He Smoked Weed With the Beastie Boys
Feb. 15th, 2022 12:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
takethisforexampleLast night I did some shadowing at the radio station. I was invited to spectate one of the more popular shows hosted by someone I met at the kickoff meeting, Ella. I was looking forward to it since her show is talk heavy, and because I’ve been keen on shadowing different types of hosts to see how they manage everything. When I walked in last night, I did not see Ella but instead a scrawny old guy who introduced himself to me as Johnny. And God am I glad I was mildly stoned for this because Johnny is probably the most eccentric person I’ve met at the station yet.
Johnny moves and talks and interacts in a way that I can only describe as “North Jersey”. He is an oddly specific archetype that I’m not really sure I can explain, but I felt familiar around him. He welcomed me and I walked around the broadcast room as he ran his funk and soul show, asking him questions and just observing, but then we got into some deeper conversations about his life and experiences in radio. He’s been spinning vinyl for decades and still does with another DJ over at Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City, and was heavily involved in the underground music scene of Brooklyn back in the 80s and 90s. He has such a honed radio voice, and detailed to me these stories of how the scene used to be up north back in the day… specifically he mentioned this show he went to where he smoked weed with the Beastie Boys early in their career, and accidentally got them in trouble with their parents for it. He told it so casually. I don’t think anyone else on the planet can say they got the Beastie Boys in trouble for smoking a joint, so Johnny holds that title whether he revels in it like I do or not. And that’s just how these “past their prime” types of crusty Jersey guys are. Johnny spoke of bizarre punk shows at Capitol Theater where he saw New York Dolls and The Ramones on the same bill, and all his preferences for physical media as it pertains to what he now describes as a withering scene. Nearing the end of our conversation, he looked down and dejectedly stated that music and counterculture will never be the way they used to be. It’s definitely not the first time a member of the former scene expressed this sentiment. Just before he could elaborate on it, another DJ walked in and the white box was broken. All he was able to get out, and he said it as if he were in pain almost, was “Man, I’m really jaded. I’m just jaded.” So I’ve been thinking about that.
We hit it off though. It’s always exciting to talk about North Jersey with someone who also grew up there. I told Johnny about how WDHA inspired my love for radio and the apprehension I’ve been dealing with when it comes to working with the station. He told me I have the voice and the motivation. Coming from an experienced DJ like him, honestly, that means a lot to me. Before I left, he assured me again with certainty that I would be fine and I think I needed to hear that. He was a pleasure to talk to and a real character, so I’m glad Ella wasn’t there. My goal to meet as many DJs as possible really seems to be paying off.
Johnny moves and talks and interacts in a way that I can only describe as “North Jersey”. He is an oddly specific archetype that I’m not really sure I can explain, but I felt familiar around him. He welcomed me and I walked around the broadcast room as he ran his funk and soul show, asking him questions and just observing, but then we got into some deeper conversations about his life and experiences in radio. He’s been spinning vinyl for decades and still does with another DJ over at Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City, and was heavily involved in the underground music scene of Brooklyn back in the 80s and 90s. He has such a honed radio voice, and detailed to me these stories of how the scene used to be up north back in the day… specifically he mentioned this show he went to where he smoked weed with the Beastie Boys early in their career, and accidentally got them in trouble with their parents for it. He told it so casually. I don’t think anyone else on the planet can say they got the Beastie Boys in trouble for smoking a joint, so Johnny holds that title whether he revels in it like I do or not. And that’s just how these “past their prime” types of crusty Jersey guys are. Johnny spoke of bizarre punk shows at Capitol Theater where he saw New York Dolls and The Ramones on the same bill, and all his preferences for physical media as it pertains to what he now describes as a withering scene. Nearing the end of our conversation, he looked down and dejectedly stated that music and counterculture will never be the way they used to be. It’s definitely not the first time a member of the former scene expressed this sentiment. Just before he could elaborate on it, another DJ walked in and the white box was broken. All he was able to get out, and he said it as if he were in pain almost, was “Man, I’m really jaded. I’m just jaded.” So I’ve been thinking about that.
We hit it off though. It’s always exciting to talk about North Jersey with someone who also grew up there. I told Johnny about how WDHA inspired my love for radio and the apprehension I’ve been dealing with when it comes to working with the station. He told me I have the voice and the motivation. Coming from an experienced DJ like him, honestly, that means a lot to me. Before I left, he assured me again with certainty that I would be fine and I think I needed to hear that. He was a pleasure to talk to and a real character, so I’m glad Ella wasn’t there. My goal to meet as many DJs as possible really seems to be paying off.
