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10 Questions with ... Buck & Dex With Baxter
September 23, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
BORN:
Buck: San Jose, CA
Dex: July 21, 1979 in Bozeman, MT
Baxter: October 3rd 1982 in Albuquerque, NMRAISED:
Buck: 505 por vida
Dex: In a junk yard. No seriously I was raised in a junk yard in Montana.
Baxter: I was left out in the woods shortly after my birth, basically raised by a pack of wolves. Spent most of my life in San Diego and Albuquerque.Buck: Started at KTEG 1995, left in 99, back in 2003 for mornings and added MD duties in 2004.
Dex: I started working in radio in 1998 in Bozeman, MT. I started at the bottom working the overnight shift watching five radio stations. A couple months into radio they offered me the overnight shift on KBOZ 97.5 The Peak and a weekend shift on KZLO 99.9 The Fox. One year later I was promoted to afternoon drive on KBOZ and Production Director for Reier Broadcasting. After working for Reier Broadcasting for three and half years I decided to move to San Diego and got a job working for KOGO-AM. Six months into working for KOGO I got a call from The Edge in Albuquerque and they wanted me to come and do mornings with Adam12. I started working at KTEG on April 23 2002 and I have been there ever since.
Baxter: Started as a part time promotions grunt and didn't stop bugging anyone who would listen for a chance to be on-air. "Started from the bottom now we're here," as Drake would say.
1. How did you become interested in radio?
Buck: When I was a kid there was an AM station close to my house so I went ask for a tour... Years later I saw the film Pump Up The Volume with Christian Slater and decided I would become a pirate DJ.
Dex: As a kid I was always interested in the DJ on the radio. I would record myself on my stereo in my room and try and mimic the DJ. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever imagine that I would actually become one. Radio fell into my lap when I was 18 years old. I will never forget the first time I walked into the radio station I was in love. I wanted to learn everything about radio and that's exactly what I did. I started out at the very bottom and learned it all.
Baxter: It was during my first year of college and didn't like that so much, thought I'd give radio a try. Oh and as a child I use to pretend and imitate the jocks I would hear between songs.
2. How did the Buck & Dex Show with Baxter become World Famous?
Buck: We're not really... I think our claim to fame was when we had a video we shot played on Good Morning America. The PS3 had just come out and we had a listener battle a steamroller for it...you can guess who won
Dex: It's not World Famous at all. We just decided to use that because it makes us seem more popular than we really are and one of my favorite stations is "The World Famous KROQ" in LA.
Baxter: You see when you are infamous you're more famous than famous! Also there should be an * next to that saying, "Only in Roswell."
3. How would you describe your role on the morning show?
Buck: I'm the researcher/reformed party guy who got married and settled down...and Cliff Claven on the air for sure....every show needs a know it all.
Dex: I am the burger in between the buns. They pretty much rely on me to be funny and do everything. Yes it can be very draining but it's my thorn to bare.
Baxter: I have a role on the morning show???!
4. What part of the morning show do you love the most?
Buck: When my mic doesn't work while we're trying to talk to listeners and I get frustrated. I don't know what it is but this stupid mic hasn't worked right for years and it just can't seem to get fixed. It really is funny though.
Dex: When Buck and Baxter shut the hell up and let me create my masterpiece. I am not joking.
Baxter: I think the interaction with the Edge Army is the best. They keep us on our game and are brutally honest about everything. It's good to have an outside opinion other than the three of ours.
5. What makes your show successful?
Buck: Definitely the listeners....it sure isn't us.
Dex: I think the three of us have completely different personalities and that is a good thing for a radio show. Our goal is not only to entertain but also to reach out to our listeners as friends. We have always opened up our lives to our listeners and invited them in. Heck I have even given my personal cell phone number to the listeners. We know we have listeners out there that are dealing with problems and if we can reach out and help them, and then we believe we are truly making a difference. We have some of the best and most loyal listeners. We wouldn't be on the air without them.
Baxter: Again without a doubt our listeners, they are the best! They've stuck with us through thick and thin.
6. How are you using social media?
Buck: We use social media like crazy. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...I think we even have a Pinterest page. We've had a couple of Facebook posts that have hit in the millions. Obviously it was Breaking Bad stuff and cat memes.
