Chapter VII - Tom Bender & Fred Jacobs

 Part One: Running Time:   (15:33) Jade Springart talks to Mike Staff about starting as an intern at WRIF and working her way into the programing and on air staffs. Including working at the front desk, promotions, production and board operator duties along the way.    Part Two: Running Time:   (29:45) In 2015 Jade became the Music Director and learned under award winning programmer Mark Pennington. And she talks about the current state of the rock & roll radio business. Part Three: Running Time:   (44:24) Jade addresses the biter sweet reality of taking over the mid-day slot on the Riff and being the stations Digital Program Director. Plus her thoughts on some of the legends who came before her including Ken Calvert, Steve Kostan and Karen Savelly.

Part One:   (Running Time: (19:27) Dave and Chuck The Freak talk about their early years in radio, Dave as a news reporter and Chuck working behind the scenes. From interviewing Grandparents at the age of 8 to forming their morning show on 89X to the listeners picking “The Freak” as Chuck’s nickname.  Part Two:   Running Time: (45:06) Their radio journey continues with Lisa, James “It’s Friday Bitches”, Operation “Dark Stall” and the derivation of “Penis”.  Part Three:   Running Time: (65:33) Dave and Chuck move the show to WRIF and discuss the challenges of not being able to tell anyone, their first show of the Riff and what it was like to replace the legendary Drew and Mike show. Part Four:   Running Time: (94:00) Dave and Chuck the Freak hit incredible new heights, expand into syndication and keep their internal mantra of “the funny always wins” and never talk about politics. Mike Staff also asks the guys about the lasting legacy of WRIF as the station officially turns 50.

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:05) Screamin’ Scott Randall talks about his early years in radio. Imitating Arthur P and Alan Allman to the point of starting to smoke to get a deeper sounding voice. Working in Ohio and Indiana doing hog reports and them coming back to Detroit to work at The Ritz.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 31:22) Scott makes the giant leap form the Ritz to doing mornings at 102.7 Z-Rock. He talks about how he got the Screamin’ nickname, doing radio with Alice Cooper and dating Ted Nugent’s daughter.  Part Three:   (Running Time: 49:25) Doug Podell hires Scott to do overnights at WRIF and Scott talks about working with him, Anne Carlini, Arthur P., Meltdown and Drew and Mike. Part Four:   (Running Time: 73:36) Of course Screamin’ has a beer with Dave Grohl in Ireland, plays a round of Golf with Alice Cooper, hangs out with Bobby Knight and BJ Thomas. Then there was the time he nearly died while on the air. Part Four:   (Running Time: 91:50) This time Scott really does die, thankfully in the hospital but lives on to create Rock For Tots and his Screamin’ Angles. Scotty also discusses how he was let go after 24 years at WRIF and looks ahead to a bright future.

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:04) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) continues his conversation with Mike Staff touching on Delbert, Davie Lee Roth, and the value of paying your dues.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 32:03) Recounting the 9-11 show, Woodstock 94, Cold Call celebrity hang-ups and Drew talks about the role of his producers.  Part Three:   (Running Time: 47:58) Drew and Marc move to 105.1 The Sports Station and have to deal with questionable programing and talk about the late 1990s as Howard Stern, Ted Nugent, Danny Bonaduce, and Bill Bonds all had talk shows. Part Four:   (Running Time: 66:22) Drew’s relationship with Mike during the 22 year run on WRIF, the astounding success of the show and their evolution into Podcasting.  Part Four:   (Running Time: 90:10) The final years at WRIF, Drew’s thoughts on Dave and Chuck The Freak, the loss of Mike Clark and the staying power of The Riff as it approaches the 50th

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:10) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) recounts his early radio days at WVT, WROV, WAAF (Boston) and KMXX (Phoenix) on his way to WRIF.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 33:45) After 3 Years in Phoenix Drew and Zip take over mornings at WRIF. The stories include Arthur P welcoming Drew to town with a trip to the strip club, Trudi joins the staff and Drew meets Mike Clark for the 1st time at The Ritz in Roseville.  Part Three:   (Running Time: 56:53) The Drew and Zip show becomes Drew and Mike and as they evolve into a full-time talk show the ratings explode. There were Lions pre-game shows with strippers, The OJ Trial, Mike crashing his helicopter on the air, the show gets kicked out of the Auto Show and Mickey Redman joins the team during the Red Wings historic Stanley Cup years.      Part Four:   (Running Time: 77:15) Drew and Mark recount some of the wildest interviews of the Drew and Mike show, plus celebrity hang ups, But Mic and a listen comes in to suck Trudi’s toes.  Part Four:    (Running Time: 93:45) Do co-hosts have to get along off the air?, Was syndication ever a possibility? Can rock starts be good radio hosts?

