10 Questions with ... Greg Rampage USA

NAME:Greg Rampage USA TITLE:PM Drive STATION:KXTE MARKET:Las Vegas COMPANY:CBS Radio BORN:Albuquerque RAISED:By Robots from the year 2095

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Started interning at KTEG 107.9 The Edge. Got to go on the air when a coworker didn't show up (hang over) and worked part time through high school. I moved to Tucson for college at U of A and joined 92.1 KFMA. Worked as overnights, then nights/webmaster, then afternoons/MD/APD/webmaster. Last summer I joined the team at X1075.

LAST NON-INDUSTRY JOB:

Last what? Pen N Pad stationary supply store -- wow, lame.

FIRST RECORD EVER PURCHASED:

Pearl Jam -- VS

FIRST CONCERT:

Marilyn Manson at Wool Warehouse in Albuquerque. Great concert, terrible sound.

FAVORITE BAND OF ALL-TIME:

Come on, really? I guess it's Fugazi but I also love Queens of the Stone Age, Neurosis, NOFX, and Green Day.

1. What was your favorite station to listen to when you were a kid?

Tie between KTEG 107.9 The Edge and KZRR 94Rock.

2. What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

The low pay. Rob at 94Rock told me when I started, "Keep your breaks short and your PD will always love you." Ripley probably wouldn't believe anyone told me this if you ask him after my aircheck.

3. What led you to KXTE?

After 10 years in Tucson with some rad people I needed a change of scenery. I felt old. In Las Vegas there is such a great buzz -- the city, the strip, and the staff -- everyone is still young and full of zizzazz!

4. Since you never spent any time in Las Vegas before your new gig, what has surprised you the most about the market?

Boobies. That and it's incredible how half a million people are on the strip and they have no concept of the city that surrounds it. The listeners are die-hard and nuts. 50% of my calls start with name familiarity: "Hey Rampage..." and it started to happen after only two weeks of working in the market.

5. What do you like best about Vegas? Least?

The entertainment here parallels Los Angeles and New York but there are only 2 million people. That means I get tons of opportunities to talk with stinky rock bands and celebs but don't have the same crappy traffic.

Least: I hate the damn wind -- DAMN YOU WIND!

6. What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

That I someday hope to be involved in children's programming of some sort. I would love to do things to help kids develop their imaginations -- cartoon voice over, writing, producing. Completely 180 from that, I would love to work for Speed TV some capacity (preferably Formula 1 broadcast).

7. What is your show prep routine?

Three and half hours of straight internet porn and then a Redbull. I read a lot of topical news beforehand. It doesn't actually come in to play on my show, but it gets my brain in language mode so I can put words on the radio thingy.

8. How would you describe your afternoon show?

One part Godzilla, one part pithy banter, and parts music. Then shake.

9. What is different about the show you did in Tucson?

In Tucson I didn't do a show. I front and back sold music -- more like an announcer. In Vegas I have a produced show intro, weekly guests, TONS of interviews, and more responsibility to deliver a performance. Each way has its own merits, but I'm very much enjoying the fun here.

10. What do you find most amusing about your audience? Most annoying?

How many smart-ass dudes listen to the station. They keep me on my toes but it's sharpening my wise-ass side too.

Most annoying: Okay moron, after three months you just noticed that the Xtreme Disorder guys are gone -- put down the bong for 30 seconds -- you need a brain damage time out!

When you are not watching Formula 1 Racing, what do you enjoy doing with your spare time?

I've always loved taking pictures of stuff. I just got back into it after me and the awesome photographer Stephen Kallao (WLUM) went to the Red Bull Air Race in San Diego. Funny enough I bought a decent camera so I could take pictures of the Formula 1 race I went to in Montreal last June! I'm no pro, but I do like taking time on the weekends to shoot stuff. Find me on flickr http://flickr.com/photos/gregrampage.

Editor's Note: Following our interview, Greg Rampage was a victim of CBS/Las Vegas budget cuts last Thursday (11/20) after less than four months at KXTE. Please reach out to Rampage at (520) 661-9580 or gregrampage@gmail.com. You can find his online aircheck at http://www.nifecorp.com/gregrampage.