-
10 Questions with ... Neil Klos
August 22, 2005
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. -
NAME:Neil KlosPOSITION:PDSTATION:WFBZ, Lacrosse's ESPN Radio 105.5MARKET:Lacrosse, WICOMPANY:The Lacrosse Radio GroupBORN:7/1/1972RAISED:In a bar! in Bangor, WI (population 1,250), about 10 min. from Lacrosse
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started at a small town country station weekends; got canned for playing the "good" music (because no one explained "radio" to me). Then caught the break of my career, weekends on an Alternative radio station, "The Buzz" (WFBZ's original format). Within 3 months the PD left, and I was in the right place at the right time. Straight up to PD/MD, also ran ESPN radio on a small AM signal and took care of the local FM powerhouse, Classic rock station "K-Rock" (ABC satellite radio). Then about 3 years later, my company sold out to the company I now work for. I then did Country overnights on WQCC "CC 106.3," part of our group. I must have done something right, because then they put me on morning drive on our Classic rock station, "Classic Rock 100.1," where I am now. I then started voice tracking middays on this station and overnights on our AC station, "Magic 105," which I now voicetrack 7p-mid (as of a week ago).
1) How did you get into radio? Why?
I had a friend that worked at this weak small town country station, WCOW. He said they needed a weekend guy. I did mobile DJ stuff, and thought how hard can this be? Wellllllll....
2) What are you passionate about?
My family, and friends... I play rec sports all year around, from softball 5 nights a week all summer to basketball all winter long, plus bowling leagues and dart/pool leagues. For what? To hang out with my friends and family doing something fun. Weird, huh?
3) You're a Lacrosse native, so you know the area well- what are fans in that area talking about? IS it all Wisconsin football? What topics are hot in Lacrosse these days? (And how did you end up a Cubs fan all the way over there?)
-Packers, Packers, Packers, Badgers, Brewers, NASCAR. People refer to the Packers as "us" or "we"; the Pack is a 24/7 subject.
-We are the local affiliate of the Badgers: "Can the Badgers be competitive this year?"
-The Brewers: "Can they win the Wild Card?"
-We have a 5/8 mile NASCAR track here that is very successful; many of the "big" NASCAR drivers have been here, so we have a pretty strong following: "What happened to Kenseth?"
-The Cubs are a family thing, My Grandma used to listen to the radio on the old homestead. WGN radio actually comes in here in LaCrosse, and at the time the Milwaukee station didn't, so all of her kids (14) are Cub fans, and since the Braves left Milwaukee, it left a bad taste in a lot of fans' mouths.
4) What do you see yourself doing today? In ten years?
Well, as I said, I was raised in a bar, "The Bangor Lanes"- yes, a bowling alley/bar in a town of 1,000 people. I would most likely own that bar or another in the area. In 10? Hmmmm.... Own a bar in Bangor, Wisconsin.
5) What's your one favorite / most memorable sports moment?
Either watching my little brother's baseball team win the state title, or my sister winning the state title in the 4x100 relay.
6) Who are your influences?
My parents, and the drunk at the end of the bar!
7) You co-host with Phil Dawson- what annoys you most about him? And what's the best thing about working with him?
Annoyances: His unwillingness to see the other side, his youthful ignorance, constantly picking up after him.
Best thing: He's willing to work crappy weekends.
8) What do you do for fun?
Hanging out with friends and family.
9) Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ______________.
...taking a deep breath, and saying "What in the hell am I doing?"
10) What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Best: Don't get married (from my Grampa, when I was 9).
Worst: I don't think I can pick out one thing; my life has always pretty much sucked.
-
-