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10 Questions with ... Daryl "Dirty D" James
October 2, 2012
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Interned at KEZY when I was 16 years old, started at KOLA a year later in '92, a brief time later at sister station KCAL, after 7 years I moved to KCXX in '99.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
My Dad has always been in radio. In the old days watching him sweat cueing up records, bouncing carts in the studio, and having girls call up and flirt on the request lines, I was sold. I knew that was my future!
2. You started X103.9 in 1999. What stands out the most from the early days at the station?
Well my early days were wild here, I was 22 when I started on Overnights, and hosted a club night with 3,000 people weekly, and did anything I could here. I was stoked to be doing my dream job. I have been lucky to be playing all my favorite songs on the radio for 20 years now. Some things still haven't changed since '99 here, still playing NIN-Closer and are still the edgy station on the dial. But technology has surprised me over the years, Becoming a Digital Era, and how fast info is shared through social media. Remember when we got our info off the AP wire?
3. What is a typical day like for you leading up to your show?
I hammer through the Imaging, Production, and any Programming that needs to be done. I definitely have to multitask and then the fun begins at 7p.
4. What part of your job do you like best? Least?
Of course my air shift is my favorite time, especially when everybody's gone and I can blast the music, and time flies at that point. On Saturday nights I have my metal show "Xtreme X."
My least favorite part of my job is... ummmm...Doing dubs.
6. Tell us about your night show on X103.9 and how you step over the line a bit playing the heavier music?
I am fortunate to be playing a lot of the heavier stuff, for an Alternative station we rock. Bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Avenged Sevenfold, and my 10-O-Clock Tool Feature make us unique. I get to do the best of both with no active rock station in the market.
7. What would surprise people most about your night show?
How loyal our listeners are if you communicate with them, either on the request line, Facebook, or at events. They are the reason I'm doing what I love. I have the greatest job in the world, being the local guy who grew up here and became the loudmouth rock guy, and gotten the support over the years in this market.
8. How are you using Social Media?
I use and abuse Facebook. -- my friends, listeners, and acquaintances, they are always a click away from what I'm doing. I love posting fun content, online contests, concert info, and giving them a look of my personal life. I have a great online network.
8. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ________?
Cheese.
9. What do you like best about living in the Inland Empire?
The active lifestyle. The mountains, beach, desert are all close.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I'm known as a rock metal guy, but I love old school rap. Too Short, Dr Dre, Mack 10 -- gots to bump that in the ride!
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Old cars, collecting Hot Wheels, and cooking.
Last non-industry job?
Strip Club DJ back in the day
First record ever purchased?
Boogie Boys - A Fly Girl and Janet Jackson - Nasty (well you asked)
First concert?
Erasure at Irvine Meadows, when my Dad worked at KEZY in Anaheim.
Favorite band of all-time?
Suicidal Tendencies, Tool, Pantera, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Beatles, Metallica, Zeppelin.
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