Longtime L.A. DJ Jim Ladd Dies At 75

Above, Jim Ladd.

If one grew up in Los Angeles during the years of "underground radio" and "progressive rock radio", a huge piece of that youth is now gone.

DJ Jim Ladd died yesterday at age 75 from a sudden heart attack.

Ladd was a practicioner of "freeform" radio and played what he wanted thematically, not some pre-programmed canned junk station "suits" wanted. He was a popular DJ on stations KMET and KLOS.

I enjoyed listening to his radio shows during my work night shifts, particularly when he played sets of The Doors and had Doors' keyboardist Ray Manzarak on as a guest.

Deadline reported:

Jim Ladd, the longtime Los Angeles FM deejay known as “The Lonesome L.A. Cowboy” who had hosted a SiriusXM show for 12 years and was the inspiration for Tom Petty‘s album The Last DJ, died Saturday of a heart attack at his L.A. home. He was 75.

His death was announced today by fellow veteran DJ Meg Griffin, who hosted Ladd’s Deep Tracks show in his place today. Griffin said his wife Helene Lodge-Ladd had asked her to announce the news at the start of his show that aired live weekdays from 2-6 p.m. PT. It was Ladd’s first national program.

“I am so sorry for the shock that just hit you as you are listening right now,” Griffin told listeners. “He never stopped caring. He delivered the truth. He lived for the music.”

To read more, go here.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.  

To start off this week, we have the 1974 hit by Robin Trower, "Bridge of Sighs" from his album of the same name. Los Angeles progressive FM rock stations such as KMET, KROQ and KLOS played this extensively (as well as other songs from the album) and I went out and bought it. I still have it.

Trower's guitar work is often compared to Jimi Hendrix. 

From Wikipedia:

Robin Leonard Trower (born 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist who achieved success with Procol Harum throughout 1967–1971, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio known as the Robin Trower Band.

Before launching his eponymous band, he joined singer Frankie Miller, ex-Stone the Crows bassist/singer James Dewar, and former Jethro Tull drummer Clive Bunker to form the short-lived combo Jude. This outfit did not record and soon split up.

Trower retained Dewar as his bassist, who took on lead vocals as well, and recruited drummer Reg Isidore (later replaced by Bill Lordan) to form the Robin Trower Band in 1973. In 1974, the group released Bridge of Sighs.This album, along with his first and third solo albums, was produced by his former Procol Harum bandmate, organist Matthew Fisher. His early power trio work was noted for Jimi Hendrix influences. Trower is an influential guitarist who has inspired other guitar legends such as Robert Fripp, who praised him for his string bending and the quality of his sounds, and took lessons from him.

Trower is still active today. 

Beatles Trivia: Olivia Harrison

Above, George and Olivia Harrison circa 1978.

Since today is Sunday, which the KLOS-FM show, "Breakfast With The Beatles" is broadcast in L.A., a little Beatles trivia.

Above, Olivia Trinidad Arias
during her Hawthorne High days.

From the Beatles By Day blog:

George Harrison married Olivia Trinidad Arias on September 2nd 1978. 

Olivia was born on May 18, 1948 in Mexico City, Mexico. At the age of 3 her parents moved to California, where she attended Hawthorne High School in Southern California.

I also attended Hawthorne High School and graduated in 1972. I didn't get there until 1968, three years after Olivia Harrison graduated in 1965.

Olivia was Harrison's second wife. He married Pattie Boyd in 1966 and they divorced in 1977. There is an article on Pattie Boyd on her life with Harrison and Eric Clapton. To read it go here.

Above, Hawthorne High School today. Photo by Aramnd Vaquer.

KLOS-FM's Ouster of Jim Ladd

The best rock 'n roll radio show in Los Angeles ended last month with the ouster of KLOS-FM DJ Jim Ladd.

The new owners of the station abruptly fired Ladd without allowing a "farewell show." Ladd got to say his piece today on KFI-AM this afternoon.

Ladd's late-night show was a throwback to the "free form" style of rock radio of the 1960s and 1970s. Ladd would allow listeners pick the music by coming up with themes or a certain word or topic. Another popular feature of Jim Ladd's show was his weekly "Theme of Consciousness" shows.

A few weeks ago, Ladd had a remote broadcast from the legendary Whiskey A Go-Go nightclub of Alice Cooper's performance. Great stuff!

This approach apparently did not meet with the approval of the station's new owners, who prefer formulaic robotic programming with no personality or imagination.

Although Ladd is an unrepentant leftie who sings the praises of Barack Obama (which I personally find annoying), his show of classic rock 'n roll was still the best that Los Angeles FM radio had to offer.

Jim Ladd will land on his feet somewhere. I just hope the station who picks him up is in L.A.

Today's The Day!

Above, Miki with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I got about 4 hours of sleep. I was hoping for 5 hours, but two large military helicopters flew overhead, shook the house and woke me up. Rats!

The 4 hours seems to be enough (at least right now).

Monsterpalooza is poised to have a huge turnout this weekend. Last night, I heard a radio spot on KLOS-FM advertising Monsterpalooza and today, my daughter heard one on KROQ-FM. She said it sounded "pretty cool."

I just had breakfast and all I have to do is put everything in the car and await Miki Hayashi's arrival. Once she gets here, we're headed to Burbank for Monsterpalooza!