Dwyer's Thoughts In Year 36 Of Dwyer & Michaels In The QC

Best as I can tell, Monday, August 17th is the beginning of year 36 for me and Michaels on the air in the QCA. We came to the Quad Cities from the legendary WWCT in Peoria after having done mornings there for 1 year. 1 stinkin' year. Turns out, 97X had some legend of its own, and we didn't just fit right in.

I'm afforded some license as I remember the great people, instrumental to a very green morning show still trying to find its legs, and audience, while also riding shotgun to probably one of the greatest radio stations in America at the time. Guy Perry hired us--now at the time, I was driving from Peoria after our morning shift to the Jumers exit in Galesburg so I could hear the X, and Malcom Ryker, Steve Donovan, and Guy Perry. They just sounded bigger market to me. And the music--just a little more bite than we were allowed in Peoria. Also at this time, I was sending tapes out to a radio station in Long Beach called KNAC--not because I wanted to be a morning radio star, I just wanted to discover and play rock and roll--and Long Beach was where it was happening. KNAC sounded like The X--Big voices playing big rock records. Pam Edwards, the Programmer there, knew enough about rock radio to not hire me as a regular jock--I had no pipes (Still don't) with which to rattle the walls of a studio.

But thankfully, Guy Perry's standards were lower, and me and Billy stepped into town for whatever lay ahead! He was literally exactly what we needed at the time. I know this because I had many many content related arguments with him as my PD, and prior to Guy, I can't recall ever losing an argument with a PD. Ian Case, whose shoes we were in charge of filling, would give me great advice about Guy (And a couple other higher ups were were having disagreement with) that had to do with compromise, an stealing wins when you could.

Sometimes, he would tell me, I could gain something by listening. Listening...weird concept. Not for me. Guy was a luxury we would never have again in radio--an experienced PD with the guts to let us trip when necessary, and help us avoid disaster when absolutely vital.
One of the arguments I lost with Guy, was adding a sports guy to the mix of our aimless irreverence. I fought tooth and nail against adding a "Wildman" to our show.

But there he was, Dan Burich, the Quad Cities Hardest-working, Most Intelligent/Humble/ Sportscaster doing sports twice an hour. Believe me when I tell you nobody else could have done the job he was asked to do. I gave no quarter, and it must have been difficult for him to swallow his pride and be lectured by me about a topic he was better prepared to present to our audience on his worst day than I was capable at my best (and there were many, MANY days where we were both NOT at our best, having stayed one drink too long at a MNF party, or charity basketball after party.)

Professionally, he gave me some advice that I have kept with me for years. Dan didn't have the time or inclination for gossip--and showed me the value in not talking about someone behind their back, when you could just say whatever shit you were thinking right to them instead. It really played to my sense of self-righteousness at the time. And kept my head clear of unimportant anger.

We had many other staff in and out of the show during those first 5 years, and I don't want to get endlessly distracted. I included a couple photos of one of our first gigs at 97X--the Lowden beach party each summer. I got the gig in '92 from Steve Donovan (Who also introduced me to my wife!) and it ran for more than a decade after that thanks to Big Gerald at Good Times. Michaels and I hosted most of those years together. This was maybe our first one, in '93.

There was maybe nothing quite like those early years, where we didn't think twice about showing up at 9AM and partying until 2AM the following morning. I love these pics because me and Michaels have always brought different sensibilities to our job, and it shows by our approach to the gigs we did at the time. And Burich? I don't think he ever thought twice about any gig...he just went and was Burich (Here chatting up former NFL lineman John Roehlk--probably schooling him on his own stats) 36 Years. Thanks all, for being part of the ride so far, and for whatever lay ahead.