Dex: If you aren't using social media and you're in radio then you should pack up your microphone and call it quits. Social media has been huge for us. It's been an amazing way to connect with our audience and also turn new people onto our show. It's also a great way to drive those web hits up for the bosses. We are on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and are always on the lookout for new social sites.
Baxter: Lots of memes and pictures of my food. Follow me @instayummie!
7. What is your show prep routine?
Buck: Prep is always a fluid thing. It's something that happens basically 24/7. Booking interviews, checking the favorite websites, and talking to the boys about ideas. When I arrive in the morning it makes it fairly easy.
Dex: I come in every morning at about 3:30am to start working on the morning show. We have a bunch of different prep services so I will go through all of those and find what I feel the listeners want to hear. I also spend a lot of time downloading audio from TV shows and news that we are going to be talking about. Buck and Baxter are also really good at finding great topics and things we should be talking about.
Baxter: Dex is the show prep king. Honestly I truly believe that he is the best in the biz, Dex provides the show structure and is the captain of the ship. We just follow his lead and try to come up with topics/info to take what he starts and add to it.
8. What annoys you about your on-air partners the most?
Buck: I think it's when Dex eats his buggers in front of us like it's a normal thing. We keep telling him that it's not normal for a 35 year old man to do that. He just says "I'm from Montana and that's what real men do."
Dex: Let's see...Well Buck is a complete know it all and Baxter is a head case. They are just lucky I haven't ditched them for another morning show.
Baxter: Dex is always crying about some tiny paper cut he has received and his lazy eye is always looking at me. Buck's back end of his body is always barking and sounding like a liquid is trying to escape.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Buck: Prayer...the world needs more of that
Dex: Upsetting my wife.
Baxter: Oxygen, DUH!!!
10. Who are your influences, your mentors, and the people to whom you listen?
Buck: I have a couple of people that have been instrumental in my career. Rob "Hardy" Poole, great jock, good friend, and KILLER imaging guru. Bill May has been huge in my professional and personal growth. I love listening to The Buzz in Houston. I love the way it's programmed.
Dex: When I lived in San Diego I used to listen to some great morning shows. Howard Stern is one of the greatest interviewers and still to this day I believe is one of the greats! I have never been a fan of his raunchy porn talk but it's the other stuff that makes him great. Also Jeff and Jer in San Diego. Bill May will always hold a special place in my heart. Bill always believed in what we did and always encouraged us to do what we thought worked. Adam12 was my first morning show partner and taught me the basics of doing a morning show.
Baxter: I am a big fan of Henry Rollins and the radio stuff he's done. I also think that Jason Ellis has a fantastic little show. One of my bigger influences and mentor was Sloppy Joe whom we had on the station years ago.
Bonus Questions
What are your hobbies?
Buck: When I have the time I really enough fishing. New Mexico has really good fly-fishing
Dex: I really wish I had a hobby. I can't find one.
Baxter: I am a big music and comic book nerd. I enjoy listening to bands and going to concerts still. I honestly thought I'd be sick of all that by now but I am not. Comics are always being read in my home. Also during the winter I go snowboarding as often as I can and have become a bit of a craft beer snob.
Last non-industry job?
Buck: I currently sell real estate part-time but besides that I was actually a wicky wicky club DJ. Seriously, I had (ode to Beck) two turntables and a microphone...
Dex: Poop Busters. I used to go around to people's yards and pick up their dog poop.
Baxter: I worked at a wireless phone carrier call center. It was totally awesome getting yelled at by complete strangers all day long for things that I couldn't have done. I miss it greatly!
First record ever purchased?
Buck: Newcleus - Jam On Revenge
Dex: My Mom never let me buy music. So when I started making money I remember I bought Naughty By Natures self-titled 1991 album. My life has never been the same.
Baxter: Bob Marley's Legend
First concert?
Buck: Stryper and Icon at Pope Joy Hal when they still use to screen print tickets
Dex: 1996 I saw Bush, Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt together in Missoula, Montana.
Baxter: Boys II Men and MC Hammer. Sickest show EVER!!!
Favorite band of all-time?
Buck: That's a hard one...as I've gotten older my musical taste has shifted. I think I'll go with the it's a tie answer and say Johnny Cash, Goldfinger, and The Reverend Horton Heat.
Dex: Lez Zep, ACDC, and U2 (3-way tie).
Baxter: Too many to name, I can't pick just one...Ok Justin Bieber! Ya got me.
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