Steve Dahl
Encyclopedia
Steven Robert Dahl has been an American radio personality
and humorist for more than thirty years. He is currently podcasting, and releases the podcasts for download daily from his own website as well as the iTunes store
. Originally, Dahl broadcasted with Detroit stations WABX and WWWW
and later with Chicago stations
WCKG
, WDAI
, WLUP, WMVP
and WLS
. He also served as a columnist for the Chicago Tribune
in their Live section as the resident "vice advisor" until November of 2010. Additionally, Dahl has served on the Board of Trustees at Columbia College Chicago
.
Dahl's radio show took an "every guy" approach to life in Chicago and Dahl often told bucolic stories about his life and family on the air. Dahl is also well-known in Chicago for his song parodies
and his impressions
. He is considered a pioneer in talk radio
and has been influential for many other radio personalities. He gained a measure of national attention after the Disco Demolition Night
promotion at Comiskey Park
, and he is also known in Chicago for his longstanding former role as one half of the "Steve and Garry" team (with Garry Meier
).
In addition to his radio career, Dahl is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His band, Teenage Radiation, recorded and performed a number of song parodies (which he often played on his show throughout the 1980s) and since 1990 he has performed and recorded as Steve Dahl and the Dahlfins. Dahl has also dabbled in acting, appearing in the 1984 cult classic
, Grandview, U.S.A.
with John
and Joan Cusack
. He also appeared in the 2004 film Outing Riley
, and in the 2006 indie comedy I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
(which was written and directed by Chicago native Jeff Garlin
).
Dahl grew up in La Cañada, California
, a Los Angeles
suburb northwest of Pasadena. He is the son of Roger and Carolyn Dahl, an electronics parts manufacturer's representative and a homemaker. He is married and is the father of three sons.
radio station, KPCC-FM, in his home state of California. At the age of sixteen, after he starting working at the radio station full-time, he unofficially dropped out of high school. Dahl later explained, "I convinced my parents and the school that I would do an independent work-study thing. I never got around to it." At the age of eighteen, he obtained his GED and briefly married a woman he met after she called him on-air to request Suzanne
, a song by Leonard Cohen
which told a tale of a troubled relationship. Dahl later explained his short-lived marriage by commenting, "I should have paid more attention to that song."
Dahl was told by radio executives that he'd never make it in radio because his voice was too high. At one point, Dahl was so discouraged that he quit for about six months and attempted to pursue a career as a recording engineer. However, this never amounted to anything more than making mix tapes of popular songs for play on airplanes. Throughout this time period, he was making efforts to reconcile with his ex-wife, who by then was dating the program director at the Los Angeles radio station where she worked. He later admitted to stalking her by sleeping in his Subaru outside her house.
In 1976, Dahl's ex-wife told him about an opening for a morning show in Detroit, Michigan
on WABX-FM
. He managed to secure the job, despite the fact that he did not think he was good enough for it (he later learned that the station was owned by the same company his ex-wife worked for). At WABX, Dahl learned as much as he could about what constituted "good radio" and also began experimenting with his content. His popularity increased to the point that he achieved a 7.2 market share
.
During his time at WABX, Dahl was introduced to Janet, a junior high school English and drama teacher in a Detroit suburb, who was casually dating a friend of his and was also a listener of his show. The two hit it off after Dahl invited her to a "hump day" broadcast he was doing from the camel area of the Detroit Zoo
.
WDAI executives in Chicago, attracted by Dahl's 7.1 share, approached him and offered to double his salary to $50,000 a year. However, Janet did not want to leave her family in Detroit and he did not want to leave her. This prompted Dahl to ask his bosses for $35,000 a year to stay in Detroit. They flatly refused by telling him to "Go fuck yourself. Go to Chicago. Fall on your fat face." In 1978, after Janet accepted his marriage proposal, Dahl left Detroit for WDAI in Chicago. The pair eventually married in 1980.
(who was then broadcasting under the pseudonym
of "Matthew Meier"). Shortly thereafter, the two began a cross talk that eventually led to Meier being teamed up with Dahl as both sidekick
and newsman. Dahl effectively forced Meier to use his actual name by calling him "Garry" on-air accidentally. After openly discussing the subject, again, on-air, Meier officially dropped his pseudonym. They also comically lampooned themselves with their out of commercial intro sung by a local trio, All Nite Diner (Mark Milano, Andrea Carlson, and Jim Molnar): "Steve and Gary, Scum Bag Worm Meat Idiots......" http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/multimedia/audio/1599-steve-a-garry-jingle-scumbag-worm-meat-idiots
's Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
, which he called Do You Think I'm Disco?. The song managed to crack the national charts to peak at #58 on the Billboard
Hot 100
and received airplay across the country.
During this same time period, Dahl and Meier, along with both Mike Veeck (son of then Chicago White Sox
owner Bill Veeck
), and Jeff Schwartz of WLUP promotions, came up with a radio promotion and tie-in to the White Sox called Disco Demolition Night which took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979. The concept was to create an event to "end disco once and for all" in the center field of Comiskey Park
that night by allowing people to get tickets at the box office if they brought $0.98 (for WLUP-FM's 97.9 location on the dial) and at least one disco record. The records were collected, piled up on the field and blown up. Hundreds of rowdy fans stormed the field, refusing to leave, resulting in the second game of the doubleheader
being postponed. American League
President Lee MacPhail
later declared the second game of the doubleheader a forfeit
victory for the visiting Detroit Tigers
. Six people reported minor injuries, and thirty-nine were arrested for disorderly conduct
.
