KXLU
Encyclopedia
KXLU is an FM radio station broadcasting out of Loyola Marymount University
in southwest
Los Angeles, California. It was first on the air in 1957, and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It is a non-commercial college radio station that plays many styles of music broadly classified under rock
, specialty, fine arts, and Latin jazz
. There is also some Public Affairs programming. KXLU has a small, but cult following among music fans in Southern California
. The station's specialty shows include "Alma del Barrio" (since 1973), "She Comes in Colors" hosted by the Minister Elvin X
and Dr. Frederick Phases, "Stray Pop" hosted by Stella, "Music For Nimrods" hosted by Reverend Dan, "Mcallister's Hostile Makeover" hosted by Mcallister, "The Bomb Shelter" hosted by Uncle Tim, "Livation" hosted by Robert Douglas & Eric Stringer, "The Molotov Cocktail Hour" hosted by Cyrano & Señor Amor, "Neuz Pollution" hosted by Chris Candy and Maki, and "Demolisten" hosted by shameless self-promoters Fred and Octavius.
and Faith No More
, and decided to start a radio show of nothing but demo tapes. Once word got out about the show, she soon acquired demos from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N' Roses
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
and others.
Perry Farrell
, in the book Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction said, "The cool thing about KXLU's Demolisten show was if you were a local band you could just call in, request your song and if you went down there, they would interview you... I was listening to KXLU all day long because that's where all the good music was. The rest of the world was out of it."
The early 1990s DJs featured Fred Kiko, Chad, and Tony Kiewel. They've often been credited with the discovery of Beck
, who donated a track to "Demolisten: Volume 2" CD, and also played music by Jimmy Tamborello (The Postal Service
, Dntel
), who was a friend and fellow KXLU DJ at the time.
Tony Kiewel left the show for an A&R position at Sub Pop Records in 2000.
The early 2000s continued to feature Fred, with Devin Valdesuso and Doug Jones (label owner of Kittridge Records
).
Hosts have included the International Voice of Reason AKA IVOR, and others.
Since 2002, Fred was joined by co-host Octavius Poirier (former guitarist for Artichoke and Chewing Foil). Audio archives of KXLU Demolisten have been saved online since 2003.
Feb. 24, 1998. They were nominated as best radio show in Los Angeles by the LA Weekly: published June 2, 1999. They were mentioned in Slate Magazine as an influence on the author's music taste on Nov. 29, 2004. Also mentioned in The Los Angeles Alternative, an independent newspaper, when KXLU won one of the top 5 radio stations in the city in the people's choice awards: Published June 30, 2006. Demolisten was featured in an independent film, Destroy the Rocker, about the Los Angeles music scene.
Loyola Marymount University
Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...
in southwest
Westchester, Los Angeles, California
Westchester is a suburban neighborhood in western Los Angeles, California, United States. It is home to Los Angeles International Airport , Loyola Marymount University , and Otis College of Art and Design.-Geography:...
Los Angeles, California. It was first on the air in 1957, and recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. It is a non-commercial college radio station that plays many styles of music broadly classified under rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, specialty, fine arts, and Latin jazz
Latin jazz
Latin jazz is the general term given to jazz with Latin American rhythms.The three main categories of Latin Jazz are Brazilian, Cuban and Puerto Rican:# Brazilian Latin Jazz includes bossa nova...
. There is also some Public Affairs programming. KXLU has a small, but cult following among music fans in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The station's specialty shows include "Alma del Barrio" (since 1973), "She Comes in Colors" hosted by the Minister Elvin X
Blank Blue
Blank Blue is a Los Angeles based band that features DJ Nobody Elvin Estela , Niki Randa , and newly flanked by Andres Renteria , and Brian Akio Martinez...
and Dr. Frederick Phases, "Stray Pop" hosted by Stella, "Music For Nimrods" hosted by Reverend Dan, "Mcallister's Hostile Makeover" hosted by Mcallister, "The Bomb Shelter" hosted by Uncle Tim, "Livation" hosted by Robert Douglas & Eric Stringer, "The Molotov Cocktail Hour" hosted by Cyrano & Señor Amor, "Neuz Pollution" hosted by Chris Candy and Maki, and "Demolisten" hosted by shameless self-promoters Fred and Octavius.
