METALSHOP

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FEBRUARY 02 - 28 '07~FEATURES: Living Colour (Feature Interview), Rhino Bucket, Deep Purple, Guns 'N' Roses, Trouble, SPECIAL SEGMENT ON CENSORSHIP and More...
Original Air Date November 9, 1990
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FEBRUARY 02 - 28 '07: Show 354 Original Air Date NOVEMBER 9, 1990

Remembering METALSHOP - Charlie Kendall
Let's go back in time....
It's somewhere in the midwest and FM dials were tuned in to a one hour radio show that blasted metal and interviews with metal's biggest stars way before the genre became mainstream. Who can forget that show's famous tagline M-M-M-M-M-M-METALSHOOOOPP!
The voice of METALSHOP was Charlie Kendall - one of the most famous classic rock DJ's in the history of FM radio. METALSHOP was a syndicated radio show that gave fans all over the country a chance to experience metal music that local FM DJs refused to play. Sure you heard Foreigner and Styx on the radio, but what about Judas Priest and Dio?
If it wasn't for metal visionary Charlie Kendall, METALSHOP never would have happened. Kendall is also known as the most successful Program Director for New York's WNEW in history. Below, Kendall talks about metal's first and most influential syndicated radio show.
Tom Green: How did you first get hooked up with METALSHOP?
Charlie Kendall: In 1984 I told a couple of radio program producers named John McGhan and Denny Somach that metal was about to explode. I laid out the program for them and told them that the first person back with a great pilot would get the show on my station which was WNEW in New York. John McGhan didn't do a pilot. He took MJI Broadcasting owner Josh Feigenbaum to a Judas Priest concert at Madison Square Garden. It was a sold out show. Josh was blown away and "OK, let's do it!" John came to me and said I was the only person in radio who even knew what metal was and I had to host the show. I was the host until the show ended in 1995.
Green: Why did the show ultimately come to an end in 1995?
Kendall: The number of affiliates had dropped to just under 50 from a high of over 250. The major problem was that the big "consultants" thought metal was a negative ratings getter and urged the stations to drop the show even though it was always highly rated. They changed the name of the show to "The Shop" and started playing "alternative mixed with metal and hard rock for a year or so. THAT killed the show!
Green: Who produced the show? Do you have fond memories working with the rock journalists, producers and writers?
Green: John McGhan was the first producer, then Dave Shulps, then Dee Snyder's brother Mark Snyder, then Don Kaye. Not sure after that...there were several kids who wanted more "alternative music" added to the show. The producers did most of the interviews, I did a few of them. I don't remember a lot of the eighties, but I know we had some fun!
Green: Why do you think the show was so popular?
Kendall: METALSHOP was all about the music and the audience knew that. We were fans, just like them. The show had "passion"! Not much on the radio has passion anymore. The big corporations don't like that.
Green: Were you just the voice of METALSHOP or did you get to interview artists?
Kendall: I did a few interviews and enjoyed them; Ozzy, Halford, Dio, Blackmore, Hetfield. I was the "architect" of the show. I designed it, formatted it and hosted it.
Green: When people hear your voice, do they recognize it from METALSHOP and ask you about the show?
Kendall: I get calls daily from people who "used to listen to you in San Antonio man!" They always thought the show was local. Which is a great compliment to all of us who were involved.
Green: What was your favorite part/fondest memory of working on METALSHOP?
Kendall: Hey, it was an 11 year run! Very few radio shows last that long. It was ALL a blast... and lots of it is a blur!!
METALSHOP ORIGINALLY AIRED 1984 - 1995
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