Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop
No Result
View All Result
Dream Wired
No Result
View All Result
Home Music

Jim Ladd, Who Inspired Tom Petty’s ‘The Last DJ,’ Dead at 75

rmtsa by rmtsa
December 19, 2023
in Music
0
Jim Ladd, Who Inspired Tom Petty’s ‘The Last DJ,’ Dead at 75
74
SHARES
1.2k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Foolio Murder Suspect Said Rapper ‘Needs to Die’ in 2021 Texts

Hear Kiss Go Country on Previously Unreleased Song ‘Mistake’

New Music Friday: The Alchemist & Hit-Boy, Mac Miller, Lil Baby & More

Veteran Los Angeles radio host Jim Ladd died on Dec. 16 at the age of 75 after suffering a heart attack.

The news was confirmed on SiriusXM by DJ Meg Griffin, who replaced Ladd for what would have been his regular Deep Tracks show on Monday. “I am so sorry for the shock that just hit you as you’re listening right now,” Griffin said on air.

She added that Ladd “never stopped caring. He delivered the truth. He lived for the music.”

His radio career began at the Long Beach station KNAC in 1969 before he moved to L.A.’s KLOS in 1971 and then KMET in 1974. He mostly remained with “The Mighty Met” until a controversial and sudden format change in 1987.

His refusal to follow playlists made it difficult for him to find regular work until he signed up once again with KLOS under what he called his “free-form radio” approach. He was heard on air from 1997 until 2011. He then moved to SiriusXM.

READ MORE: Is AM Radio Doomed Because of Electric Cars?

Ladd became close friends with Roger Waters, and the DJ inspired the former Pink Floyd member’s second solo album, Radio K.A.O.S., released in 1987. Ladd played the fictional DJ on the album and its subsequent tour. He was also the inspiration for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 2002 album The Last DJ, which featured songs critical of radio commercialization and was boycotted by some stations.

The title track refers to Ladd in the opening lines: “Well, you can’t turn him into a company man / You can’t turn him into a whore / And the boys upstairs just don’t understand anymore.”

Ladd was also a writer and producer and hosted the interview show Innerviews for many years. He appeared in the 1989 rom-com Say Anything and was heard in To Die For and Tequila Sunrise (1989), She’s Out of Control (1989), Rush (1991) and Defender (2009). He played a news reporter in the 1989 movie Silent Night, Deadly Night 3: Better Watch Out! He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005.

DJ Jim Ladd ‘Paved the Way for Many to Follow,’ Says Neal Schon

“Tom respected and admired Jim Ladd and considered him a friend,” read a message from Petty’s estate. “His insights into rock ‘n’ roll were priceless. Jim’s voice will be missed on the airwaves. Our family joins his in mourning his loss.”

Neal Schon said, “God bless Jim, as he was the best and paved the way for many to follow. My sincere condolences to family and friends. RIP, brother. I will always cherish the great memories of our friendship.”

Robby Krieger noted, “He was the best friend in radio the Doors ever had. Even when people forgot about us in the late ‘70s, he kept playing our music.” Michael McKean, who’s also known as David St. Hubbins in Spinal Tap, said, “Sorry to hear about Jim Ladd. My encounters with him were always pleasant, and he played along with the jokes like a pro.”

Peter Frampton described the presenter as “our good friend” and a “special man with a huge passion for music.” Grace Slick said his “curiosity and care could be felt in each of his broadcasts.”

In Memoriam: 2023 Deaths

A look at those we’ve lost.

Gallery Credit: Allison Rapp



Source link

Tags: DeadInspiredJimLaddPettysTom
Share30Tweet19
rmtsa

rmtsa

Recommended For You

Foolio Murder Suspect Said Rapper ‘Needs to Die’ in 2021 Texts

by rmtsa
October 25, 2025
0
Foolio Murder Suspect Said Rapper ‘Needs to Die’ in 2021 Texts

The woman currently on trial for Foolio's murder told her best friend that the rapper needed to die in text messages back in 2021.On Thursday (Oct. 23), Alicia...

Read more

Hear Kiss Go Country on Previously Unreleased Song ‘Mistake’

by rmtsa
October 25, 2025
0
Hear Kiss Go Country on Previously Unreleased Song ‘Mistake’

A long-lost Kiss song named "Mistake" has just been released by the band as part of their new Dressed to Kill box set.The Paul Stanley-penned number - which...

Read more

New Music Friday: The Alchemist & Hit-Boy, Mac Miller, Lil Baby & More

by rmtsa
October 25, 2025
0
New Music Friday: The Alchemist & Hit-Boy, Mac Miller, Lil Baby & More

New Music Friday is back with a bang! This week is a loaded one thanks to new albums from two of the best producers (and rappers) in the...

Read more

9 Rock + Metal Albums That Would Make SICK Horror Movies

by rmtsa
October 24, 2025
0
9 Rock + Metal Albums That Would Make SICK Horror Movies

There are some rock and metal albums that would make SICK horror movies.Heavy music and horror have a lot of overlapping themes and symbols. Metal bands in particular...

Read more

The Nigerian Star Redefining Global R&B

by rmtsa
October 24, 2025
0
The Nigerian Star Redefining Global R&B

Source: Burak Cingi / Getty Tems — born Temilade Openiyi on June 11, 1995, in Lagos, Nigeria — is a remarkable force in global music today. From advocacy...

Read more
Next Post
Angela Bassett to Play the President in Netflix Drama ‘Zero Day’ – TVLine

Angela Bassett to Play the President in Netflix Drama ‘Zero Day’ – TVLine

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
DramaWired

Browse the Latest Entertainment News on DramaWired.com. Celebrity News, Movies, Music, Gossip, Comics, TV and More News.

CATEGORIES

  • Celebrity
  • Comics
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • Music
  • TV
  • Uncategorized
No Result
View All Result

Recent News

  • Kim Kardashian Nearly Pops Out Of Corset For ‘Birthday Behavior’
  • Pentagon Reportedly Receives $130 Million Donation from Trump Ally to Pay Troops During Government Shutdown • Hollywood Unlocked
  • Inside The Boardroom Beauty Leader’s Summit Where Black Women Redefine Power – Essence

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Celebrity
  • DramaAlert
  • Gossip
  • Movie
  • TV
  • Music
  • Comics
  • Shop

Copyright © 2023 DramaWired.
DramaWired is a content aggregator and not responsible for the content of external sites.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In