Signing on in 1946 as the FM adjunct to WHK, the WMMS call letters were affixed in 1968 under Metromedia ownership, having stood for "MetroMedia Stereo" and meant as a compliment to the newly established progressive rock format, but have since taken on a variety of other meanings. [114] BuzzardFest II was held the very next fall (September 1995) again at Blossom and featured performances from the Goo Goo Dolls, Alanis Morissette, Jewel, as well as the Dance Hall Crashers, Eleven, Green Apple Quick Step, Prick and Sons of Elvis. The WMMS Mushroom Logo can be seen a few times throughout the movie - During a backstage scene at the Music Hall right before Stillwater takes the stage and when groupie Penny Lane played by Kate Hudson is dancing alone in the empty venue - you can see a banner with the Mushroom Logo and the slogan Where The Music Means Something. Date unknown. Being one of the highest-rated radio stations in the country, he became the afternoon drive DJ in 1974, all the way until December of 1988 - which he then decided to part pays with Cleveland. Kid Leo interviews David Lee Roth, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony before their show at the Richfield Colesium. [151] In addition to the live broadcast, the show is available on demand through iHeartRadio; and can be downloaded as a podcast through iTunes. . A major contributor to the ratings success was an airstaff that remained fundamentally unchanged for many years: personalities like Kid Leo, Jeff & Flash, Matt the Cat, Dia Stein, Denny Sanders, Murray Saul, Debbie Ullman, Betty "Crash" Korvan, Ruby Cheeks (Debra Luray), BLF Bash (Bill Freeman), TR (Tom Renzy) and the late Len "Boom" Goldberg were invaluable to the station's popularity. Sat, Aug 27, 6:30 PM + 2 more events. They were rewarded with a night that they would remember for the rest of their lives. With content being supplied by journalists and WMMS personnel, it was the perfect companion to what WMMS was doing on air at the time with a focus on the new bands and artists of the alternative music era. This second show sold out immediately, and was held at the city's largest venue: Cleveland Public Hall.[63]. Outdoor events nearby. Jeff & Flash were also credited as being major contributors in bringing the Rock Hall to Cleveland, by heavily promoting on-air a USA Today reader poll to decide which city should get it.[82]. On March 30, 1946,[50] radio station WHK owned at that time by United Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of Forest City Publishing, itself the parent company of The Plain Dealer launched an experimental FM station under the callsign W8XUB at 107.1 megahertz (MHz). There's proof! DJ additions included station engineer Ric Bennett as "Rocco the Rock Dog,"[86] Scooter (WMMS music director Brad Hanson), former WRQC nighttime Personality and later WNCX Afternoon Drive and Production Director, Tom "Jack" Daniels (who returned to the Cleveland airwaves after a successful stint as Program Director of WLEV, Allentown, PA), Lisa Dillon[86] and station veteran Matt the Cat,[86] (who returned to the midday slot in 1990 after a two-year absence.) [171][173][174], For the Bath, Maine, radio station which identified as WMMS from 1957 to 1964, see, "This radio station is known for breaking the rules, changing the game, and being successful. Matt was part of the early days at Cleveland State Universitys radio operation that only broadcast to the cafeteria, but soon after he got in on the ground floor of WMMS during its eventual transition to the Buzzard. "Round for round, pound for pound, there ain't no finer band around. . Features Breaker s original line-up and is their only official live recording to date. Quiet Riot played 11 songs. R.E.M. Stern's ratings exploded and this along with a growing urgency from management not to compete with or mention Stern on the air led to a sudden and steep ratings decline for The Buzzard Morning Zoo. Moms to be participated in the bikini contest for a chance to win $1,000. Additionally, Rover was the Midwest replacement for Howard Stern under CBS's Free FM branding concept following Stern's move to Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006, originating from Chicago's WCKG. [170][171][172], WMMS has also served as the FM flagship station for the Cleveland Guardians Radio Network since 2013, again sharing network flagship status with AM sister station WTAM. Rolling Stone Magazine conducted a yearly Readers Poll to which WMMS won Best Radio Station of the Year nine years in a row from 1979 to 1987. : Michael K. McIntyre's Tipoff", "Cleveland radio personality Chad Zumock no longer working at WMMS after OVI arrest", "Bo Matthews to Program Cleveland's New 99X", "Bo Matthews Named VP Of Programming For CCM+E-Cincinnati", "Cavaliers and iHeartMedia Announce AM/FM Simulcast", "Cavs and Monsters Announce Multi-Year Extensions of Radio Broadcast Agreements", "As a reminder, we cannot stream @Cavs or @Indians on the Internet or via the @iHeartRadio app", "Nope - you'll want to grab the exclusive NBA Game Time app for that", "No, but