External links:*...
-FM. On March 29, the sounds of Whitney
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
, Rod
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
and Elton
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
gave way to 24 hours of "Rock Rock ('til you drop)
Pyromania (album)
Pyromania is the third studio album by British rock band Def Leppard, released on 20 January 1983. It featured new guitarist Phil Collen and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange. The album charted at #2 on the Billboard 200 and #18 on the UK Albums Chart.The album was partially recorded with...
" by Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
.
At noon on April 1, the station "snuffed the fire and stoked The Blaze!" But this was no April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
joke. The Blaze had come to Chicago, featuring acts such as Skid Row, Billy Squier
Billy Squier
William Haislip "Billy" Squier is an American rock musician. Squier had a string of arena rock hits in the 1980s. He is best known for the song "The Stroke" on his 1981 album release Don't Say No...
, Ratt
Ratt
Ratt is an American heavy metal band that had significant commercial success in the 1980s. The band is best known for songs such as "Round and Round," "Wanted Man," "Lay It Down," "You're in Love", "Slip of the Lip", "Back For More", "Dance", "Body Talk", "I Want a Woman", and "Way Cool Jr." Ratt...
, Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
, Slaughter
Slaughter (band)
Slaughter is an American heavy metal band formed in Las Vegas, Nevada by lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum. The band reached stardom in 1990 with their first album, Stick It to Ya which spawned several hit singles including "Up All Night", "Spend My Life", "Mad...
and other hard rock and pseudo-metal bands. The initial on-air staff consisted of Steven Craig (mornings), Steve Seaver middays (now at The Loop), former "Fire" morning guy Brian Kelly in afternoons, music director Kevin Lewis and Leslie Harris at night, as well as several WFYR holders and some new folks including Jimmy Novak
Jimmy Novak
Jimmy Novak is an American radio personality. He the co-host of the Jimmy and Jen Morning Show on 102.3 XLC in Lake County. Prior to his XLC gig he was the afternoon host at 95 WIIL ROCK in the Chicago radio market...
, Brad Jeffries, "Major Tom" Johnson, Scott Childers, and Ryan Cherry (Meyers).
As WWBZ pumped out The Best of Rock, not everyone was happy about it - especially Scott Loftus and the folks who built up a loyal following at north suburban WVVX-FM (103.1) in Highland Park
Highland Park, Illinois
Highland Park is a suburban municipality in Lake County, Illinois, United States, about north of downtown Chicago. As of 2009, the population is 33,492. Highland Park is one of several municipalities located on the North Shore of the Chicago Metropolitan Area.-Overview:Highland Park was founded...
(once known as "The Eighties Channel", now Viva 103 - WVIV-FM
WVIV-FM
WVIV-FM and WVIX are a Spanish radio simulcast in Chicago, Illinois. They are part of the family of Univisión Radio, a division of Univisión Communications. Studios are located at 625 North Michigan, right in the heart of downtown Chicago.-103.1 and 93.5 FM History:The 103.1 FM frequency was...
). The show "Real Precious Metal, or RPM as it was known, was a heavy metal show that aired nightly, and featured some of the less commercial and harder edged acts, as well as some local bands. The staff quickly dismissed The Blaze as "poser rock". However, with a strong signal and plenty of street-buzz, The Blaze quickly took off. The RPM show lasted a while longer at 103.1, and briefly aired on WYSY-AM/FM "Y-108" in Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
in 1993.
In addition to the Blaze jocks, helicopter reporter Major Tom was a hit with listeners with his irreverent morning and afternoon traffic updates. "...It's a time-sucking abyss on the Ike...your blowin' chunks southbound Tri-State into the 82nd Street toll bucket! Major Tom
Major Tom
Major Tom is a fictional astronaut created by David Bowie, heard in his songs "Space Oddity," "Ashes to Ashes," and "Hallo Spaceboy." Bowie's own interpretation of the character evolved throughout his career. 1969's "Space Oddity" depicts an astronaut who casually slips the bonds of a crass and...
, back to ground control with Whitesnake
Whitesnake
Whitesnake are an English rock band, founded in 1978 by David Coverdale after his departure from his previous band, Deep Purple. The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple, but by the mid 1980s they had moved to a more commercial hard rock style...
- on 103-5 the Blaze!" Tom also buzzed a Jonathan Brandmeier remote in Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is an urban park in Chicago, which gave its name to the Lincoln Park, Chicago community area.Lincoln Park may also refer to:-Urban parks:*Lincoln Park , California*Lincoln Park, San Francisco, California...
which was live on The Loop. When Johnny B figured out what was going on, he went to a commercial. 1992 brought Blazefest, a rock memorabilia show and concert at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park. Crowds rapidly outpaced expectations and ticketholders saw Saigon Kick
Saigon Kick
Saigon Kick was an American rock band from Miami, Florida that formed in 1988.-History:Saigon Kick was formed by lead vocalist Matt Kramer and guitarist Jason Bieler along with bassist Tom Defile, and drummer Phil Varone. They gained a following on the local club scene and generated enough of a...
and headliners Warrant
Warrant (American band)
Warrant is an American heavy metal band from Hollywood, California, that experienced success from 1989-1996 with five albums reaching international sales of over 10 million. The band first came into the national spotlight with their debut album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, and one of its...
.
By 1994, Major sold the station to Evergreen Media, parent company of WLUP-FM (97.9) and WMVP
WMVP
WMVP is the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by ABC. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local...
-AM (1000). Glam rock had started to run its course and Major made a tidy sum on the sale. They divested into television by producing "The Mort Downey
Morton Downey, Jr.
Morton Downey, Jr. was an American singer, songwriter and later a television talk show host of the 1980s who pioneered the "trash TV" format on his program The Morton Downey Jr. Show....
Show", as well as syndicated radio formats. While Evergreen kept the Blaze format thru the spring, it eventually gave way to active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
WRCX, "Rock 103 5", featuring a commercial free "A-Z" kickoff around July 4. When WRCX ended its run in 1998, the station became Jammin' Oldies and most recently flipped to become "Kiss 103.5."
Other stations
The WWBZ call letters also once belonged to AM 1030 in Metro Washington, DC in reference to Boston's WBZ-AM. From the 1930s until the late 1980s, the call letters belonged to a small AM radio station in Vineland, New JerseyVineland, New Jersey
Vineland is a city in Cumberland County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 60,724...
at the 1360 spot on the dial. The WWBZ call letters most recently resurfaced on the US East Coast. WWBZ was a beach music
Beach music
Beach music, also known as Carolina beach music, is a regional genre which developed from various musical styles of the forties, fifties and sixties. These styles ranged from big band swing instrumentals to the more raucous sounds of blues/jump blues, jazz, doo-wop, boogie, rhythm and blues,...
station in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
.