WLIR

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The World Famous WLIR

Broadcast area	Hampton Bays, NY
First air date	1959
Frequency	107.1 MHz
Format	Modern Rock
Owner	Jared Broadcasting of Hampton Bays, LLC

WLIR, known as "The World Famous WLIR", is a modern rock station that broadcasts on the 107.1 frequency in the Long Island, New York, USA area. The station helped launch the careers of many famous disc jockeys. Its transmitter is currently located near East Quogue, New York. The station became most well-known during the 1970's thru 1990's when transmitting further west in Nassau County, on the 92.7 frequency.

Contents 1 WLIR History 2 Air Personalities 3 Memorable Moments and Shows 4 Clubs and Venues 5 WLIR songs that Dared to be Different 6 External links

[edit] WLIR History

WLIR was founded in 1959 by John R. Rieger. It was licensed to Garden City, NY on the 92.7 FM frequency and played a mix of Broadway tunes and classical music from a basement studio in the Garden City Hotel. In 1971, part-time announcer Mike Harrison convinced Rieger to change to a progressive rock format. This meant playing obscure artists, playing many cuts off an album (not just the hit singles), and having disc jockeys speak in a slow, mellow tone. The station also became known for its concert series and support of local bands such as The Good Rats. As the 1970's went on, most rock stations drifted to the more commercial album oriented rock, but WLIR bucked this trend. As punk and New Wave Rock started to become popular at the end of the 1970's most rock stations ignored these genres but WLIR again bucked the trend by playing artists from these genres. On August 2, 1982, the station made a significant change in format from progressive to what it called "Dare to be Different". It featured new wave, punk, post-punk, early alternative rock, synthpop, and novelty records. The personalties of the disc jockeys became much more upbeat. The station became known worldwide for introducing new artists and playing singles months (if not years) before other stations. WLIR became the first radio station in the country to play U2, The Cure, The Smiths, New Order, Duran Duran, Madonna, George Michael, Men At Work and Prince. The station was one of the few commercial radio stations in the United States to play these type of artists. One method of doing this was the "Screamer of the Week" a promotion in which listeners would call in and vote for their favorite new song of the week. A criticism of the station in this period was that it favored artists from Great Britain at the expense of local bands. In 1987, the station's license was revoked after a fifteen-year battle, and as a result on December 18, 1987, the station's ownership changed. The call letters of WLIR were changed to WDRE by the new owner, Jared Communications, (Later to regain the WLIR Call Letters), while the previous owner (Elton Spitzer's Stereo Broadcasters Inc.) took the WLIR call letters to an AM radio station in Rockland County, New York. The previous owners also took the "Dare To Be Different" slogan with them as intellectual property, so WDRE's moniker became "New Music First". The "Screamer of the Week" became the "Shreek of the Week" and the station remained on the cutting edge of new music as they broke new bands such as Nine Inch Nails, Nirvana and others. In 1991, the station changed its moniker again, this time to "The Cutting Edge of Rock".

The explosion in popularity of grunge and alternative rock in the early 1990's led to the period of turmoil detailed below. The synthesizer-based music on which much of the station's playlist was based was now out of fashion. Alternative rock artists which used be played almost exclusively on the station were now being played on many rock and pop stations.

In 1992, WDRE Garden City (New York) started simulcasting its programming with what was 103.9 WIBF-FM Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, which later became WDRE Jenkintown/Philadelphia. Subsequently, in the mid 90's, "The Underground Network" was formed. These stations simulcasted WDRE New York and consisted of WFAL 101.1 Cape Cod, WRLG 94.1 Nashville, KDRE 101.1 Little Rock WWCP 96.7 Albany KFTH 107.1 Memphis, WMRW 98.5 Westhampton, as well as WIBF. After several years, The Underground Network was ended and it was decided in 1996 that WDRE Garden City/New York would switch formats to Adult Album Alternative (AAA), bring back Malibu Sue (who had been fired earlier by then PD Ralph Mottla), change its call letters back to WLIR and change its moniker to "The Island". Also in 1996 WDRE Philadelphia became an independent local modern rock station.

On January 9, 2004, Univision bought the 92.7 frequency and other assets for $56.9 million dollars and began simulcasting the Spanish radio format of WCAA Newark, NJ. on 92.7 under the call letters WZAA. The Last song played on WLIR that day was "Forever Young", the upbeat version by Alphaville. The WLIR call letters moved to the 107.1 frequency on Eastern Long Island. The new WLIR adopted an Active Rock/Alternative format. Since the 107.1 version of WLIR is located about 50 miles east of the original WLIR, many of the station's fans in New York City, southwestern Connecticut, southern Westchester County, New York and even NEw Jersey & the western parts of Long Island itself could not easily receive the station (many of these areas were closer geographically to other 107.1s, WXPK in central Westchester County and WWZY in Long Branch, New Jersey which hinder reception).

