Given the dismal state of commercial radio in Cleveland today, it might be hard to fathom that there was a time when you could actually hear good new music if you flipped on the radio. WMMS was instrumental in introducing music fans to great new bands. Donna Halper, the music director at WMMS in 1974, is credited with being one of the first DJs to play the music of Rock Hall inductees Rush. She even helped the guys get a record deal. In a blog posting on Quincy, Mass.’s Patriot Ledger, she talks about being “thrilled” that the band has finally gotten its due and will be formally inducted in April. You can read the entire article here.
This article appears in Dec 12-18, 2012.
Back when ‘MMS WAS cool…Jeff and Flash would “Test” your weed for paraquat, token jokes of the morning…Coffee break concerts at the old Agora…
We worshiped that station but by 1980 they were buying votes and well…The rest is history…
Definitely great times, but when MMS sponsored/promoted The Michael Jackson concert tour, I knew they had jumped the shark!!!
@ michael….SO correct…They also jumped headfirst onto the disco bandwagon…By that time I was listening to WYSU cause they were playing punk!!
Back when I was stationed at Ft. Polk, LA. my mom used to record WMMS for me on Friday nights starting at 5p.m. on old cassette tapes and send them to me. There were no Rock Stations there and the guys were always looking forward to the next tape. In 1985 I was transferred to Germany and she recorded that year for me and then I had her stop as the music/personality of the programming had changed so drastically.
Now that I am 55 years old I understand what my Dad and Grandfather were talking about when they got nostalgic about “The Good Old Days”.
I remember seeing Rush at their first performance in Cleveland at the old Cleveland Public Auditorium. I was in the nosebleed seats, but that was OK as the band rocked out that night and I have been a fan ever since.
I have been lucky enough to have seen them here in Cleveland, Florida, Georgia, Texas and Germany. They always put on a great show. Glad they are finally being inducted.