After the Disco Demolition Night promotion, and all the surrounding media coverage of not only the event but what it stood for, the musical genre of disco began to lose its popularity.
, where it performed well.
During the Iranian Hostage Crisis
, Dahl, along with Teenage Radiation, recorded and released a parody of The Knack
's song "My Sharona
," called "Ayatollah
." He also made on-the-air prank phone calls
to the "Islamic Fried Chicken" (a play on Kentucky Fried Chicken
), ordering buckets of chicken for the hostages in the US embassy, which the State Department
later reprimanded him for. Dahl also parodied the John Wayne Gacy
murders with his song "Another Kid in the Crawl" (to the tune of Pink Floyd
's "Another Brick in the Wall
"). He stopped playing the song when parents of the murdered children called to complain. Although the previous parodies were funny without hitting below the belt, Dahl crossed a line of poor taste with "Another Kid In The Crawl" that was profoundly offensive to many, particularly the parents of 33 boys who were still grieving over their childrens deaths.
In February 1981, WLUP fired Dahl, citing "continued assaults on community standards." "It was going on in El Paso
and Los Angeles, like, on Monday, and on Friday they fired me," Dahl later said. Meier was offered the opportunity to continue the show by himself, but he refused. Within a month, and after many hurry-up negotiations, they were hired at another local station, WLS-FM. They immediately began an assault on their former employer, telling their fans and new listeners to boycott listening to now what they considered "the enemy on that other side of the dial."
Dahl and Meier won a local Emmy award for a television special they did in 1981 called, Greetings from Graceland
, which was a comedy spoof on the tourist shrine and featured Elvis Presley's
"Uncle Vester" selling Elvis cookbooks from the guardhouse.
In 1982, he stated on the air that motorists could allegedly substitute Necco Wafers
for coins in automatic toll booths on Chicago's tollways
. The Illinois Tollway System later claimed that approximately a dozen toll machines broke down due to people trying to use the candy to pay tolls.
They briefly had a morning television show titled It's Too Early on local Chicago station WFBN-TV
, which nationally syndicated columnist Bob Greene
called "the best program on television", "amazing", and "hypnotic" in his June 20, 1983 column. The show was canceled after four weeks on the air because it was deemed "unsuitable for general viewing... in particular for young children" after Dahl was shown fully clothed sitting on a toilet seat reading a newspaper.
From 1984 to 1986 WLS suspended them on numerous occasions and in retaliation they staged many high-profile walk-outs and no shows. On Monday, January 6, 1986, Steve & Garry were moved from afternoon drive time to mid-day even though they were the number one rated afternoon drive show in Chicago, but in reality morning DJ Larry Lujack
made sure he could move from mornings to afternoons in January of 1986, citing exhaustion in coming to work so early. Steve & Garry would resign from the radio station in mid-March.
Dahl decided to get a vasectomy
in March 1989, which was performed live on the air at a urologist's office in Indiana. According to Arbitron ratings for that survey period, Dahl and Meier's ratings jumped from a tie for seventh place in afternoons to a tie for third place. According to Paul D. Colford, a former writer for Long Island Newsday, Howard Stern
listened to tapes of Steve and Garry sent from Chicago by a friend of the chief engineer at WCCC Hartford. Colford claims Stern eventually developed his on-air style as a result of these tapes. Later, Stern was hired at WWWW Detroit (which Dahl had left when he moved to Chicago).
. Meier also blamed Dahl's alcoholism
and unpredictable behavior. Dahl, for his part, blamed Fircak for the split, once saying on air "When I met her, I knew the rules had just changed."
In 2003, Robert Feder
, a columnist
for the Chicago Sun Times, said, "It's the divorce that just keeps on giving: A decade after Steve Dahl and Garry Meier severed their legendary radio partnership, their breakup remains a source of bitterness and anger for them — and continuing fascination for their fans."
After the team broke up, Dahl went to Sports Talk
WMVP AM and teamed with Chicago sportscaster
Bruce Wolf
.
, who was Dahl's newsman starting in 1980 on WLUP, and the show was available as a podcast
at Dahl's website
and streamed live on WCKG's website. Dahl's afternoon show was rated fifth (4.1) among men 25-54 in the winter 2006-2007 ratings report. Recently Dahl was named one of the '100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts' by Talkers magazine
. On June 22, 1999, Detroit's WKRK FM 97.1 dropped his show, replacing it with the Erin & Gonzo Show. This ended Dahl's bid to achieve syndication.
On Friday, August 18, 2006, Dahl was doing a remote broadcast of his show at Oak Street Beachstro, a restaurant on Chicago's Oak Street Beach
. Coincidentally, Garry Meier was eating lunch there with friends. After Dahl learned of Meier's presence there, he invited Meier to appear on the air with him, which Meier accepted. Meier wound up staying for the remainder of the show. This event was covered widely throughout the Chicago media
that evening.
On April 2, 2007, Meier returned to Chicago radio, doing the 8 AM-11 AM show on WCKG. He appeared briefly on Dahl's show that same day. They occasionally contributed to each others' shows, and Meier spent the first hour and a half in studio during Dahl's show on the 28th year anniversary of Disco Demolition Night, recounting the events of that night.
