Radio Free Boston: The Rise and Fall of WBCN

Images

WBCN “Soundwaves” poster from 1970 featuring caricatures of “Mississippi Harold Wilson” (Joe Rogers), Charles Laquidara, JJ Jackson, Andy Beaubien, Sam Kopper, and Jim Parry. Poster art by Paul Bernath, photo of poster by Don Sanford. WBCN “Stereo Rock” bumper sticker from 1971. Photo by Dan Beach. WBCN poster from 1973 designed by the master of macabre illustration Gahan Wilson. Wilson was hired by the station to do the artwork and traveled from Chicago to sketch in the studio during a shift by Old Saxophone Joe. By kind permission of Gahan Wilson. Poster courtesy of the David Bieber archives. WBCN “Chrome” bumper sticker, early eighties. From the author’s collection. WBCN “Comic Book” bumper sticker, eighties. From the author’s collection. The air staff in Fenway Park. Taken from the 1986 WBCN Rock ’n’ Roll Calendar. Photo by Ron Pownall/RockRollPhoto.com. On the parquet at the old Boston Garden. Taken from the 1988 WBCN Rock ’n’ Roll Calendar. Photo by Ron Pownall/RockRollPhoto.com. Wicked Yellow’s license plate. Saved by Tank moments before the legendary radio station vehicle plummeted from a crane to her death on the asphalt during WBCN’s famous “Drop Era.” Courtesy of Tank’s personal collection. left First WBCN River Rave in 1995, the only one by a river! From the author’s collection. right 1996 X-Mas Rave All X-Cess Pass. From the author’s collection. The famous eighties period “yellow-winged” and purple WBCN Aerosmith bumper sticker. From the author’s collection. “Rock Revolution” sticker created in 1995 to announce WBCN’s new alternative music focus. From the author’s collection. Pearl Jam bumper sticker. From the author’s collection. Steven Tyler and the author at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston, November 2012, talking Aerosmith and WBCN. Photo by Tim Staskiewicz. WBCN/Patriots Super Bowl Champions bumper sticker, 2002. Courtesy of Tony Berardini/New England Patriots. ...