Radio Waves: Life and Revolution on the Fm Dial

by Jim Ladd

An explosive, unforgettable look at the FM radio business through the eyes of one of its most colorful and idealistic personalities. Ladd follows the birth, blazing success, and tragic demise of FM free-form radio.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Biography

332 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1991

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explains why KMET was my radio station of choice, why I eventually drifted away from it, and why broadcast radio today is completely soulless. Jim Ladd, man, the number of times I listened to him talk and thought he was so right on with his observations. Loved his commentary so much, spoke directly to those of us who let our freak flag fly. Not to mention the music, oh, the music! I am so thankful I was able to experience FM radio at its absolute best in the late '70's. Jim Ladd: best DJ ever!

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

A phenomenal book! Being a DJ myself, I could relate to a lot of the feelings and situations in this book. It’s wonderfully written and truly heartfelt.

On a personal note? A lot of this stuff hit home for me. Some of the things he described in here? It felt very personal to me. A lot of it hit home.

For example, when he described how much the station meant to him and others. And also when he mentioned forming friendships and how he came to know how the personalities were off the air.

The whole banding together as a tribe for the station and what it represented? I felt that in my heart. I had done that. I was there.

Do yourself a favor and check this book out!!

[Bud · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the good old days of free-form FM rock and roll stations. Jim Ladd, who I used to listen to in my younger years in LA, spins a tale that saddens those of us who were able to experience radio when it was good, when a musically knowledgeable and adventurous DJ could take us on journeys that could change your mood, change your day or change your life. Long live rock and roll and may the spirit of free form rock and roll radio live on (though probably only on satellite radio these days).

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book might also be subtitled: "The Decline and Fall of Free-Form FM Radio". Though Ladd gives a good summary of the beginning of Free-Form FM Radio, the second half of his memories from KMET are a roadmap for how to commodify something that defies commodification. It's a tragedy, yet a love story. Jim Ladd is now on SiriusXM satellite radio doing what he loves with seemingly no limits. Perhaps the day will come when he writes a sequel.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gobbled this book up in two days. Jim Ladd was Tom Petty's inspiration for the album, "The Last DJ," and this is the chronicle of Ladd's glory days during the formative years of the LA FM underground. I listened to that music a lot, so this book had a lot of personal resonance for me.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. I grew up in the Hollywood/Los Angeles area so Jim's stories brought back memories. Not all but many of the on-air shows described in the book I heard live. It brought back fond memories.

[Hugh Heinsohn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story and generally well told, but his extensive use of pseudonyms is distracting and confusing.

[Don Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3 1/2). There is no way I can really be objective about this book. I was turned on to Jim Ladd (R.I.P) about 7 years ago by one of my good friends from the radio business. Listening to his show on Sirius XM reminded me of radio the way I knew it when I was on the air in the early ‘70’s. I tried to be in the car when he came on because he played and mixed music like no one else. This true story is moving, funny, entertaining and brings back floods of memories to me. Good stuff.

[Will George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great first-hand account of the days of free form FM radio from one of the masters of the art. It made me remember how much I wanted to be a DJ when I was a teenager. But by the time I was old enough to try, radio had become a soulless formula, with very few live DJs. I wish there had been a final chapter on what happened to the various DJs and characters in the book after KMET imploded.

[Stormweed · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read this book...not only did I get a lot of laughs out of it, it also reminded me of the glory days of pirate radio....you won't find anything else like it. If you want to know what it was like working at a FM station back in the late 60s - early 70s......this is a must-read!

[Paul · Rating 1 out of 5]

Possibly the worst book about rock music I've ever read.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim chronicles the SPECIAL time in L.A. Radio...

[Alex Nesturrick]

Excellent read, thanks Trey!

[Rosalie Knudson]

I bought this book for my daughter since she listened to this disc jockey when she was a teenager, many years ago. I read the book before I gave it to her, not expecting to really like it, but I loved it. It was humorous and brought back memories of when my teenagers listened to his radio station in LA.