FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
In 1996, Hellbound’s Sean Palmerston was offered the chance to do the first ever in-person North American radio interview with Quorthon, leader and visionary behind legendary Swedish black metal act Bathory. They also went out for dinner together beforehand, and here are Sean’s memories of that fateful night some seventeen years ago, shared in public for the first time since.
When CKLN went off the air, I had it in the back of my mind that I’d be willing to get back into online radio at some point. However, it had to be under the right set of circumstances. I was looking for a station that specialized in stoner/sludge/doom with an open timeslot before most people went to bed. Fortunately, I found it. The first episode of Gruesome Tunes airs tomorrow at 6 pm!
If you were paying attention, you would’ve noticed that TooHighToGetItRight.com went offline last weekend. I don’t know the exact time of death, but I cancelled my hosting plan on Saturday morning before hopping on a bus to Rochester. It was still online when I left, but not when I got back, so there ya go. RIP THTGIR, 2007-2011. That said, you haven’t seen the last of me yet…
They say all things must come to pass, but lately, they’ve been passing like a 300-pounder with a spastic colon passes gas. First, there was the mysterious disappearance of StonerRock.com, the website that every heavy rock site aspired to be. Then, the off-again, on-again, off-the-air CKLN saga, which led to the end of Smokin’ Green and influenced my decision not to renew my domain. Accept tribute bands take note: as of August 26, 2011, TooHighToGetItRight.com will be up for grabs.
April 15, 2011 was the day the music died. At 6:45 pm, without any warning, CKLN 88.1 fm was taken off the air, ending 28 years of community radio programming–five and a half for yours truly.
I should mention that the station continues to broadcast online, and will do so for the foreseeable future (which might not be too long). And while I’m pretty convinced that I’ll be walking away, I’ve got some unfinished business to attend to first. Tonite is the 100th episode of Smokin’ Green, est. 2008, RIP 2011.
Although I took to the airwaves last weekend facing the very real possibility that I could be doing so for the last time, I did so also knowing that CKLN was planning to request a stay of the CRTC’s decision, pending our request to the federal court of appeals to hear the case.
Alas, twas well after 4 pm yesterday when I finally got the news. Request granted. We’re on the air–but not in the clear, by any stretch.
It’s been a week since I first heard the news–after 28 years on the air, mostly without incident, the CRTC revoked CKLN’s broadcasting licence effective February 12th, end of broadcast day. Having been a part of the station since 2005, this news did not sit well with me. Hell, it still doesn’t. If the ruling is upheld, I’d officially be the first DJ to go off the air.
There comes a time every year when I must do so: CKLN’s Fundfest. If you can kick in a couple bucks to keep Smokin’ Green on the air and Keep the Sabbath Dream Alive, I’d greatly appreciate it.