you can listen free online w/ NBA Audio League Pass or paid w/ the NBA League Pass app", "Cleveland Indians, WTAM AM/1100 reach 5-year deal to broadcast games", "Cleveland Indians, WTAM, WMMS reach multiyear deal to carry games through (at least) 2023", "Per MLB rules we are not allowed to stream games", "MLB At Bat app only for streaming audio", "Streaming? [51], Among the most notorious broadcasts of The Howard Stern Show occurred on June 10, 1994. Hometown punk heroes the Dead Boys' played the Agora in 1977 on a bill with the Dictators and a young Cheap Trick. Cleveland Police briefly detained Ky-Mani Marley after the singer threatened Rover for comments made during an April 20, 2010 in-studio interview. ', Rip It Up and Start Again: Postpunk 19781984, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WMMS&oldid=1137903859, The Cleveland Plaza/Statler Office Tower (now, This page was last edited on 7 February 2023, at 00:47. The band featured Eddie Vedder (trying to remain lowkey) as the drummer, who was helping out his then wife and bassist Bethe Liebling. The second logo, first one in print, used by WMMS was the Tongue Logo. 11-09-22 AN coffee break concert 5-26-82 ENCORE 99 [107][108][109][110], During this time, WMMS held a series of sold-out rock festivals that featured many of the new up-and-coming artists receiving station airplay. At Bat only for streaming", "iHeart does not stream Indians games. Check out our coffee break concert selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. The band's set included two songs from its debut EP, including "Wolves, Lower" and "Gardening at Night.". In November 1972, WMMS was sold to Malrite Communications, a Michigan-based firm that relocated to Cleveland upon purchase. The WMMS morning show Dick Dale & Rick hosted the event. typify the show's irreverent style. The short-lived music magazine featured a diverse mix of interviews, opinion pieces, album reviews, Buzzard playlists, concert listings and photos from station events. [129][130] Radio & Records twice named WMMS "Rock Station of the Year: Markets 1-25" (200506) as part of the now defunct publication's annual Industry Achievement Awards. On November 11, 1948,[54] the station adopted the callsign WHK-FM. [71], From the onset, Helton's streamlined artwork resulted in an aggressive, yet family-friendly symbol for the station, one that continues to endure more than 40 years later. [98][101] Gorman brought back the original Buzzard design, now drawn by David Helton's successor Brian Chalmers. 19 Concerts. He gave many new up and coming artists exposure and put them on the map to their road to stardom. Perhaps the most famous show at the Agora not involving Bruce Springsteen. - The original source tape was cut short, therefore the final two minutes of track 14 (normally 3:01 in length) is missing. Brian and Joe talk to Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20. [58][59] During this time, WMMS used slogans derived from its call sign: first as "Music Means Satisfaction", and later as the place "Where Music Means Something". All rights reserved (About Us). No. The broadcast consists entirely of talk, a mix of current events, pop culture, and stories from the staff. [33][34], Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, WMMS had a stable of personalities that remained fundamentally unchanged,[26][27] attained a dominant market share in the local ratings[27][35][36][37] and posted market record-high figures "never duplicated by any other Cleveland radio station since. [140] The Maxwell Show gradually evolved from airing mostly music to all talk, with Maxwell joined by WMMS music director Dan Stansbury and Tiffany "Chunk" Peck, the program's phone screener. [39][40] Noted filmmakers, including Cameron Crowe (Almost Famous) and Paul Schrader (Light of Day), have called on both TheBuzzard and its personnel while preparing for various rock-themed productions. [161][162] The House of Hair with Dee Snider also airs on Sunday evenings. [124], Following Jacor's takeover, WMMS ran a "Death of the Buzzard" month-long stunt in October 1998. The year 1988 was a weird stretch for Neil Young. The call letters WMMS stand for "MetroMedia Stereo". WMMS Coffee Break Concert 5-26-1982 Encore Host Denny Sanders Statesboro Blues . Todd Rundgren and the Agora will be forever connected, as Rundgren recorded part of his live album, "Back to the Bars," there while touring in support of "Utopia" in 1978. Boom also spent time on the Buzzard Morning Zoo and filled in during other air shifts. Metallica had yet to release "Ride the Lightning," but there was no denying the power of its 1983 Agora show. This feature ran at the exact moment of the KSU shootings twenty years later. [95], Already program director at OmniAmerica station WMJI, station veteran John Gorman returned to WMMS as vice-president and director of operations in early 1994. Dead & Company. He joined the station in early 1972 before its sale to Malrite, and stayed in different capacities until 2004. Other stations carried their birthday show. Official Post from