On September 15, 2005, WLIR changed formats to a block-sponsored smooth jazz/chill music format known as "FM Channel 107: NeoBreeze." As a result of the format change, which was also instituted to two other stations owned by the WLIR's owners (The Morey Organization), all of the on-air staff was fired. This truly marked the end of WLIR's unique "new music" format after almost three decades. In addition, with the new format, the station would run commercial-free during the day, with the actual airtime during this period paid for by advertisers. According to the station's owners, this move was made as an attempt to take on satellite radio and MP3 players, which had been cutting into listeners of traditional radio.

On December 20, 2005, after three months of low ratings, the NeoBreeze format was dumped, and the WLIR alternative format returned. Apparently, The Morey Organization underestimated the listener's loyalty to WLIR. Currently, the only on-air personality is Andre, playing a new two-hour Flashback Lunch. The four commercials per hour "brandcasting" is still in effect, which allows for more songs to be played per hour.

WLIR is now streaming on WLIR.com & WLIR.fm (12/12/2006)

[edit] Air Personalities

• Larry "The Duck" Dunn (Larry the Duck presently DJ's on Sirius Satellite Radio's "1st Wave" station)
• Gary Cee (now Program Director and afternoon host at WPDH in the Hudson Valley)
• Chris Simmons
• Harlan Friedman
• Astra
• Andre
• Rob Rush (1998-2003)
• Drew Kenyon - morning show (1999 - 2000)
• Donna Donna
• Steve Kass (Kastenbaum)
• Malibu Sue
• Fweepy the Wonder Chicken
• Danny Toy
• DJ Tarnax
• Maxx ("The Maxximizer!")
• Laurie Gayle
• Matt Cord (now evenings on-air at WMMR/Philadelphia)
• DJ Bird
• Bob Waugh (now on-air and OM at WRNR/Annapolis)
• Ben Manilla
• Ray White (now afternoon driver at 103.7 KKSF-FM San Francisco); (March 27, 2004 interview)
• Nancy Abramson (now Executive Director of the Wall Journal Radio Network)
• Space Commando
• John DeBella; (July 3, 2002 interview)
• Denis McNamara
• Jeff Carlson Beck
• Larry Kleinman
• Bob Kranes
• Vin Scelsa
• Meg Griffin
• Jonathon Clarke
• Shelly Miller
• DC (and the All Night Diner)
• Hugh Foley
• Darrin Smith
• Mike Jones (the man with a face for radio)
• Steve "The Pistol" Jones
• Dale Reeves
• Lynda Lopez (Sister of Jennifer Lopez - J-Lo)
• Cooper Lawrence
• Paul Cavalconte
• Maria Chambers
• Joe Taggart
• Otis Finn (Real name: Jim Finnemore)
• Matt Wolfe (now Music Director and on-air at WBAB)
• Bob Marrone
• Andy Geller
• Mark "The Shark" Drucker (deceased 2/23/2005)
• (John) Loscalzo
• Mrs. Gyrtlebaumer (Loscalzo and Modern Rock Dance Party Producer; AKA Mr. Hand; Real name: Eric Wasserman)
• Corky (Loscalzo, Couzin Ed and Modern Rock Dance Party Producer and Mr. Hand Co-host Real name: Dan Posner)
• Lenny the Intern (AKA Peter Puberty; Real name: Lenny Diana (now Program Director at WRZX-FM Indianapolis, Indiana)
• English Muffin
• Barry (Ravioli) Corrolo
• Susan Browning
• Cuzin Ed (Underground Network)
• Kidman (Underground Network)
• Alex Anthony
• Ted Taylor
• Joe Belcito
• Flo & Eddie (By The Fireside)
• Kim Berk
• Dan Binder
• Pam Mearly
• Earle Bailey
• Doug Frye
• Mina Green (The Green Team)
• Howie Greene (The Green Team)
• Morgan Thomas
• Gene Pardo
• Elton Spitzer
• Steve North ("Mini Close-Up"/news director)
• Sean "The Brain" Ross
• Burner (on the beach)
• Tokyo Rose
• Lorraine Rapp
• Michael Ross
• Elliot Jacoby
• Delphine Blue
• Jodi Vale
• AJ (Mistress of Modern Rock)
• The Cat
• Willobee
• Famous Bob
• Beaver Kowalski
• Trulia Child (platter d'jour)
• Jerry Rubino (Left of Center)
• Dennis Daniel
• Hillary Blazer
• Lazlow
• Bill Powers
• Bill Holly ("All Request Morning Show" and Modern Rock Dance Party producer)
• Tom Calderone
• Bernardo ("The Latino Heat" is now Asst. Program Director at WSUB in New London, CT and Night Personality/Webmaster at WQGN in New London)
• Jeff Jensen
• The Unknown DJ
• Carol Silva ("Mini Close-Up"/news)
• Steve Reggie (news)
• Drew Scott (news)
• Lisa Ritchie (news)
• Peter Schacknow (news)
• Kerin McCue (news)
• Brian Cosgrove
• Frank Bruno
• Joey Salvia
• Caroline Corley
• Linda Joseph
• Evan "Funk" Davies
• Amy Paige
• John Moschitta (Now Operations Manager and Program Director at WDVE and WXDX in Pittsburgh, PA)

