WOLFMAN JACK - Exclusive "What's Wrong With Radio & Media" 1989

What Is Wrong With Radio? This classic music legend speaks candidly and prophetically about the condition of radio today in this informative interview with producer Joel Samuel.
He was a music DJ icon and he will be missed. 1989
RIP- Wolfman Jack
If you enjoy this please tell your friends you saw it on joelsamuelpresents

[@discmanjeff4134]

Wolfman is right on the Money. The Right Music can make you feel good and the right DJ can enhance the feeling to....

[@BSCactusJoelSamuelAZ]

Prophetic and Visionary like so many he saw the comming of what communication has become today. Pass it on. RIP Wolfman and thanks for sharing on my show.

[@hhrtwo]

He was my idol!!

[@Chuck41148]

He was one of a kind.

[@johndavidson6165]

In the early 90's, I was a DJ on a major market, heritage, AM oldies station. Wolfman Jack came to town hosting one of those golden oldies concerts Herman's Hermits, Leslie Gore, Fabien, etc. I was the host of the show from the local radio station and had the pleasure to meet The Wolfman. He was a wonderful, gracious, and kind man-- he was my idol.

[@Me97202]

Same experience here. In 1978.

[@CUBANARAMA]

Wolfman Jack rocked the 70's

[@Skeebo69365]

awoooooo!!!!! Thanks dude, you made life more bearable.I Miss your shows somethin' awful. I'll dig you 'til the day I die...he..he..he.

[@rockinjohn89]

Great Interview! The "Wolfman" hit it right on the button. Today's commercial rock radio sucks! The same bad songs are played over and over again and there are no radio "Personalities" that you can latch on to. I'm glad that this video is on you tube. Thanks!

[@mowm88]

Very enjoyable.

[@SWC44]

Joel, THANK YOU!!!!!!!! Jack

[@paulm.7422]

True words spoken by the Wolfman, even back in 1989! Radio's main competition today is the smartphone ... I have as many songs on a memory card as most stations have in their computer systems. The only advantage radio offered was the "entertainment factor" ... the DJ ... but sadly, most DJs were replaced by computers and voice-tracking. When the older remaining DJs retire, there is no one left to fill their shoes. Radio is not a big thing to the average 20-something, so they are hardly going to pursue a career in that industry ... an industry that no longer even pays reasonably.

[@CanadaAstro]

Clap for the Wolfman, he's gonna reach your RECORD high...Yeah! RIP

[@fraz72]

wolf man jack was speaking prophetically when he said that computers are selecting songs to play over the radio. this is why we have a uneerground sould and even some underground radio stations

[@tbirdtim]

The Wolfman had it goin' on, no doubt. He was the best!

[@mi1964amigo]

LEGEND!

[@Bibbs65]

I agree i still live in the seventies & eighties

[@TrishLewis]

I really miss the Wolfman. I am lucky enough to be the living DJ he describes.

[@WTFNTZSJ]

I sure agree with BigAndTall666, but I now listen to net radio for Malloy and Kincaid. Great shows. I knew Wolfman Jack and he was such a nice guy. Very warm and intelligent and I honestly can say he is one of the kindest people I have ever met in my 57 years. I miss him and remember him well. He lives in my heart and memory. Oh one more thing: Today's Mainstream TV and Radio suck.

[@frogslife1]

Good job Wolf man way to tell it like it is.. still same problem going on they should have more public radio stations

[@mowm88]

he was great. Sorry to see he's gone, too-1995. From what i heard he returned home from a booktour, and died of a heart attack when he met his wife at the door. Kinda sad.

[@papawx3]

It is obvious from this clip that the wolfman was not in the best of health by this time. The fire going out. But what he is saying is right on the mark. As anyone over 50 can tell you, this is what happens to you when you get to this stage in life-you long for the good 'ol days that are gone, and aren't coming back.

[@BBQFanNo1]

This could be said even a lot more now in the 21st century

[@retrothingz]

You play the right tracks back to back to create an emotional effect..... the process was called "music programming". As Wolfman says, it's a lost art now

[@BBQFanNo1]

We are in a golden age of music. There will be a time when technology becomes so advanced that we’ll rely on them to make music rather than raw talent. Music will lose its soul. (Freddie Mercury 1946-1991)

[@createsonglovemusic]

Even back then music was on the down swing. Let's hope the internet can get it back.