Part One:   (Running Time: 14:15) The usual host Mike Staff is the focus of this discussion as WRIF’s Meltdown talks to Mike about his journey from Central to Specs Howard. Through WJR, WLLZ, WKLT, CD 106 and finally WRIF.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 28:17) Mike Staff reveals what it was like to live his dream of working at WRIF alongside Arthur P., Steve Kostan, Anne Carlini, Doug Podell and Drew & Mike. Plus his interviewing experiences with Alex Van Halen. Armored Saint and Sammy Hagar.  Part Three: (Running Time: 47:46) Some of Mike most memorable moments on the air including the O.J. Verdict, Sam Kinison’s death, interactions with Kiss, Pink Floyd, and his friendship with Motley Crew.     Part Four:   (Running Time: 61:48) Mike Staff literally knocks himself out on the air? Plus some of his finest radio memories and what hosting this podcast has meant to him.

Part One:   (Running Time: 12:31) Afternoon Drive host Meltdown talks about growing up outside of Buffalo and getting the call to move to Detroit to work at WRIF at age 26 and the idea of being born in Buffalo but made in Detroit.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 24:12) Meltdown reveals the story behind his nickname, working as a custodian calling into radio stations, his first radio gigs, his other nickname for a while The Big Unit and 3rd shifter parties.  Part Three:   (Running Time: 35:02) A conversation of working overnights at WRIF for two years, live broadcasts, Harleyfest, Hockey and a few of his famous friends.     Part Four:   (Running Time: 58:53) Meltdown’s crossovers with Arthur P. moving into the afternoon drive spot in 2009, his interviewing style and the Talkin’ Rock Podcast. Part Five:   (Running Time: 74:55) Mike and Meltdown wrap up the fireside chat with rock star stories and tales of interviews both good and bad.

Part One:   (Running Time: 14:57) The host of Night Call and one of the original WRIF DJs Peter Werbe talks about the change over from WXYZ-FM to WRIF. The self-described anarchist, atheist and vegetarian talk show host talks about the early days with Dick Kernen, Russ Gibb, John Sinclair the 1968 riots and their connection to 2020.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 27:40) Peter talks about the changing culture and how Night Call survived over the years as WRIF’s ownership changed multiple times. Being terminated at what was probably the right time and the evolution of owners becoming less conservative over the years while the air personalities became more conservative.  Part Three:   (Running Time: (53:21) From 1973-1976 Peter did a full time talk show and later he and Juline Jordan took the Night Call format into syndication. Peter also explores the changes that have been driven by social media and technology.    Part Four:   (Running Time: (72:06) Peter looks back at the different decades and personalities like Arthur P., Drew and Mike, Jerry Lubin, Barba Holiday, Lee Abrams and the shifting of rock genres as WRIF is approaching the 50 year mark.

Part One:   (Running Time: 15:28) Weekend Personality and syndicated radio host Steve Black talks about growing up in Flint and listening to WWCK along with the Detroit stations WRIF and WLLZ.  Steve’s journey from dreaming of being a Foley Artist to becoming a musician and finally a DJ.  Part Two:   (Running Time: 25:00) The Ted Nugent years. Steve and Mike explore the rivalry between Z-Rock and WRIF. Becoming the co-host for the Ted Nugent Morning show and the mammoth task of competing with Drew & Mike.  Part Three:   (Running Time: 38:18) Steve joins a Riff staff in 2003 that includes Drew & Mike, Doug Podell, Arthur P., Meltdown and Screamin’ Scott. Creating the Chop Shop syndicated guitar show in 2004 and some of the 1500 plus career interviews with artists like Rob Zombie and Slash.    Part Four:   (Running Time:   58:13) Steve’s syndication business expands, his first wife Sabrina’s illness and working with Detroit-based charities like Gilda’s Club. Plus his stories of working with Dave & Chuck The Freak, Meltdown, Arthur P and what has made WRIF so strong for 49 years and counting.

Part One:     (Running Time: 15:51) Former WRIF Program Directors Tom Bender and Fred Jacobs recount their journeys to the Riff and explain the roles of a Program Director, General Manager and Consultant.   Part Two:     (Running Time: 29:21) The evolution of WRIF under the watch of Tom and Fred including the hiring of Ken Calvert and JJ and The Morning Crew. Arthur P organically helps to rebrand the station as The Home of Rock & Roll. Part Three:     (Running Time: 42:47) The iconic WRIF bumper stickers are born, the D.R.E.A.D Car and Maui Time all help the Riff stay at the top. Part Four:     (Running Time: 77:25) Tom and Fred talk about Drew & Mike, Doug Podell, Anne Carlini, Meltdown and Arthur Penhallow.