Dr. Jay on the Radio

27/07/2025

Recorded 10 years ago today. Over 1000 musicians travel from all over Italy to a field outside Cesena to play one song - in the hope of getting the attention of a band and convince them to come put on a show. It's a testament to the power of music - to inspire, to attract, to create.

The video's got 66 million views...

PS - Foo Fighters saw. And cried. And did put on that show.

1000 musicians play Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters to ask Dave Grohl to come and play in Cesena, Italy. This's the beginning of the Biggest Rock Band on Earth:...

26/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/26/25:

• 1980 – Born on this date, Dave Baksh – lead guitarist with Sum 41
• 1990 – Primus released the single Too Many Puppies, the 2nd from their debut studio album Frizzle Fry
• 2005 – Bob Mould released his 6th solo album Body of Song
• 2005 – Boys Night Out released their 2nd album Trainwreck
• 2005 – The Concretes released their compilation album Layourbattleaxedown
• 2005 – Jason Mraz released his 2nd album Mr A-Z
• 2005 – Paramore released their debut album All We Know is Falling
• 2015 – in a field outside of Cesena, Italy over 1000 musicians banded together as Rockin'1000 to play Foo Fighters Learning to Fly, hoping to get the band’s attention and bring them there for a show. It worked.

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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25/07/2025

Some New Alternative/Indie Music being released this week:
• The Dirty Nil are releasing their 5th album The Lash
• Fitz & The Tantrums are releasing their 6th album Man on the Moon
• Indigo De Souza is releasing her 4th album Precipice
• Kurt Vile is releasing his EP Classic Love
• Paul Weller is releasing his 18th solo album Find El Dorado
• The Haunt are releasing their debut album New Addiction
• Far Caspian is releasing his 3rd album Autofiction
• Gary Numan is releasing his live album A Perfect Circle: Live

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25/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/25/25:

• 1980 – Adam and the Ants released the title track from their upcoming 2nd album, Kings of the Wild Frontier, as its lead single
• 1995 - Veruca Salt released the single Victrola, the 3rd from their debut album American Thighs
• 1995 - The Presidents Of The United States Of America’s self-titled debut album was remixed and re-released by their new major label
• 2000 - The Weakerthans released their 2nd album Left and Leaving
• 2000 – EVE 6 released their 2nd album Horrorscope
• 2005 - Nine Inch Nails released the single Only, the 2nd from their 4th album With Teeth
• 2005 - Björk released the soundtrack album Drawing Restraint 9
• 2005 - Editors released their debut album The Back

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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24/07/2025

It's the Bruce Smith episode! IYKYK.

You can access the recording here: https://vault.wrir.org/shows/202507241300.AlternativeMilestones.mp3

And here's the playlist (and hopefully eventually access to the show recording via the embedded player): https://www.wrir.org/2025/07/24/alternative-milestones-episode-78-tickets/

And it was awesome to give away those tickets for the Modest Mouse / Flaming Lips show! I appreciate everyone who tuned in at least for that bit and hope you all enjoyed the chaos of this week's show.

24/07/2025

Alternative Milestones Episode 78 - Tickets!

During today's show I'll be giving away a pair of tickets for the Modest Mouse/Flaming Lips show coming up on August 3rd (a week from Sunday) so keep your ears on your radio and your dialing fingers loose.

I'll be starting today's show as many have over the last couple of days, with a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne who we lost on Tuesday. Fly high, Prince of Darkness!

There's another in Memoriam track from Big Star, birthdays to celebrate featuring music from XTC, System of a Down, M.I.A., Bauhaus, The Pogues, Fitz and the Tantrums and The Catherine Wheel.

I'd I'll be training a new DJ as well, so we'll hear from him too. Gonna be a full show!

24/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/24/25:

• 1995 – The Catherine Wheel released the single Waydown, the 2nd from their 3rd album Happy Days
• 2015 – Sleaford Mods released their 8th album Key Markets
• 2020 – Broadside (from Richmond VA!) released their 3rd album Into the Raging Sea
• 2020 – The Naked And Famous released their 4th album Recover
• 2020 – Neck Deep released their 4th album All Distortions are Intentional
• 2020 – Neon Trees released their 4th album I Can Feel You Forgetting Me

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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23/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/23/25:

• 1965 – Born on this date, singer/songwriter Rob Dickinson – frontman with The Catherine Wheel
• 1995 – 2 R.E.M. fans died during the band’s gig at Slane Castle in Dublin – one drowned trying to swim to the castle to avoid paying, and another was allegedly pushed from a bridge
• 2000 – Mike D of Beastie Boys required surgery to fix a badly dislocated a shoulder after hitting a pothole on his bike in NYC, forcing cancellation of a planned tour with Rage Against the Machine
• 2010 – Kings Of Leon left a gig outside of St. Louis after 3 songs, complaining of being pooped on by a flock of pigeons in the rafters of the venue. They didn’t return and refunds were given. They returned to the venue 2 months later.

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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22/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/22/25:

Actually, there aren't any. So this seems like a great time to tell you that on my show this week I'll be giving away a pair of tickets to see Modest Mouse and Flaming Lips on Sunday August 3rd.

So make sure you're listening to Alternative Milestones, 1-3PM Thursday 7/24 on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio, online at https://wrir.org/listen, or on your favorite radio app.

Maybe I'll see you at the show!

21/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/21/25:

• 1970 – Born on this date, Michael Fitzpatrick, lead vocalist with Fitz & The Tantrums
• 1995 – Elliott Smith released his self-titled 2nd album
• 2000 – Oasis’ performance at Wembley Stadium was recorded and became their live CD/DVD Familiar to Millions

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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20/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/20/25:

• 1955 – Born on this date, Jem Finer – founding banjoist with The Pogues
• 1980 – Born on this date, Michael Kennerty – rhythm guitarist with The All-American Rejects
• 2000 – The 5th album in the Punk-O-Rama series was released by Epitaph Records

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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19/07/2025

Alternative Milestones for 7/19/25:

• 1960 – Born on this date, Kevin Haskins – drummer with Bauhaus and Love & Rockets
• 1980 – A production of The Elephant Man, with David Bowie as the title character, opened in Denver. He took over the role on Broadway later in the year.
• 1985 – The Cure released the single In Between Days as the lead from their upcoming 6th album The Head On the Door
• 1995 – The movie Clueless was released, along with its soundtrack album
• 2005 – Black Francis (Frank Black) released his 10th solo album Honeycomb
• 2010 – Andy Hummel, bassist with Big Star, died from cancer at the age of 59

WRIR 97.3FM Richmond Community Radio
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