[@Me97202]

2021 now. That didn’t happen, unfortunately.

[@Leash8181]

such a strong message, and its crazy to think that was back in the day of the casette players where people didn't have Ipods or mp3 that they switch to because the radio is that god damn awful!

[@SuperEcwchampion]

So, on the radio, he has this gravelly voice, but out of the radio, he had a normal voice. You don't see many people like wolf man jack anymore. Every time we sing Clap for the wolf man, I do his voice. Such fun to imitate his voice. RIP Wolf man!!

[@Max9507]

The Wolfman was a much "Underrated Legend." I met him in 80's and he was a true gentleman & super nice to all his loyal fans. You know what they say about first impressions, and I was impressed. We lost a true Gem!

[@Me97202]

I wouldn’t say he was underrated. He had a fabulous and long career.

[@RetroCaptain]

Good Day, Wolfman was pretty well right,..although there are a small handful of radio stations,..both AM & FM that have not gone "bonkers" computerizing their playlists...It's a crappy feeling,.when you KNOW, that at 10:05am tomorrow they will play the same song again or worse!! 3 hours later!! I'm fortunate to have a local (independent) station that allows the DJ's to mix it up or play back-to-back, as they will. I love it. Yes they say corny jokes,.its the "human touch" that keeps me listening

[@BIRISHPM]

Corporate America killed the music industry and all the formerly great DJs. The Wolfman's comments on this clip were and remain dead on target. Almost all the major stations, coast to coast, are owned by large corporations and they are run as such. When they neutered the DJ they took the heart and soul out of the business. The good DJs of the 50s through the early 80s were in touch with their audience and their audience were invested in their shows. Sadly, it's a lost part of Americana that we are not likely to experience again. RIP Wolfman we miss you brother.

[@21stCenturySpaceOdyssey]

Absolutely. I can see how the Wolfman yearns for the days were the DJ's had the primary input. At least he had enough cache to do live appearances. Wolfman also had some great insight about subliminal shit in music. He also didn't appreciate the "shock jocks", and since Wolfman worked at WNBC which also had Howard Stern, one has to wonder if those two ever got along...

[@yolandavv]

Thank you Wolman Jack. I used to listen to you all the time.

[@rockitradio]

Thank you for putting this on you tube! It still holds true today and we will be making it our vintage video pick of the week here at Rock-it Radio for our listeners. Thank you again and all the best, Bennie Dingo Rock-it Radio Online

[@papawx3]

I don't know how long this was before the Wolfman's death, but he looked bad here. Take care of your heart, it is the only one you have...RIP Wolfman!

[@RaintreeLDS]

What great grassroots industrial philosophy of the art.

[@792x33]

I agree with everything the Wolfman said!

[@ladybug9610]

792x33

[@BBQFanNo1]

1980 people: music, sports and entertainment sucks in this new decade. I miss the good old days of the 1960s and 1970s.

[@ir10031981]

RIP WOLFMAN! it's been 19 years since he passed away, have mercy! Tuesday July 1, 2014.

[@stoplivingbecomedead]

Thank you very much.

[@mustafahajj]

Amazing statement. Wolfman Jack was a visionary. This clip dates back to 1989. 2015 where does the music industry stands? Radio sucks so therefore the music sucks. I truly remember the days of tuning into the local radio station/DJ for the latest jam. Now, its all about what artist is showing the most skin on MTV or instagram. The artist that shows the most skin usually get the most radio spins thus digital downloads.

[@21stCenturySpaceOdyssey]

Yup. And let's also include the technology that can take any non-singer and correct their voice, genuine talent doesn't mean anything anymore.

[@algismorales]

I love this!!! Thank you Joel for posting this interview. Very cool.

[@TheBoogieWoman]

I was also a 20+ year jock and I burned out on the industry because of what happened. I moved on to news and then out of Radio. It's still really sad to me. I miss the old days. I agree with you, you just never know who is going to like what if you don't try it. Sometimes if you're some young or old person's favorite DJ and you play a not so good record one that "they" say that group wont like...turns out that group likes it because you played it. All boils down to Wolfman was right.