. He was the only live personality at the Jack FM
outlet as the rest of the station is preprogrammed and run by computer. Dahl's son Matt was part of the regular WCKG lineup and hosted the show immediately following his father's. However, the WCKG format change, from an FM talk station to an adult contemporary
station was the end of Matt's show on WCKG.
On December 5, 2008, Dahl announced the end of his show on Jack FM due to low ratings.
"They were saying, 'Well, do a couple of weeks, a farewell.'" Dahl said. "I said, 'It's not a farewell. You guys are taking me off the air. I'm not retiring.' ... "I still have two and a half years left on my deal so, quite frankly, I'm not letting them out of it." Dahl stated that he is prepared to stay off the radio for the remainder of his contract, which extends to mid-2011 and is said to be worth more than $1 million annually.
After the end of Dahl's final broadcast, Howard Cogan, the normally sarcastic signature voice, Jack, heard on many Jack FM stations, delivered a sincere sendoff to Dahl followed by Life's Been Good
by Joe Walsh
, a long-time friend of Dahl.
Dahl's contract with CBS expired in July 2011 which fueled speculation that he would return to the airwaves in Chicago. Merlin Media's WKQX & WLUP and even the Tribune's WGN were seen as the most likely possibilities for Dahl. He sent out a Tweet on July 11, 2011 stating that he would continue his podcasts for a fee of $9.95/month as of August 1, 2011 which set off a tirade of angry sentiments from long-time fans who felt betrayed that they would now have to pay for podcasts that had been available for free since September, 2009.
for his radio show with his early band Teenage Radiation, Dahl began recording and playing live performance with a new band in 1990, called Steve Dahl and the Dahlfins. This band has recorded and released several albums, including 1992's "Tropical Tides" and 1997's "Mai Tai Roa Ae." In 2007, backed by Des Moines, Iowa
band The Nadas
, Dahl embarked on a tour of Chicago-area concert venues. In collaboration with record producer Joe Thomas, Dahl played a large role in the comeback of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
. The three co-wrote the song "Your Imagination
" which appeared as a single and on Wilson's 1998 album Imagination. Dahl claimed to provide backup vocals on the song as well, although has not been credited as such on the liner notes of the album. An alternate version of "Your Imagination" with slightly different lyrics and Steve Dahl singing lead is occasionally played on The Steve Dahl Show.
. They have three sons: Patrick, who works with video media for the Chicago Blackhawks
; Mike, a writer/producer at Comcast SportsNet
in Chicago; and Matt Dahl, a recent graduate of DePaul University
who is following in his father's footsteps in broadcast radio, along with being the drummer in the band Pet Lions. Dahl is also an avid Chicago sports
fan, holding season ticket
s to the Chicago White Sox
, Chicago Bears
, and Chicago Blackhawks
.
since 1995, the day after a drinking bout at the White Sox home opener, achieving it cold turkey
.
In 1999, his wife filed a multi–million dollar lawsuit against Mancow Muller
over lewd comments Muller made about her on his show. In 2001, the case was settled. Although the terms of the deal were not disclosed, it was reportedly seven figures.
Also in 1999, Steve Dahl admitted secretly recording conversations among staffers at WCKG because he suspected they were talking about him behind his back. In snippets Dahl has played on his afternoon show, two station employees can be heard mocking him as "Steve Dull" and ridiculing his show. Dahl said, "I did it within my organization to confirm my suspicions. This was in a studio filled with microphones and cameras. Legally, I don't feel they had any expectation of privacy in that case."
Criminal suspect Drew Peterson
and his lawyer, Joel Brodsky, called in to Dahl's show on January 23, 2008. Dahl had been lampooning Peterson since the start of the former police officer's notoriety. Brodsky suggested that Dahl host an on-air "dating game" with Peterson the following day, but WJMK managers and Dahl later decided not to go through with it. "
Radio personality
A radio personality is a person with an on-air position in radio broadcasting. A radio personality can be someone who introduces and discusses various genres of music, hosts a talk radio show that may take calls from listeners, or someone whose primary responsibility is to give news, weather,...
and humorist for more than thirty years. He is currently podcasting, and releases the podcasts for download daily from his own website as well as the iTunes store
ITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
. Originally, Dahl broadcasted with Detroit stations WABX and WWWW
WDTW-FM
WDTW-FM is a classic rock formatted radio station in Detroit, Michigan. The station is owned by Clear Channel Communications. WDTW-FM is licensed for HD Radio operations; its secondary channel carries Clear Channel's "Pride Radio" format, which features music geared toward the LGBT audience...
and later with Chicago stations
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...
WCKG
WCKG
WCFS-FM , known on-air as "WBBM Newsradio 780 & 105.9", is a radio station licensed to Elmwood Park, Illinois and serving the Chicago, Illinois market...
, WDAI
WZZN
WLS-FM 94.7 FM is a Chicago oldies radio station playing the hits of the late '50s, through the early '80s. The station was founded by ABC, and was sold by Disney to Citadel Broadcasting in 2007; it is now owned by Cumulus Media, following its 2011 merger with Citadel...
, WLUP, 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...
and WLS
WLS (AM)
WLS is a Chicago clear-channel AM station on 890 kHz. It uses C-QUAM AM stereo and transmits with 50,000 watts from transmitter and towers on the south edge of Tinley Park, Illinois....
. He also served as a columnist for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
in their Live section as the resident "vice advisor" until November of 2010. Additionally, Dahl has served on the Board of Trustees at Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago
Columbia College Chicago is one of the largest art colleges in the United States with nearly 12,000 students pursuing degrees within 120 undergraduate and graduate programs...
