94.5 KLQ in the late 1990s

[Deleted User 16093]

This came to mind the other day. Back in the late 1990s, say 1998-1999 I had a friend who was in the grade ahead of me in school, so he was the class of 1998 and myself 1999.

Anyway, he ended up going to college in West Michigan, which is about 3 hours away from where I grew up. One weekend he came home and was telling me about how much better the radio stations in GR were compared to the ones in The Toledo area/SE Michigan, without including Detroit. He kept going on about WKLQ.

Now, back in 1998 the internet was still very young and there wasn't stuff he have now, obviously. So, taping stuff off the radio wasn't unheard of. He actually recorded a tape for me, one side WKLQ and the other WGRD. I was fairly impressed with both, I mean Buzz 106.5 in Toledo had nothing on KLQ and WGRD IMO was better than 89x.

I might be messing this story up a bit but wasn't there some incident where KLQ had some contest or promotion for the band Korn? Like more people showed up then they thought, or something went Arye?

Anyway, I just thought I would share.

[dwp49423]

I know around that time the principal of Zeeland High School suspended a student for wearing a Korn t-shirt to school. Not sure if this had any part of what you are referring to or not with KLQ. (I may have the year wrong-I only remember that it was in the 1995-2000 time frame)

[TC Talks]

Jim Owens who went on the PD some legendary stations in this country had a firm hand in shaping KLQ just before that era. They had a stellar line up at the time, stealing the best from everyone else (mostly LAV).

"When radio cared"

[wonderkid69]

I grew up exclusively with 80's and 90's KLQ. I cannot believe a heritage rock radio station with little to no competition was decimated a few years into the millennium by two imbeciles. What a joke.

[andymuskegon]

I know around that time the principal of Zeeland High School suspended a student for wearing a Korn t-shirt to school. Not sure if this had any part of what you are referring to or not with KLQ. (I may have the year wrong-I only remember that it was in the 1995-2000 time frame)

some kid got kicked out of school for a korn shirt and in the matter of an hour or so of us finding out about it, i had jonathan on the phone on the air and the next day there were enough korn t-shirts there for the entire school.

[andymuskegon]

I remember that day well. I was listening when Jonathan called in!

About blew out my cheap stock speakers in the car when "Blind" was played that afternoon. Good times.

KLQ was a phenomenal station from 1998 until early 2002. I even enjoyed the station's brief run with alternative in 1997 to a degree but was thrilled when the pivot back to hard rock was made.

There was a time when KLQ would play Type O Negative, Pantera, old school Metallica, etc. in afternoons. I loved it.

When I heard the concert promo for Black Sabbath (original lineup) with Pantera opening for the very first time, I about crapped my pants and drove off the road. Less than 48 hours later, I had my tix. $39.50 is all it cost to see that great concert (where Ozzy mooned the crowd...LMAO).

thanks man. we really had something there