How many years did you work at KISW? From 1987 to 1997
What position(s) did you work at KISW? Everything but middays and mornings (although I was the primary fill-in for Bob Rivers)
What are your three greatest memories at KISW? The first thing that comes to mind was being in the Tri-Cities for the Hydro Races, and being able to call back to the studio to report that the "Miss Rock" actually WON A RACE! Granted it was only a qualifying heat, but using "Miss Rock" and "won" in the same sentence (and watching the excitement from the crew and fans on the riverbank) was pretty cool.
Next, I'd have to say the "Rock and the Environment" nationwide broadcast from the KISW studios on Rockline was pretty amazing. Hanging out with members of almost all the major Seattle bands, as we worked together for a great cause, was pretty incredible.
Finally, I'd have to say the day the city of Edmonds (my hometown) named a street after me . . . for a day. What started as a goof on the air, actually turned into a "thing". The mayor issued a proclamation, we did a live broadcast, the guys from Sweet Water came down and were the "Official Street Musicians of Jon Ballard Avenue" . . . the whole thing was pretty surreal.
What's a story you couldn't tell people back in the day? At the first Nudestock, there was a guy badgering me all day, trying to swap a weekend with his wife for a pair of (I think) Melissa Etheridge tickets. He was relentless. I'm pretty sure his wife had no idea she was being offered as a bargaining chip. And, keep in mind, all of this was happening while naked. Strange days, indeed.
What band were you most proud to bring to a bigger audience? One of my favorite things about being at KISW during that period was the fact that we championed local bands. Some went on to become international superstars, while others just became superstars in their hometown. For every Alice in Chains, there was a Sweet Water, Bathtub Gin, and Second Coming. It was a great time to be part of the Seattle music community.
How has Seattle changed the most? The best way I can describe it is . . . Seattle has "grown up". Being born and raised there, we never thought of it as being a "big city". It was just "downtown". Then it's started making all those "Most Livable Cities" lists, and word got out. Granted, I left in 1997, but the times I've been back, it just doesn't seem like the vibe is as welcoming. Don't get me wrong, I'd move back there in a second (if I could afford it), but it's a full on "big city" now, with all that that entails.
What's something you never thought you'd see? Life after 40? And yet, here we are . . .
What's your best memory of meeting a rock star? It's especially poignant, given recent events, but I remember going backstage with a group of listeners to meet Van Halen. One girl in the group was so excited, she froze . . . literally couldn't move. So Eddie walked over, put his arm around her, whispered something in her ear that made her laugh, and then walked her over to meet the rest of the band. That always stayed with me, because a LOT of artists wouldn't have taken the time or been as cool with someone in that situation. RIP EVH.
Who was your best friend at the station back in the day? Oh, jeez . . . we were like family. It was like having a bunch of really cool (or weird) relatives who helped take care of you, and called you out on your B.S. when your head got too big. But above all, I'd have to say I was closest to Cathy Faulkner. We had shifts adjacent to each other for years . . . and sometimes our "handoffs" were the stuff of legend. We would be laughing so hard, we couldn't finish the break.
Name a KISW band you still love! Jeez . . . that's like asking "Who's your favorite kid?" I can't tell you their name, but their initials are A-C-D-C (with apologies to Slaton for borrowing his line).
Favorite concert from your time at KISW? Easy . . . Pearl Jam's "A Drop in the Park". It's was a long-ass day, but the show, and the fact that everyone was able to get together and pull it off without any major catastrophes, made for a pretty special event.
What was your most memorable band interview? I'd been warned that The Replacements were a really tough interview, so I brought a cooler of beer into the studio ( I THINK I cleared it with management), hit "record" on the reel to reel, and we talked and drank for almost an hour. Unfortunately, I lost the audio from that interview a few years ago. It'd be cool to hear that again.