.
Dahl's radio show took an "every guy" approach to life in Chicago and Dahl often told bucolic stories about his life and family on the air. Dahl is also well-known in Chicago for his song parodies
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
and his impressions
Impressionist (entertainment)
An impressionist or a mimic is a performer whose act consists of imitating the voice and mannerisms of others. The word usually refers to a professional comedian/entertainer who specializes in such performances and has developed a wide repertoire of impressions, including adding to them, often to...
. He is considered a pioneer in talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
and has been influential for many other radio personalities. He gained a measure of national attention after the Disco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night
Disco Demolition Night was a promotional event that took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, during which a crate filled with disco records was blown up on the field. It was held during the twi-night doubleheader baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and...
promotion at Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, and he is also known in Chicago for his longstanding former role as one half of the "Steve and Garry" team (with Garry Meier
Garry Meier
Garry Meier is a Chicago-based radio personality and is currently the afternoon host on WGN-AM 720 in Chicago, heard weekdays 3-7 PM CT.- Beginnings :...
).
In addition to his radio career, Dahl is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist. His band, Teenage Radiation, recorded and performed a number of song parodies (which he often played on his show throughout the 1980s) and since 1990 he has performed and recorded as Steve Dahl and the Dahlfins. Dahl has also dabbled in acting, appearing in the 1984 cult classic
Cult Classic
Cult Classic is a Blue Öyster Cult studio recording released in 1994, containing remakes of many of the band's previous hits.-Track listing:# " The Reaper" - 5:05# "E.T.I...
, Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A.
Grandview, U.S.A. is a 1984 American comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Carole Cook, Ramon Bieri, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmet Walsh, Michael Winslow, Troy Donahue, and Steve Dahl. The original music...
with John
John Cusack
John Paul Cusack is an American film actor and screenwriter. He has appeared in more than 50 films, including The Journey of Natty Gann, Say Anything..., Grosse Point Blank, The Thin Red Line, Stand by Me, Con Air, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Runaway Jury, The Ice Harvest,...
and Joan Cusack
Joan Cusack
Joan Mary Cusack is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions....
. He also appeared in the 2004 film Outing Riley
Outing Riley
Outing Riley is a 2004 comedy film written, directed, and starring Pete Jones, about a gay man coming out to his three brothers. It was screened at the 2004 Chicago International Film Festival and released on video in 2007.-Plot:...
, and in the 2006 indie comedy I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With
I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With is a 2006 independent film released by IFC Films and The Weinstein Company. Written, produced and directed by, and starring Jeff Garlin , it features Garlin, Sarah Silverman and Bonnie Hunt...
(which was written and directed by Chicago native Jeff Garlin
Jeff Garlin
Jeffrey "Jeff" Garlin is an American stand-up comedian, actor, producer, voice artist, director, writer and author, best known for his role as Jeff Greene on the HBO show Curb Your Enthusiasm...
).
Dahl grew up in La Cañada, California
La Cañada Flintridge, California
La Cañada Flintridge is a small and affluent city in Los Angeles County, California, United States whose population at the 2010 census was 20,246, down from 20,318 at the 2000 census. According to Forbes, as of 2010, La Cañada Flintridge ranks as the 143rd most expensive U.S...
, a Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
suburb northwest of Pasadena. He is the son of Roger and Carolyn Dahl, an electronics parts manufacturer's representative and a homemaker. He is married and is the father of three sons.
Early radio career
In the 9th grade, Dahl began hanging around a local undergroundUnderground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
radio station, KPCC-FM, in his home state of California. At the age of sixteen, after he starting working at the radio station full-time, he unofficially dropped out of high school. Dahl later explained, "I convinced my parents and the school that I would do an independent work-study thing. I never got around to it." At the age of eighteen, he obtained his GED and briefly married a woman he met after she called him on-air to request Suzanne
Suzanne (Leonard Cohen song)
"Suzanne" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen in the 1960s, and often heard in a recording by Judy Collins. It has become one of the most-covered songs in Cohen's catalogue....
, a song by Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen, is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often explores religion, isolation, sexuality and interpersonal relationships...
which told a tale of a troubled relationship. Dahl later explained his short-lived marriage by commenting, "I should have paid more attention to that song."
Dahl was told by radio executives that he'd never make it in radio because his voice was too high. At one point, Dahl was so discouraged that he quit for about six months and attempted to pursue a career as a recording engineer. However, this never amounted to anything more than making mix tapes of popular songs for play on airplanes. Throughout this time period, he was making efforts to reconcile with his ex-wife, who by then was dating the program director at the Los Angeles radio station where she worked. He later admitted to stalking her by sleeping in his Subaru outside her house.
In 1976, Dahl's ex-wife told him about an opening for a morning show in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
on WABX-FM
WABX-FM
WABX is a radio station in Evansville, Indiana, owned by South Central Communications. The station, which broadcasts at 107.5 FM, has aired a classic rock format since 1997. Monday through Saturday morning, WABX airs the The Big Show with John Boy and Billy...
. He managed to secure the job, despite the fact that he did not think he was good enough for it (he later learned that the station was owned by the same company his ex-wife worked for). At WABX, Dahl learned as much as he could about what constituted "good radio" and also began experimenting with his content. His popularity increased to the point that he achieved a 7.2 market share
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
.
