Dom Nola, former bFM Programme & Music Director, discusses her time at 95bFM from the mid-80s to early 90s. During her time at 95bFM Dom was also the manager of Flying Nun's NRA and later The Jean Paul Sartre Experience. She was the co-producer of the first syndicated New Zealand music radio programme called Crashhot, which aired on the B.Net, & on College Radio Stations throughout the U.S.A. Currently, Dom owns an indie label - & since 2013 became one of the Co-Hosts of the 95 BFM Jazz Show. Dom also enjoys DJing around town, & babysitting visiting rockstars. (Episode 1)
Could somebody with a background in commercial radio make it in the murky world of 95bFM without being laughed out of the building? Bill did. After radio experience in Whangarei, Hamilton, and Belfast in Northern Ireland, Bill arrived at bFM as Production Engineer, moved across to being Program Director during the mid-90s boom time, and was the breathing news radio voice of Vas Deferens. (Episode 17, Parts 1-2 of 2)
Greg Wood 1992 to 1997, Scott Kelly 1994 to 2000 Scott Kelly and Greg Wood were primarily 95bFM "creatives" -- ie they wrote advertisements -- but their contribution went much further. Sometimes too far. They were co-creators of "the fart bank" and "the fart button", and along with "Mystery Celebrity", were hosts of the reasonably-long-running and decidedly average radio show, "The Friday Night Allen". In this episode, you can hear examples of their (ahem) "work", a classic News injection from Vas Deferens, and they ask, "Do you like chicken?" (Episode 35, Parts 1-3 of 3)
Stuart was the sales representative for the short-lived 95bFM magazine Monitor, which succeeded the mid-80s incarnation as The Book of Bifim. He went on to be the manager of such 90s bFM stalwarts as Supergroove, Semi Lemon Kola and Thorazine Shuffle, as well as founding the AK venue now kniown as the Dog's Bollix. (Episode 20, Parts 1-2 of 2)
Chris Esther was part of the post-punk generation which transformed Radio b in the early 1980s. He steered the New Zealand Music Show into a territory where what he played was an accurate reflection of a new breed of young musicians, and became the programme director at the age of 19. He was also a co-conspirator in Auckland's first rave, Housequake. (Episode 36, Part 1-3 of 3)
Simon Grigg was involved in Radio b from 1975 until 2002. During that time, he started NZ's first punk group the Suburban Reptiles, launched Propeller Records, was instrumental in this nation's club and DJ culture, took How Bizarre to the world - and even turned down opportunities to license both Factory Records and Stock Aitken & Waterman. He hosted the long-running BPM show, introducing hip-hop, house and techno to the b airwaves. Finally, he reveals the truth: between 1977 and 1980, b was so conservative that NO punk or post-punk was on the airwaves. (Episode 21 Simon Grigg Parts 1-2 of 2)
How do! Murray was the host of Land of the Good Groove between 1983 and 1993, playing classic soul, modern soul & funk, & early hip-hop at a time when b's airwaves were biased towards music that did not emanate from those streets on that side of the Atlantic. Amongst his many towering achievements, Murray introduced the "continuous mix" to NZ, and of course, the reason had something to do with food. (Episode 37, Partis 1-3 of 3)
Roy The Lawyer had "a voice like gravel" to "save you from the gavel". Campbell Smith does not. In this episode, he reveals why; and discusses how 95bFM was his entry into the music biz where he now heads RIANZ, brings the Big Day Out to Auckland, and has offices that nobody breaks the toilet or hits anybody with ironing boards. (Episode 22 Parts 1-2 of 2)
Peter Urlich (1986; 1993 to 2001, 2008 to present) and Bevan Keys (1995 to 2001). I'll never forget whats-is-name...Peter Urlich & Bevan Keys inspired an entire radio station based solely on their Sat AM show, issued 3 mega-selling compilation CDs that made it as far as the Egyptian desert, sold out parties nationwide, and peculiarly enough are two of the most pleasant and level-headed individuals in radio. Peter currently hosts Bright & Urlich after becoming a multi-media sensation; while Bevan is no longer a boxer. (Episode 38, Parts 1-3 of 3)
When you think of an archetypal bFM DJ in the late 80s and early 90s, you think of a character very much like Owen 'The Jackal' Harris; a dedicated musical omnivore who would go hungry rather than pass up on buying records. Buying LOTS of records. Owen also was partly responsible for the world's first-ever documentary series on Split Enz, as well as frequently hosting The "surprise" and "special" parts of 95bFM programming, focusing on one artist, label, or era. He has been a resident of the USA this century, where he works for the space program (we think). (Episode 23 Parts 1-2 of 2)
95bFM 
