Dancin' To The Beat of An Alternative Drum

lished by MetroBooks in 1995." BY Broadcasting in the shadow of all ALTERNATIVE those huge New York City stations, EDITOR including rock -friendly WXRK, is RICHARD SANDS behind Cee's strategy of dropping the guitar-edge. "I've had to find a niche, but the niche can't be too ARTIST PROFILE Once upon a time this "format" con- narrow because that would only sisted of about seven or eight com- produce narrow results. So we're Single: "Peace Not Greed and snow scenes they captured the atten- mercial stations and a lot of college mixing sniff like Vertical Horizon, Album: High Society tion of Capitol Records and collaborated on "BN," Label: Capitol the release their first album, Royal Highness. stations. That was No Doubt, and Moby in Not just another punk -rap confection, the The album includes such memorable tracks Before Nirvana. with Bob Marley Vs. Kottonmouth Kings' as "Bong Tokin' Since Cobain, the sta- Funkstar Deluxe, Puler new album, High Alcoholics" and tions have evolved into a Heller, Eyes Cream, and Society, proves that "Suburban Life," which more and more rock -dri- Alice Deejay. No other sta- these dry -mouthed was featured on the ven format. One of the tion in the area is offering boys are at the top of Scream 2 soundtrack early pioneers-way BN- such a mix. We position their game. Their sin- (Capitol). To support the is Long Island's WLIR WLIR as 'Long Island's gle, "Peace Not album, KMK toured (which would later be - Best Music' and concen- Greed," is a bass - with Insane Clown Gary Cee come WDRE before finally trate on super -serving thumping punk -rock Posse but were subse- reverting to the original calls in ditty about the legal- quently kicked off due Nassau -Suffolk. We rarely venture to ization of marijuana. to "excessive drug use, 1996). Manhattan for promotions." The Orange County rowdiness, and inciting WLIR is still doing things its own The guitar -playing bachelor who outfit began in 1994 riotous behavior." way, and stirring things up. lives in Queens is well aware of the when Brad () Their new album, Apparently, since the station doesn't station's history. "WLIR has a super- the former frontman o High Society, is due focus on rock, another trade publi- rich heritage. Listeners are always Humble Gods, discov- June 27 and features cation recently "decertified" 'LIR as reminding me that they came of age ered the tag -team from Cypress an Alternative sta- WLIR Sample Hour listening to WLIR, rhyming abilities of Hill as well as ex -tour- tion. I decided it was 11 p.m, Friday, June 9 so sure, you feel Steve (Saint Vicious) and Dustin (D-Loc). ing partners . The band time to check in with obligated to carry After the addition of DJ Bobby B, who recently split with Saint Vicious and added Nine Days - "Absolutely" PD Gary Cee to find But brought a punk and hip -hop flavor to the longtime friends Jonny Richter and Lou Dog. London Suede - "Everything Will Flow" the torch. the

group, KMK recruited "visual assassin" Despite their illicit pastime, KMK is serious out what's up in Sugar Ray - "Falls Apart" station must contin- Pakelika, their white -masked robotic dancer. about forging their own, if smoky, path. As Arbitron market =18. The Smiths - "How Soon Is Now?" ue to evolve. You - "Move Your Body" Their first release was the 1998 EP on Brad X states, "With each record the vision "Getting kicked off Eiffel 65 simply can't rest on Marcy Playground - "Sex and Candy" their own Suburban Noize label, poignantly of the Kings gets more and more clear. The that Alternative pa- heritage." Eminem - "The Real Slim Shady" titled, Stoners Reeking Havoc. After gaining message is one of breaking down barriers nel was upsetting. Still, the tem ta- Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Scar Tissue" popularity in the underground skate, surf, that society has built." -Kathleen Richards and I'm still ticked Vertical Horizon - "Everything You Want" tion must be great to

about it," Cee tells Zombie Nation - "Kemkraft 400 (The Chant Song)" bring hack some of WHAT A TURD. Not me, adding. "GAVIN, Smashmouth - "Walkin' On The Sun" the past, isn't it? SR -71 - "Right Now" often you get to and a few others "Well, in the ruid- Garbage - "Special" write that word. have a real grasp on '80s, we referredI to But whenever what the format is all about." How the station as the 'World Famous Mancow is in the exactly, then, does Cee define what WLIR,' so I've recently brought that house, you've got a his station does? "We're Alternative, back. And Malibu Sue, the dean of good shot at it. but with a pop -dance edge. It cer- our airstaff hosts the morning show. Here's Turd (far tainly is a return to the dawn of the Plus Larry the Duck, another '80s sta- left) from format, which excluded heavy rock," ple, hosts our Sunday morning show. Mancow's Morning Ironically, Cee, a Long Island I use the heritage whenever I can but Madhouse hanging native and graduate of NYU, actual- I certainly don't solely rely on it." out with Everclear ly has a hit of a hard rockin' hack - I noted to Cee that from looking at at the Q-101 ground. Doubly odd, when you con- the music logs (see box), WLIR Jamboree 2000. sider that the station has gained its reminds me of the way Alternative is Q jock Yep, Sludge Second from the left, -101's afternoon Sludge. and recent infamy for eschewing the gui- used to be-vibey and cool. Turd. Who says Alternative isn't a high-class format? tar -driven sound that is the staple at Couldn't you make an argument that most Alternative stations. "I was the `LIR is the true "Alternative?" editor at Circus, which is a heavy "Absolutely," Cee answers, before metal mag, from 1985 to 1994, but I quickly adding, "Ratings -wise, it's Eminem/Dido "Stan" (Interscope) joined this station in 1991 to host still too early to tell how this Mest "What's the Dillio?" (Maverick) DRE After Dark," says Cee, who has approach is working, but from a 77eß - Disturbed "Stupify" (Giant) also used his writing skills else- enue standpoint, I can tell you that Little Red Rocket "California" (Monolyth) where. "Yeah, well, I wrote a coffee Mike and Charlie's "I Get Live" (Fatboy Slim remix) (Regal) WLIR is on track to having its best table hook called Classic Rock, pub - month [June] ever."

40 gavin pute 16, 2000

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