During his time at WABX, Dahl was introduced to Janet, a junior high school English and drama teacher in a Detroit suburb, who was casually dating a friend of his and was also a listener of his show. The two hit it off after Dahl invited her to a "hump day" broadcast he was doing from the camel area of the Detroit Zoo
Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoological Park, commonly known as the Detroit Zoo, is located about north of the Detroit city limits at the intersection of Woodward Avenue, 10 Mile Road, and Interstate 696 in Royal Oak and Huntington Woods, Michigan, USA...
.
WDAI executives in Chicago, attracted by Dahl's 7.1 share, approached him and offered to double his salary to $50,000 a year. However, Janet did not want to leave her family in Detroit and he did not want to leave her. This prompted Dahl to ask his bosses for $35,000 a year to stay in Detroit. They flatly refused by telling him to "Go fuck yourself. Go to Chicago. Fall on your fat face." In 1978, after Janet accepted his marriage proposal, Dahl left Detroit for WDAI in Chicago. The pair eventually married in 1980.
Rude Awakening
Dahl began at WDAI Chicago on February 23, 1978 with his solo "Steve Dahl's Rude Awakening" show, but it never achieved solid ratings despite media attention. Ten months later, on Christmas Eve, 1978, WDAI changed formats from rock to disco and fired Dahl.Steve and Garry
In March 1979, after a few months without a job, Dahl was hired to do a morning show at WLUP where he met overnight DJ Garry MeierGarry Meier
Garry Meier is a Chicago-based radio personality and is currently the afternoon host on WGN-AM 720 in Chicago, heard weekdays 3-7 PM CT.- Beginnings :...
(who was then broadcasting under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of "Matthew Meier"). Shortly thereafter, the two began a cross talk that eventually led to Meier being teamed up with Dahl as both sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
and newsman. Dahl effectively forced Meier to use his actual name by calling him "Garry" on-air accidentally. After openly discussing the subject, again, on-air, Meier officially dropped his pseudonym. They also comically lampooned themselves with their out of commercial intro sung by a local trio, All Nite Diner (Mark Milano, Andrea Carlson, and Jim Molnar): "Steve and Gary, Scum Bag Worm Meat Idiots......" http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/multimedia/audio/1599-steve-a-garry-jingle-scumbag-worm-meat-idiots
Disco Demolition Night
In response to Dahl's firing from WDAI, Dahl and Meier mocked and heaped scorn on disco records and WDAI (calling it "Disco-D.I.E." mocking the station's slogan, "Disco-D.A.I.") on the air. Dahl even recorded and started playing a parody of Rod StewartRod 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....
's Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?
"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" is a 1978 hit song for Rod Stewart. It was written by Stewart and Carmine Appice, and produced by Tom Dowd."Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" spent one week at the top of the British charts in December 1978 and four weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, starting 10 February 1979...
, which he called Do You Think I'm Disco?. The song managed to crack the national charts to peak at #58 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
and received airplay across the country.
During this same time period, Dahl and Meier, along with both Mike Veeck (son of then Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
owner Bill Veeck
Bill Veeck
William Louis Veeck, Jr. , also known as "Sport Shirt Bill", was a native of Chicago, Illinois, and a franchise owner and promoter in Major League Baseball. He was best known for his publicity stunts to raise attendance. Veeck was at various times the owner of the Cleveland Indians, St. Louis...
), and Jeff Schwartz of WLUP promotions, came up with a radio promotion and tie-in to the White Sox called Disco Demolition Night which took place on Thursday, July 12, 1979. The concept was to create an event to "end disco once and for all" in the center field of Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
that night by allowing people to get tickets at the box office if they brought $0.98 (for WLUP-FM's 97.9 location on the dial) and at least one disco record. The records were collected, piled up on the field and blown up. Hundreds of rowdy fans stormed the field, refusing to leave, resulting in the second game of the doubleheader
Doubleheader (baseball)
A doubleheader is a set of two baseball games played between the same two teams on the same day in front of the same crowd. In addition, the term is often used unofficially to refer to a pair of games played by a team in a single day, but in front of different crowds and not in immediate...
being postponed. American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
President Lee MacPhail
Lee MacPhail
Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. is an American retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball...
later declared the second game of the doubleheader a forfeit
Forfeit (baseball)
In rare cases, baseball games are forfeited, usually in the event when a team is no longer able to play. In the event of forfeiture, the score is recorded as "9 to 0", as per rule 2.00 of the Major League Baseball Rules Book...
victory for the visiting Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
. Six people reported minor injuries, and thirty-nine were arrested for disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
.
After the Disco Demolition Night promotion, and all the surrounding media coverage of not only the event but what it stood for, the musical genre of disco began to lose its popularity.
Height of Steve and Garry
As a result of Disco Demolition Night, Dahl attained national recognition and his popularity increased significantly. He established a syndicate and the Steve and Garry show began airing in Detroit and MilwaukeeMilwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
, where it performed well.
During the Iranian Hostage Crisis
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
, Dahl, along with Teenage Radiation, recorded and released a parody of The Knack
The Knack
The Knack was an American New Wave rock quartet based in Los Angeles that rose to fame with their first single, "My Sharona", an international number one hit in 1979.-Founding :...
's song "My Sharona
My Sharona
"My Sharona" is the debut single by The Knack, released in 1979 from their album Get the Knack. It reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart where it remained for six weeks and was #1 on Billboards Top Pop Singles of 1979 year-end chart. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry...
