From its humble beginnings to its impact on the music scene, here are some crazy facts about WLIR radio station that showcase its unique journey.
- WLIR, originally established in 1959 as a classical music station, underwent a significant transformation in the 1970s, evolving into a pioneering force in alternative and new wave music
- The station originally broadcast from studios at the Garden City Hotel
- WLIR played a crucial role in introducing American audiences to emerging British and European bands, such as The Cure, Depeche Mode, and The Smiths, as well as promoting local New York acts like The Ramones
- The station's commitment to supporting innovative and diverse musical styles set it apart from traditional radio stations, earning it a dedicated and passionate fan base
- WLIR was founded in 1959 by John Rieger as an AM station
- According to one historical account, “by the early ‘70’s most New York ‘Progressive Rock’ stations had already evolved into the safer ‘album oriented rock’ format when WLIR-FM switched from ‘beautiful music’ to rock in 1970”
- “DJ’s played pretty much anything they liked and were not hampered by playlists, formats, corporations, sponsors, or arbitrons.”
- The historical site says that, “Adelphi University student and part time announcer Michael Harrison convinced owner John Rieger to take a chance as the station wasn’t making money and no one was listening anyway.”
- Early Program Director Ken Kohl said, “LIR was about the music and the alienation of being 20 years old on Long Island in the 70’s.”
- As other stations increasingly played album-oriented rock, WLIR deviated from the prevailing trend by embracing the growing popularity of punk rock and new wave music genres, which were being overlooked by other rock stations in the United States
- The tagline of WLIR was "Dare to Be Different"
- DJ Steve North was the first to report on the death of John Lenon on December 8, 1980
- A police sergeant confirmed to North on the phone that the gunshot victim was John Lennon and that the former Beatle had been murdered
- According to North, “I repeated what the cop had just told me, thereby becoming the first—according to many who were monitoring various radio and TV stations that night—to confirm the death of John Lennon.”
- Pioneering New Wave: The station played a pivotal role in introducing the term "new music" (later known as "new wave") to the American audience, playing a significant part in the genre's ascent in the United States.
- Introduction of New Wave: The station introduced the term "new music" (later "new wave") to the American audience, contributing to the rise of this genre in the United States
- According to Newsday, “From a ramshackle penthouse studio perched atop a Garden City building, WLIR would become the nation's first and for years only U.S. radio station to air U2, The Cure, The Smiths, and Duran Duran.”
- The station also introduced America to Billy Idol
- In the 1980s they introduced the “Screamers of the Week,” the best new song voted on by listeners
- Beloved DJs on the station included Malibu Sue, Larry "The Duck" Dunn, and Donna Donna
- In 1987 the call letters were changed to WDRE
- After going off the airwaves, WLIR found new life as an internet radio station, continuing to showcase alternative music to a global audience
- A documentary titled "Dare to Be Different" chronicles WLIR's impact on music and pop culture during its heyday
- You can follow everything new and old at WLIR/WDRE online here