KXLU Demolisten history
The show began in 1984 when "DJ Agent Ava" took a couple reel-to-reel tapes of Jane's AddictionJane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction is an American alternative rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985. The band's original line-up featured Perry Farrell , Dave Navarro , Eric Avery and Stephen Perkins . After breaking up in 1991, Jane's Addiction briefly reunited in 1997 and again in 2001, both times...
and Faith No More
Faith No More
Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...
, and decided to start a radio show of nothing but demo tapes. Once word got out about the show, she soon acquired demos from The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses
Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band, formed in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, in 1985. The band has released six studio albums, three EPs, and one live album...
, The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in East Kilbride, Glasgow in 1983. The band revolves around the songwriting partnership of brothers Jim and William Reid...
and others.
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell
Perry Farrell is the frontman for the alternative rock band Jane's Addiction. Farrell created the touring festival Lollapalooza as a farewell tour for Jane's Addiction in 1991; it has since evolved into an annual destination festival. Farrell continues to produce Lollapalooza with partners William...
, in the book Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane's Addiction said, "The cool thing about KXLU's Demolisten show was if you were a local band you could just call in, request your song and if you went down there, they would interview you... I was listening to KXLU all day long because that's where all the good music was. The rest of the world was out of it."
The early 1990s DJs featured Fred Kiko, Chad, and Tony Kiewel. They've often been credited with the discovery of Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
, who donated a track to "Demolisten: Volume 2" CD, and also played music by Jimmy Tamborello (The Postal Service
The Postal Service
The Postal Service is an American electronic indie pop band composed of vocalist Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie and producer Jimmy Tamborello of Dntel and Headset.-Background:...
, Dntel
Dntel
James Scott "Jimmy" Tamborello, more commonly known as Dntel , is an electronic music artist. He is sometimes cited as James Figurine, the co-programmer and vocalist for the electropop outfit Figurine. Other projects include Strictly Ballroom, Headset and The Postal Service. Tamborello has...
), who was a friend and fellow KXLU DJ at the time.
Tony Kiewel left the show for an A&R position at Sub Pop Records in 2000.
The early 2000s continued to feature Fred, with Devin Valdesuso and Doug Jones (label owner of Kittridge Records
Kittridge Records
Kittridge Records was founded in Northridge, CA in 1998 by Doug Jones. The first release was 500 copies of the 7" compilation titled "The Sidewalk Chalk Adventure". The label's headquarters are now based out of Mar Vista, CA...
).
Hosts have included the International Voice of Reason AKA IVOR, and others.
Since 2002, Fred was joined by co-host Octavius Poirier (former guitarist for Artichoke and Chewing Foil). Audio archives of KXLU Demolisten have been saved online since 2003.
Interviews and reviews
The members of KXLU Demolisten were on a TV show in Canada where they were interviewed by Laurie Pike circa 1995. There is a writeup of the show in LA WeeklyLA Weekly
LA Weekly is a free weekly tabloid-sized "alternative weekly" in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1978 by Editor/Publisher Jay Levin and a board of directors that included actor-producer Michael Douglas...
Feb. 24, 1998. They were nominated as best radio show in Los Angeles by the LA Weekly: published June 2, 1999. They were mentioned in Slate Magazine as an influence on the author's music taste on Nov. 29, 2004. Also mentioned in The Los Angeles Alternative, an independent newspaper, when KXLU won one of the top 5 radio stations in the city in the people's choice awards: Published June 30, 2006. Demolisten was featured in an independent film, Destroy the Rocker, about the Los Angeles music scene.