," called "Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
." He also made on-the-air prank phone calls
Prank call
A prank call is a form of practical joke committed over the telephone. Prank phone calls began to gain an America-wide following over a period of many years, as they gradually became a staple of the obscure and amusing cassette tapes traded amongst musicians, sound engineers, and media traders...
to the "Islamic Fried Chicken" (a play on Kentucky Fried Chicken
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
), ordering buckets of chicken for the hostages in the US embassy, which the State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
later reprimanded him for. Dahl also parodied the John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy
John Wayne Gacy, Jr. was an American serial killer, rapist and clown who sexually assaulted and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men between 1972 and 1978. Gacy buried 26 of his victims in the crawlspace of his home, buried three others elsewhere on his property, and discarded the...
murders with his song "Another Kid in the Crawl" (to the tune of Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
's "Another Brick in the Wall
Another Brick in the Wall
"Another Brick in the Wall" is the title of three songs set to variations of the same basic theme, on Pink Floyd's 1979 rock opera, The Wall, subtitled Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3...
"). He stopped playing the song when parents of the murdered children called to complain. Although the previous parodies were funny without hitting below the belt, Dahl crossed a line of poor taste with "Another Kid In The Crawl" that was profoundly offensive to many, particularly the parents of 33 boys who were still grieving over their childrens deaths.
In February 1981, WLUP fired Dahl, citing "continued assaults on community standards." "It was going on in El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
and Los Angeles, like, on Monday, and on Friday they fired me," Dahl later said. Meier was offered the opportunity to continue the show by himself, but he refused. Within a month, and after many hurry-up negotiations, they were hired at another local station, WLS-FM. They immediately began an assault on their former employer, telling their fans and new listeners to boycott listening to now what they considered "the enemy on that other side of the dial."
Dahl and Meier won a local Emmy award for a television special they did in 1981 called, Greetings from Graceland
Graceland
Graceland is a large white-columned mansion and estate that was home to Elvis Presley in Memphis, Tennessee. It is located at 3764 Elvis Presley Boulevard in the vast Whitehaven community about 9 miles from Downtown and less than four miles north of the Mississippi border. It currently serves as...
, which was a comedy spoof on the tourist shrine and featured Elvis Presley's
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
"Uncle Vester" selling Elvis cookbooks from the guardhouse.
In 1982, he stated on the air that motorists could allegedly substitute Necco Wafers
NECCO Wafers
Necco Wafers are a candy wafer made by the United States-based New England Confectionery Company . Necco Wafers were first produced in 1847 and are considered by Necco to be its core product...
for coins in automatic toll booths on Chicago's tollways
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
. The Illinois Tollway System later claimed that approximately a dozen toll machines broke down due to people trying to use the candy to pay tolls.
They briefly had a morning television show titled It's Too Early on local Chicago station WFBN-TV
WGBO-TV
WGBO-DT, channel 66, is the Univision owned and operated station licensed to Joliet, Illinois, United States. Its studios are in Chicago. WGBO offers a Spanish programming format featuring news, talk shows, dramas, movies, and other Spanish-language programming.-History:Channel 66 signed on in...
, which nationally syndicated columnist Bob Greene
Bob Greene
Robert Bernard Greene, Jr. is an American journalist. He worked for 24 years for the Chicago Tribune newspaper, where he was an award-winning columnist. Greene has written books on subjects varying from Michael Jordan, to small towns, to U.S. presidents. His Hang Time: Days and Dreams with Michael...
called "the best program on television", "amazing", and "hypnotic" in his June 20, 1983 column. The show was canceled after four weeks on the air because it was deemed "unsuitable for general viewing... in particular for young children" after Dahl was shown fully clothed sitting on a toilet seat reading a newspaper.
Larry Lujack
Larry Lujack , a Top 40 Music radio disc jockey, was known for his world-weary sarcastic style, "Klunk Letter of the Day" and darkly humorous "Animal Stories" along with "sidekick Little Tommy", and "Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report." He was also referred to as Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Uncle...
made sure he could move from mornings to afternoons in January of 1986, citing exhaustion in coming to work so early. Steve & Garry would resign from the radio station in mid-March.
Dahl decided to get a vasectomy
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
in March 1989, which was performed live on the air at a urologist's office in Indiana. According to Arbitron ratings for that survey period, Dahl and Meier's ratings jumped from a tie for seventh place in afternoons to a tie for third place. According to Paul D. Colford, a former writer for Long Island Newsday, Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
listened to tapes of Steve and Garry sent from Chicago by a friend of the chief engineer at WCCC Hartford. Colford claims Stern eventually developed his on-air style as a result of these tapes. Later, Stern was hired at WWWW Detroit (which Dahl had left when he moved to Chicago).
End of Steve and Garry
Steve and Garry ultimately returned to WLUP where they stayed until their split in 1993. The alleged reason for the break-up was Dahl's on-the-air comments about Meier’s new wife, commercial real-estate broker Cynthia Fircak, while the new couple were on their honeymoonHoneymoon
-History:One early reference to a honeymoon is in Deuteronomy 24:5 “When a man is newly wed, he need not go out on a military expedition, nor shall any public duty be imposed on him...
. Meier also blamed Dahl's alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and unpredictable behavior. Dahl, for his part, blamed Fircak for the split, once saying on air "When I met her, I knew the rules had just changed."
