Jim Ladd Is Gone
Jim Ladd Passed on December 17, You may remember him on the Radio KAOS album and tour, and he interviewed Roger and the other members of Pink Floyd over the many years.
He is the last of the DJs playing “Underground” music on US FM stations. The FM band were little used at the time and many were turned over to these long haired guys to keep the licenses active in the US which created something called Album Oriented Rock Radio, and Free Forum Rock radio.
Sad news indeed.😩
SiriusXM "Deep Tracks" host Jim Ladd, the inspiration for the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song "The Last DJ," died on the evening of Dec. 17 at the age of 75. The cause of death is as yet undetermined.
Ladd’s legendary career as a freeform rock DJ and producer began in 1969 at Los Angeles' KNAC before moving to 95.5 KLOS in 1971. After four years, he joined KMET in 1975 for nine years, eight of which he enjoyed No. 1 ratings in his time slot. During that time, Ladd created, hosted and produced the nationally syndicated show, Innerview, a first of its kind radio program airing on over 160 radio stations. For 12 years, Ladd interviewed and shone a spotlight on the cream of the crop of artists, including John Lennon, Pink Floyd, U2, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 2003, Petty explained the meaning of the song “The Last DJ,” off the album of the same name, telling journalist Jim DeRogatis that it’s “about a DJ who becomes so frustrated with his inability to play what he wants that he moves to Mexico and gets his freedom back."
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters was inspired by Ladd’s work and asked him to be involved in 1987’s Radio K.A.O.S. where he played himself as a rebel DJ. Ladd also joined Waters on the album’s highly touted world tour and starred in all three MTV music videos.
In 1989 Ladd played a semi-autobiographical role in Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything. His voice made other film appearances in the movies Tequila Sunrise, Rush, She’s Out of Control and Defendor.
In June of 1991 Ladd published his first book, Radio Waves: Life and Revolution on the FM Dial, through St. Martin’s Press.
Ladd also hosted a television show, The Extremists, focused on the world of extreme sports. This was followed by the nationally syndicated Headsets, which he first created in 1974.
Ladd rejoined KLOS in 1997, where he spent the next 14 years. During this time, he was selected as the Air Personality of the Year in 2000 by The Los Angeles Music Awards.
He was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 6, 2005 for his lifelong dedication and contributions to entertainment. The Hollywood Arts Council celebrated Ladd’s accomplishments two years later with the Media Arts Award. He joined SiriusXM in 2011.
Ladd is survived by his wife, writer, poet and musician Helene Hodge-Ladd.
He is the last of the DJs playing “Underground” music on US FM stations. The FM band were little used at the time and many were turned over to these long haired guys to keep the licenses active in the US which created something called Album Oriented Rock Radio, and Free Forum Rock radio.
Sad news indeed.😩
SiriusXM "Deep Tracks" host Jim Ladd, the inspiration for the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers song "The Last DJ," died on the evening of Dec. 17 at the age of 75. The cause of death is as yet undetermined.
Ladd’s legendary career as a freeform rock DJ and producer began in 1969 at Los Angeles' KNAC before moving to 95.5 KLOS in 1971. After four years, he joined KMET in 1975 for nine years, eight of which he enjoyed No. 1 ratings in his time slot. During that time, Ladd created, hosted and produced the nationally syndicated show, Innerview, a first of its kind radio program airing on over 160 radio stations. For 12 years, Ladd interviewed and shone a spotlight on the cream of the crop of artists, including John Lennon, Pink Floyd, U2, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, the Eagles, Led Zeppelin and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young.
In 2003, Petty explained the meaning of the song “The Last DJ,” off the album of the same name, telling journalist Jim DeRogatis that it’s “about a DJ who becomes so frustrated with his inability to play what he wants that he moves to Mexico and gets his freedom back."
Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters was inspired by Ladd’s work and asked him to be involved in 1987’s Radio K.A.O.S. where he played himself as a rebel DJ. Ladd also joined Waters on the album’s highly touted world tour and starred in all three MTV music videos.
In 1989 Ladd played a semi-autobiographical role in Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything. His voice made other film appearances in the movies Tequila Sunrise, Rush, She’s Out of Control and Defendor.
In June of 1991 Ladd published his first book, Radio Waves: Life and Revolution on the FM Dial, through St. Martin’s Press.
Ladd also hosted a television show, The Extremists, focused on the world of extreme sports. This was followed by the nationally syndicated Headsets, which he first created in 1974.
Ladd rejoined KLOS in 1997, where he spent the next 14 years. During this time, he was selected as the Air Personality of the Year in 2000 by The Los Angeles Music Awards.
He was honored with a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on May 6, 2005 for his lifelong dedication and contributions to entertainment. The Hollywood Arts Council celebrated Ladd’s accomplishments two years later with the Media Arts Award. He joined SiriusXM in 2011.
Ladd is survived by his wife, writer, poet and musician Helene Hodge-Ladd.
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