[edit] Memorable Moments and Shows

• Party in the Park - 8/21/79
• Party in the Park II - 8/23/80
• Tuesday Night Concert Series
• "Off The Boat" - Sunday night import show
• "Party Out of Bounds" - weekends
• "Midnight Snack" with Ben Manilla
• "The News Blimp"
• Segue contests
• WLIR "Heavy Hitters" softball team
• "Donna Donna's Spotlight Dance Dance" at Mailbu Beach Club
• "All Request Morning Show" with Malibu Sue
• "The Bozo Patrol" (Ben Manilla & Eric Bloom)
• "The History of Modern Rock"
• Airline Club and DaREline
• WLIR-kives
• Audio by Zimet
• WLIR Non-Conformal Ball, April 1985
• "Left of Center"
• "Party Out Of Bounds with Loscalzo, Peter Puberty, Mrs. Gyrtlebaumer and Corky"
• "Friday and Saturday Night Modern Rock Dance Parties at Malibu"
• "DRE After Dark"
• "LIR After Hours"
• "LIR After Dark"

[edit] Clubs and Venues

• My Father's Place
• Spize
• The Angle
• Calderone Concert Hall
• 007
• Mailbu Night Club
• The Dublin Pub
• Paris NY
• Spit
• Chevy's
• The Ritz

[edit] WLIR songs that Dared to be Different

• "Fred From Jupiter" by Digette
• "(Together in) Electric Dreams" by Phil Oakey & Giorgio Moroder
• "This is Ponderous" by 2NU
• "Echo Beach" by Martha + the Muffins
• "Spirit in the Sky" by Doctor & the Medics
• "Don't Say That's Just For Fat Boys" by the DeBella Heads
• "Obsession" by Michael Des Barres and Holly Knight
• "Amok!" by Ledernacken
• "Buffy Buffy Come Back To Me" by Angel & The Reruns
• "Ambition" by Dalek I Love You
• "Jet Boy Jet Girl" by Elton Motello
• "Fujiyamamomma" by Frank Chickens
• "Pearl in the Shell" by Howard Jones
• "The Homecoming Queen's Gotta Gun" by Julie Brown
• "Johnny Are You Queer" by Josie Cotton
• "Love & Pride" by King
• "Lucky Number" by Lene Lovich
• "Safe From Harm" by Massive Attack
• "Living in a Dream" by Pseudo Echo
• "The Sweater" by Meryn Cadell
• "November Spawned a Monster" by Morrissey
• "My Girl" by Chilliwack
• "Shaking the Tree" By Peter Gabriel & Youssou N'Dour
• "The Different Story" by Peter Schilling
• "Cuts You Up" by Peter Murphy
• "Ça Plane Pour Moi" by Plastic Bertrand
• "Never Say Never" by Romeo Void
• "Sexbeat" by Sexbeat
• "Like a Drug" by They Eat Their Own
• "Here's Where the Story Ends" by the Sundays
• "All Lined Up" by Shriekback
• "Hippy Chick" by Soho
• "Jukebox (Don't Put Another Dime)" by The Flirts
• "Run Me Down" by The Higgsons
• "Justified and Ancient" by The KLF and Tammy Wynette
• "Beat Goes On/Switching to Glide" by The Kings
• "88 Lines About 44 Women" by The Nails
• "Painted Moon" by The Silencers
• "TV is King" by The Tubes
• "Don't Let's Start" by They Might Be Giants
• "Boom Boom" by Trio
• "Da Da Da" by Trio
• "Tighten Up" by Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO)
• "The Promise" by When In Rome
• "Beat of Love" by Voice of the Beehive
• "Zoo Busters" by LIR All-Stars
• "Canary Song" Cross Fire Chior
• "I'm Supposed to Have Sex With You" by Tonio K
• "Jesus on the Payroll" by Thrashing Doves
• "Shoot You Down" by APB the band
• "What Does Sex Mean To Me" by Human Sexual Response
• "I Don't Want a Lover" by Texas
• "I Wonder Who's Out Tonight" by Burns Sisters Band
• "Way of Life" by Puppets
• "I Want It All" by Eve's Plumb
• "Rocks" by Primal Scream
• "Creep" by Radiohead
• "Shock Den Affen" by Peter Gabriel
• "Open Your Eyes" by Lords of the New Church
• "Wolfman Tap" by Electric Guitars
• "Full of Love" by Dr. Calculus (aka Stephen Tin Tin Duffy)
• "Punks, Get Off The Grass" by Edie and the Eggs
• "The Dominatrix Sleeps Tonight" by Dominatrix

[edit] External links

• 92.7 Archive - Web Portal for New York's New Music Generation!
• WLIR Website
• WLIR Screamers & Shrieks Lists
• Hockeybird.com (More History of 92.7 WLIR)