melodicrock. It was in use in 1971 but was discontinued after the band the Rolling Stones issued a cease and desist order against MetroMedia for it resemblance to their logo. Play-by-play announcers Tom Hamilton and Jim Rosenhaus call games on-site. Springsteen and the band hit the stage full throttle, opening appropriately with a cover of "Summertime Blues," with Springsteen promising, "I'm a gonna raise a fuss/ I'm a gonna raise a holler.". [102], While the change in programming alienated many longtime listeners, many of whom switched to WNCX and their full-time classic rock format, WMMS boosted its ratings for the first time in years with a new, younger audience. Copyright - OceanWP Theme by Nick Close Menu Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. No Doubt performed Buzzard Fest on May 18, 1996. Some 2,000 people showed up to see AC/DC, then a hard-rock act still on the rise. Under Malrite ownership, WMMS would become an album-oriented rock (AOR) powerhouse, much in the same vein as its former MetroMedia progressive rock siblings. ", It's a snapshot of one of the most important all-female rock bands at their peak. On May 4, 1970 four students were killed by gunfire from the Ohio National Guard at Kent State University. Mr. Leonard, the self proclaimed assistant public service director made appearances on the Buzzard Morning Zoo for many years. Prince did show up and hopped on stage to perform with Sheila E. Lauper was becoming one of the biggest stars in music in 1983. [141] Maxwell was known for having feuds with other radio personalities during the show's time at WMMS, including Rover of Rover's Morning Glory and fellow WTAM afternoon host Mike Trivisonno; by 2009, Maxwell had become the number one afternoon program in several key demographics. [68][69][70] WMMS also began referring to its frequency in promotions as "101 FM", a rounding-off which continued for the next decade. [117] BuzzardFest 2000 was held on June 30, 2000, at the Nautica Stage; Stone Temple Pilots, performing in Cleveland for the first time in six years, headlined the event.[118]. John Gorman and Denny Sanders left the station in fall of 1986, leading fourteen staff members with them to start rival station WNCX. [26][38][39][75][76][77], The World Series of Rock was a recurring, day-long and usually multi-act summer rock concert held outdoors at Cleveland Municipal Stadium from 1974 through 1980. EC horror comics, Fritz the Cat, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Looney Tunes all served as inspirations for the "bird of prey with attitude" concept. Warren Zevon, John Mellencamp, Lou Reed, Tim Buckley, Peter Frampton, and a host of others performed on the program over the years, recordings of which are still widely available as bootlegs. Attendance was by general admission. Until Aug 20, 2022. [41] WMMS also lured popular morning personalities Brian Fowler and Joe Cronauer away from rival WENZthen also an alternative rock stationas the successors to Jeff and Flash (Jeff Kinzbach, Ed Ferenc) on The Buzzard Morning Zoo. In 1986, following a fire, the venue found its new home on Euclid Avenue. Her first major headlining tour, in support of "Shes So Unusual," came to the Agora, where Lauper delivered a 12-song set. In May 1994, Trent Reznor came home in support of his epic "The Downward Spiral" album. [112] WMMS scheduled a second Green Day performance just two months later this time at Blossom Music Center and at a near-record-low cost of $5 per ticket, the station gave fans a "second chance" to see the band live. But both were to feature Steve Van Zandt. Rolling Stone named WMMS "Best Radio Station" (Large Market) nine straight years (197987) as part of the magazine's annual Readers' Poll,[26] but the station admitted to stuffing the 1987 ballot following a February 1988 front-page story in The Plain Dealer exposing manipulation. [47][93] Stern continued on with the program over a phone line as engineers worked to quickly patch together the severed broadcast wire. . [103] Despite signs of success, the stations were sold again in 1996: WMMS went to Nationwide Communications,[105] while WHK went to Salem Communications. WMMS Coffee Break Concert, The Agora, Cleveland 1982 by Michael Stanley Band (Bootleg): Reviews, Ratings, Credits, Song list - Rate Your Music Black Friday Sale: 30% off yearly subscriptions for first-time subscribers WMMS Coffee Break Concert, The Agora, Cleveland 1982 Rate/Catalog --- Catalog Set listening Tags Review Track ratings 1 Issue Smith's 1976 performance came right as punk was taking off and featured her famous live recording of The Who's "My Generation. Right up until his departure in 1988, Kid Leo played "Born to Run" as his signature sign-off song every Friday night at 5:55 to kick off the weekend for area listeners. WMMS also airs The Week in Cox, a weekly recap show on Sunday mornings. The Alan Cox Show is rated #1 in several key demographics, and readers of Cleveland Scene named Alan Cox the best Cleveland radio personality four straight years (201013). Yes, the station had lost its way for a