WBCN-FM 1968 - 2009
On the night of March 15, 1968, WBCN-FM began broadcasting as "The American Revolution," with its first song being "I Feel Free," by the group Cream. At first, this new format was only heard on radios throughout Boston during the overnight hours, but in mid-May 1968, WBCN went full-time. In addition to its progressive rock format, WBCN began supporting alternative news reporting and such novel concepts as "Lock Up," a program for prison inmates, health warnings about the hazards of street drugs, a lost pet-finding service called the "Cat and Dog Report," a travelers' aid service called the "Travelers' Friend," live updates on the traffic problems at Woodstock, and by 1970, live-to-air concert broadcasts.
On the night of March 15, 1968, WBCN-FM began broadcasting as "The American Revolution," with its first song being "I Feel Free," by the group Cream. At first, this new format was only heard on radios throughout Boston during the overnight hours, but in mid-May 1968, WBCN went full-time. In addition to its progressive rock format, WBCN began supporting alternative news reporting and such novel concepts as "Lock Up," a program for prison inmates, health warnings about the hazards of street drugs, a lost pet-finding service called the "Cat and Dog Report," a travelers' aid service called the "Travelers' Friend," live updates on the traffic problems at Woodstock, and by 1970, live-to-air concert broadcasts.
Forty-one years later, on July 14, 2009, the eventual owner of WBCN, CBS, announced it would be closing the station on August 13, 2009, to help make room for an "all sports" Boston FM outlet.
This page is dedicate to the WBCN family, including all of those who worked at the station, all of those who listened to the station, and all of those who may have missed the opportunity to have heard radio that made a difference.
Send your photos, audio clips, memorabilia, news accounts, or film or video related to WBCN to LCM@LCMedia.com for inclusion in this archives, and please leave your rememberances below.
(Thanks to Dan Beach and Wikipedia.)
R.I.P., WBCN (Who Really Killed the Radio Star?)
by Charles P. Pearce, Boston Globe, August 30, 2009
by Charles P. Pearce, Boston Globe, August 30, 2009
Rebirth of WBCN on HD Radio
Sirius Buzz August 18, 2009
Sirius Buzz August 18, 2009
Charles Laquidara and Danny Schechter regarding
WBCN's closing on public radio's "Hear and Now"
August 14, 2009
WBCN's closing on public radio's "Hear and Now"
August 14, 2009
"WBCN and the American Revolution"
by Bill Lichtenstein
Huffington Post, August 11, 2008
by Bill Lichtenstein
Huffington Post, August 11, 2008
"The Glory Days of The Rock of Boston"
by Bill Lichtenstein
by Bill Lichtenstein
Boston Globe Op-Ed July 18, 2009
"RIP Big Mattress, WBCN" by Howie Carr
Boston Herald July 19, 2009
"WBCN's Glory Days" by Sarah Rodman
Boston Globe July 17, 2009
News of WBCN's Closing (YouTube)
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Bill Lichtenstein's documentary film project
Hi Bill,
Dave Wohlman checking in. I am a fellow 'BCN alumni (1978 - 1983) who grew up listening to the station from my home town of "Eastie".
I saw that some of the early crew reunited as part of the goodbye retrospective and noticed "Rocket Bob" Slavin with you in a photo. As a music hungry teenager, one of my favorites was the "Rocket Bob" show. His music selection always hit a nerve and I thought he was one of the best on the station's roster. After joining the air-staff as a part-timer and doing my share of weekend overnights, I came to realize that the late-night Saturday shift was not as prime time as I once thought it to be, but as far as I was concerned Slavin ruled! I told him the story at the WBCN reunion at the Hard Rock in Boston in 1993 and he got a big kick from my excited remembrance.
I still get an email every now and then asking about a song I played on some long forgotten show that a listener just happened to have on a cassette and it blows me away. So as a fan, I commend you on your "American Revolution" project and I'm proud to be in such company as you and "Rocket Bob".
Let me know if I can help in any way,
Dave
Posted by: Dave Wohlman | August 11, 2009 at 10:51 PM
WBCN goes off the air in August. I haven't gone near that end of the dial in decades, but at one time...
This was the station where I first heard Dr. John, Blue Cheer, The Velvet Underground, Zappa, Doo Wop and Coltrane's Love Supreme.
Charles, Mississippi, Sam Kopper, Little Walter and later Maxanne!!! Sometimes we'd hook school and go on over to watch them after they had moved to the Pru. Max was the Queen. She turned me on to Big Star, Rock n Roll Love Letter [the original by Tim Moore], New York Dolls and so much more.
Late one night, I think it was December 1970, I heard John Lennon sing the word 'fuck' on the radio. That was a big deal! That was the revolution, baby. Now it's boring.
Another December night I had heard that John Lennon was shot and killed. What to do? Where to go? What happened?? Is it true??? I called the station from the phone booth in front of Jonathan Swifts and Oedi, who was doing a show then, told me that it was indeed true. "Do you want to come up?" "Yes. I'd like to be where the music is..." The rest of that long, long night my friend and band mate Steve Gilligan and I sat in the studio listening, numb, getting records out of the library [records are made of vinyl and smell good] and talking, talking, talking. It was light out when we left 'BCN.
There was a time in the 70's & early 80's where your band could make a TAPE and get it on the radio. We made many of them and they ALL got played in heavy rotation. As did our records. Ken Shelton most championed our band. It was long ago when the world was different.
Thanks for the ride 'BCN
Ever been phoned in Upton Mass. for being a lucky nice guy?
- Sal Baglio
Posted by: Sal Baglio | August 03, 2009 at 01:14 AM