In 2003, Robert Feder
Robert Feder
Robert Feder is a noted Chicago media blogger who was the TV and radio columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times from 1980 until 2008 and a blogger for Vocalo.org from 2009 until 2010...
, a columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for the Chicago Sun Times, said, "It's the divorce that just keeps on giving: A decade after Steve Dahl and Garry Meier severed their legendary radio partnership, their breakup remains a source of bitterness and anger for them — and continuing fascination for their fans."
After the team broke up, Dahl went to Sports Talk
Sports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
WMVP AM and teamed with Chicago sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
Bruce Wolf
Bruce Wolf
Bruce Wolf is a veteran Chicago broadcaster and sports anchor who has been on both TV and radio for more than 20 years. He currently hosts a politics-themed talk show every weekday morning on WLS radio in Chicago and also fills in as a sportscaster on WMAQ-TV in Chicago...
.
WCKG years
Dahl ended up on WCKG, broadcasting an afternoon show on that station. He eventually teamed up with Buzz KilmanBuzz Kilman
-Radio career:He started in radio as the public service director for WBUS-FM, "The Magic Bus" in Miami Beach, Florida. Kilman remained there until station management discovered many of his late night interviews were spoofs. In 1974, he was at WSHE-FM in Ft...
, who was Dahl's newsman starting in 1980 on WLUP, and the show was available as a podcast
Podcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
at Dahl's website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
and streamed live on WCKG's website. Dahl's afternoon show was rated fifth (4.1) among men 25-54 in the winter 2006-2007 ratings report. Recently Dahl was named one of the '100 Most Important Radio Talk Show Hosts' by Talkers magazine
Talkers magazine
Talkers Magazine is a trade industry publication related to talk radio in the United States. Its slogan is "The Bible of Talk Radio and the New Talk Media"...
. On June 22, 1999, Detroit's WKRK FM 97.1 dropped his show, replacing it with the Erin & Gonzo Show. This ended Dahl's bid to achieve syndication.
Oak Street Beach (Chicago, IL)
Oak Street Beach is located on North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, on the shore of Lake Michigan. One of a series of Chicago beaches, the Chicago Park District defines Oak Street Beach as the area from approximately 1550 North Lake Shore Drive to 500 North Lake Shore Drive, including Ohio...
. Coincidentally, Garry Meier was eating lunch there with friends. After Dahl learned of Meier's presence there, he invited Meier to appear on the air with him, which Meier accepted. Meier wound up staying for the remainder of the show. This event was covered widely throughout the Chicago media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
that evening.
On April 2, 2007, Meier returned to Chicago radio, doing the 8 AM-11 AM show on WCKG. He appeared briefly on Dahl's show that same day. They occasionally contributed to each others' shows, and Meier spent the first hour and a half in studio during Dahl's show on the 28th year anniversary of Disco Demolition Night, recounting the events of that night.
Jack FM
Dahl announced on October 29, 2007 that he would move to mornings at WJMK on November 5, 2007 as WCKG changed formatsRadio format
A radio format or programming format not to be confused with broadcast programming describes the overall content broadcast on a radio station. Radio formats are frequently employed as a marketing tool, and constantly evolve...
. He was the only live personality at the Jack FM
Jack FM
JACK FM is the alternative name and on-air brand of 60 radio stations in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia. Jack stations play a mix of 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s hits with some current hot adult contemporary singles. Jack's slogan "playing what we want" can also be...
outlet as the rest of the station is preprogrammed and run by computer. Dahl's son Matt was part of the regular WCKG lineup and hosted the show immediately following his father's. However, the WCKG format change, from an FM talk station to an adult contemporary
Adult contemporary music
Adult contemporary music is a broad style of popular music that ranges from lush 1950s and 1960s vocal music to predominantly ballad-heavy music with varying degrees of rock influence, as well as a radio format that plays such music....
station was the end of Matt's show on WCKG.
On December 5, 2008, Dahl announced the end of his show on Jack FM due to low ratings.
"They were saying, 'Well, do a couple of weeks, a farewell.'" Dahl said. "I said, 'It's not a farewell. You guys are taking me off the air. I'm not retiring.' ... "I still have two and a half years left on my deal so, quite frankly, I'm not letting them out of it." Dahl stated that he is prepared to stay off the radio for the remainder of his contract, which extends to mid-2011 and is said to be worth more than $1 million annually.
After the end of Dahl's final broadcast, Howard Cogan, the normally sarcastic signature voice, Jack, heard on many Jack FM stations, delivered a sincere sendoff to Dahl followed by Life's Been Good
Life's Been Good
"Life's Been Good" is a 1978 song by Joe Walsh, which first appeared on the soundtrack to the film FM. It was released as a single and appeared on Walsh's album But Seriously, Folks.... It peaked at #12 on the US Billboard Hot 100, remaining his biggest solo hit...
by Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, a long-time friend of Dahl.
Podcasts
Dahl was still under contract with CBS when they agreed in July, 2009 to partner with him on a daily podcast that included some paid commercial breaks. Dahl began the podcasts from the basement of his home on September 8, 2009. Most of the podcasts are about 90 minutes long and include guests and familiar Dahl friends like Tom Thayer and Buzz Killman. It was assumed Dahl would return to radio when his CBS contract, which prevented him from working on any radio station while he collected the remainder of his contractual salary, came to an end in 2011.Dahl's contract with CBS expired in July 2011 which fueled speculation that he would return to the airwaves in Chicago. Merlin Media's WKQX & WLUP and even the Tribune's WGN were seen as the most likely possibilities for Dahl. He sent out a Tweet on July 11, 2011 stating that he would continue his podcasts for a fee of $9.95/month as of August 1, 2011 which set off a tirade of angry sentiments from long-time fans who felt betrayed that they would now have to pay for podcasts that had been available for free since September, 2009.