bit, but MMS was the standard. Alex Bevam is a folk singer from the Cleveland OH area who is best known for the song "Skinny Little Boy From Cleveland Ohio". [35] The fall 1998 Arbitron books showed WMMS with a substantial increase in listeners; Plain Dealer radio critic Roger Brown commented, "the scam worked" claiming it drove people to listen to the station again for what was supposedly the format's final days. No Doubt shared the 2 stage show at Blossom with Candlebox, Patti Rothberg, The Tragically Hip, 311, and the Holy Barbarians. Needless to say, for health reasons, this contest changed the way promotions were done going forward at WMMS. . Jack and Meg played 22 songs with an encore capped by "Seven Nation Army.". The Coffee Break Concerts Roadies n Rockstars 1.58K subscribers Subscribe 0 1 view 3 minutes ago Growing up in Cleveland the local radio station WMMS would put on free shows during the week. Listeners signed up to participate in the contest What would you do for $5,000 which took place at Dicks Last Resort on the Flats East Bank. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band!" One day a co-worker overheard him ranting in the halls of the radio station and got the idea to feature him on the air with a salute to the weekend. The debut issue of Buzzard Bone, arrived in September of 1995 and featured the brand new Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the cover story, with an article tracing the history of the museum, which had its grand opening that same month. [97][98][99][100] To emphasize this change, WMMS was re-branded and aggressively promoted as "Buzzard Radio: The Next Generation", a reference to the success of Star Trek: The Next Generation and its continuation of the Star Trek franchise. In 1973 WMMS unveiled a new logo The Mushroom. Benatar had just released her soon-to-be massive success of a debut, In the Heat of the Night." All we're doing is shifting an image. What puts the show over the top is David Bowie backing Iggy on keyboard. Ida Lee Park. "[66][67] Although never used on the air, listeners alternately knew the callsign as an acronym for "Weed Makes Me Smile" and "Magic MushroomS," the latter referencing the somewhat controversial logo used before the Buzzard. In 1988 The Plain Dealer printed a story which said the employees of WMMS had stuffed the ballot box to reign as 10 year champions. Candlebox headlined the 2 stage show at Blossom Music Center on May 18, 1996. During this time, WMMS also began broadcasting a remarkable number of live concerts, many of which originated in Cleveland and were produced by the station itself. I love all tracks and dialog Colt 00:00 / 05:01 Digital Album Streaming + Download One lucky WMMS listener won a Harley Davidson signed by Sammy Hagar! There were other really good rock stations around, but those other stations opted in to carry the live broadcast of the MMS birthday show (in 1978). WMMS' decline culminated on April 14, 1994, with the high-profile departure of Jeff Kinzbach, effectively ending "Jeff & Flash" on WMMS (Ferenc would leave the station several weeks later; both would pair up again at WWWE). "[83] Negative reaction was swift and widespread;[44][45] some called the scheme a mere "lack of judgement,"[44] while a reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal compared the station's response to that of discredited former Vice-president Spiro Agnew.[84]. The concert series continued on well into the 1990s and early 2000s, albeit much less frequently.[64][65]. [139], Bo Matthews (Alex Gutierrez), who became the station's program director in early 2004, hired Ohio native Benjamin "Maxwell" Bornstein that April for a more "personality-driven" afternoon show following the departure of Tim "Slats" Guinane for WXTM. We use cookies to improve your experience using this site. Judas Priest's 1981 "World Wide Blitz Tour" was a treat for multiple reasons. Acoustic on the Green. Date Unknown, William Lionel Freeman, better known by the name of his long time overnight show, "The BLF Bash" began his radio career in Fargo and later landed on the east coast in Boston. A federal offense, the act nearly cost WMMS its broadcasting license. [34], Loveline, Westwood One's nationally syndicated call-in show hosted by Dr. Drew, aired weeknights from August 2008 through June 2010. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. . While both Rover and Alan Cox are primarily "hot talk" programs, rock music airs during regular middays, nights, overnights, weekends and online during Cavaliers and Guardians play-by-play. The live recordings would make up his most popular album, "StagePass.". [163] The station hosts two additional HD Radio subchannels: WMMS-HD2 is the Cleveland affiliate for the Black Information Network, [136][164], WMMS airs regular traffic and weather updates via the Total Traffic and Weather Network and former sister station WOIO (TV channel 19),[165] and the station satisfies U.S. Federal Communications Commission-mandated public affairs programming on Sunday mornings with the City Club of Cleveland's Friday Forum.