Musical career
In addition to recording parody songsPet Fishsticks
Pet Fishsticks, a vinyl recording starring Steve Dahl and featuring Teenage Radiation and Garry Meier. Recorded in 1983 with four original songs written by Steve Dahl...
for his radio show with his early band Teenage Radiation, Dahl began recording and playing live performance with a new band in 1990, called Steve Dahl and the Dahlfins. This band has recorded and released several albums, including 1992's "Tropical Tides" and 1997's "Mai Tai Roa Ae." In 2007, backed by Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines is the capital and the most populous city in the US state of Iowa. It is also the county seat of Polk County. A small portion of the city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857...
band The Nadas
The Nadas
The Nadas are a rock/folk quintet based out of Des Moines, Iowa. Formed in 1995 in Ames, Iowa, the band earned early success on the local college scene, eventually becoming the "house" band for People's Bar and Grill. Their initial success resulted in the first of seven albums, titled, "Not A...
, Dahl embarked on a tour of Chicago-area concert venues. In collaboration with record producer Joe Thomas, Dahl played a large role in the comeback of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
. The three co-wrote the song "Your Imagination
Your Imagination
"Your Imagination" is a song written by Brian Wilson, Joe Thomas and Steve Dahl for Brian Wilson's 1998 solo album Imagination.An alternate version of "Your Imagination" with slightly different lyrics and Steve Dahl singing lead was occasionally played in the late 1990s on Dahl's Chicago-based...
" which appeared as a single and on Wilson's 1998 album Imagination. Dahl claimed to provide backup vocals on the song as well, although has not been credited as such on the liner notes of the album. An alternate version of "Your Imagination" with slightly different lyrics and Steve Dahl singing lead is occasionally played on The Steve Dahl Show.
Personal life
Currently, Dahl resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with his wife Janet, a non-practicing lawyer, whom he married in July, 1980. Before law school, she taught junior high for seven years in Bloomfield Hills, MichiganBloomfield Hills, Michigan
Bloomfield Hills is a city in Oakland County of the U.S. state of Michigan, northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,869...
. They have three sons: Patrick, who works with video media for the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
; Mike, a writer/producer at Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet
Comcast SportsNet is a group of regional sports networks in the United States primarily owned by the Comcast cable television company....
in Chicago; and Matt Dahl, a recent graduate of DePaul University
DePaul University
DePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest Saint Vincent de Paul...
who is following in his father's footsteps in broadcast radio, along with being the drummer in the band Pet Lions. Dahl is also an avid Chicago sports
Sports in Chicago
Chicago is the home of many professional sports teams and one of four U.S. cities to have teams from the five major American professional team sports ....
fan, holding season ticket
Season ticket
A season ticket is a ticket that grants privileges over a defined period of time.-Sport:In sport, a season ticket grants the holder access to all regular-season home games for one season without additional charges. The ticket usually offers a discounted price over purchasing a ticket for each of...
s to the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
.
Controversies and personal battles
Dahl has battled alcoholism throughout his adult life, which he has alluded to a number of times. He has been soberSobriety
Sobriety is the condition of not having any measurable levels, or effects from, alcohol or other drugs that alter ones mood or behaviors. According to WHO "Lexicon of alcohol and drug terms..." sobriety is continued abstinence from alcohol and psychoactive drug use...
since 1995, the day after a drinking bout at the White Sox home opener, achieving it cold turkey
Cold turkey
"Cold turkey" describes the actions of a person who abruptly gives up a habit or addiction rather than gradually easing the process through gradual reduction or by using replacement medication....
.
In 1999, his wife filed a multi–million dollar lawsuit against Mancow Muller
Mancow Muller
Matthew Erich "Mancow" Muller is an American radio and television personality. He is best known for Mancow's Morning Madhouse, formerly on Rock 103.5 and WKQX-FM , both Chicago-based radio shows that have been nationally syndicated mostly in small markets by Talk Radio Network...
over lewd comments Muller made about her on his show. In 2001, the case was settled. Although the terms of the deal were not disclosed, it was reportedly seven figures.
Also in 1999, Steve Dahl admitted secretly recording conversations among staffers at WCKG because he suspected they were talking about him behind his back. In snippets Dahl has played on his afternoon show, two station employees can be heard mocking him as "Steve Dull" and ridiculing his show. Dahl said, "I did it within my organization to confirm my suspicions. This was in a studio filled with microphones and cameras. Legally, I don't feel they had any expectation of privacy in that case."
Criminal suspect Drew Peterson
Drew Peterson
Drew Walter Peterson is a former Bolingbrook, Illinois, police sergeant who is suspected of killing his third and fourth wives. The story has received national media attention in the United States. Peterson has repeatedly denied involvement in both cases...
and his lawyer, Joel Brodsky, called in to Dahl's show on January 23, 2008. Dahl had been lampooning Peterson since the start of the former police officer's notoriety. Brodsky suggested that Dahl host an on-air "dating game" with Peterson the following day, but WJMK managers and Dahl later decided not to go through with it. "