[@ladybug9610]

TheBoogieWoman

[@ladybug9610]

TheBoogieWoman

[@ladybug9610]

TheBoogieWoman

[@mowm88]

This is a pretty good one.

[@jason75]

Rest in peace wolfman jack. I remember him growing up in the 70's listening to him.. played some pycedhedlc rock

[@62granados]

He was right too.RIP my man.Love you forever friend.

[@TheSlugJones]

I never got to hear much of Jack, but I wish he were still around to teach some of these current guys.

[@BigAndTall666]

I haven´t been listening to radio for myself for a period of some 20 years and i haven´t been watching TV for 5 years. Damn - it´s all a heavy load of BS they play on radio (or show on TV)!!! -I´m so happy that i´ve got my music collection, it´s way better than radio or TV!

[@vince065us]

@tommytruth You got that right! He was a class act.

[@kirkmoore4515]

I used to travel extensively for a living. You can hear the same jock in 3 different markets, voice tracked with little mention of the city you're in, and no local content other than a occasional insert. We need more guys like Wolfman & less guys like Ryan Seacrest. Ryan's OK by 2018 standards. But he couldn't hold a candle to one Bobby Ocean or Tom Donahue.

[@glennbuttram3986]

Wolf Man rocks

[@THEMOJOMANsince1959]

You could tell by those very dark circles around his eyes and his weight his heart just give out. Died in his driveway huffy and puffy after just getting home. Genius

[@hero2d0s]

Just before his death Wolfman Jack wrote his biography its titled Lord Have Mercy if Im not mistaken.

[@Me97202]

I was actually reading his book at the exact moment I heard of his death in 1995.

[@djtrishm]

You were right on target on that Wolfman!

[@hunkydaboyz]

Wolfman ,(may he rest in peace) spot on ..i'm a radio announcer, they should "have a go" (like we say in Australia ,) do something different

[@mustafahajj]

The question is who's at fault? There is no way we can blame the artist. Everyone knows the artist doesn't have any power. Many of the Rappers past and present doesn't want to rap about the things they are forced to write about. Record executive gets the word or that album may never see light of day. Prince the guy wrote "slave' onto his face to prove his point. This is an artist that composed and produced 99.99% of his entire musical catalog over a 30+ yr span of hits however no control over the music he truly wanted to put out. Sad!

[@StargateFan2389]

I know this was posted 8 months ago but that would explain why I love older music :D

[@SteveStalzle]

Corporate radio sucks! I work in Public Radio. we need your support!

[@BBQFanNo1]

The 1980's are the last decade that Music was Written and Performed by Musicians. Not written by corporate entities and performed by puppeteered entertainers! --- Don Byron from You Tube Amen Brother! What Real Natural Born Talented Singers sounded like before auto-tune was began to be overused in the global music recording companies industries in the late 1990's

[@badboybaldy1]

loved him in the 70's was amazinged he was a white guy when i frist see him ..i thought he was a black man hey ...but whatever he was so cool in he's time live on i say ...bless

[@BIRISHPM]

Like many things in America, radio has be ruined by corporate control. Unfortunately radio became worse following this prophetic interview with the Great Wolfman Jack.

[@pdxeddie1111]

they don't make em like the wolfman no more

[@navaho2017]

Obviously this was taped before Wolfman's death in '95, if he thought there was something wrong with radio then he must be turning over in his grave with all the crap they play now. RIP Wolfman Jack # 1 DJ of all-time. : )

[@ladybug9610]

navaho2017

[@StargateFan2389]

Yeah true there :D

[@nickhaag2660]

He's a major influence on me. The reason I got in to DJ-Ing in the first place

[@LesbianVampireLover]

Think about how OLD this clip is. Things are orders of magnitude worse today. Real DJs are few and far between. And The Wolfman shows here that he was truly an "outlaw" DJ, bucking the system, pissing and moaning about how conventional radio sucks. Damned few of them are left.

[@scottbailey1560]

I think, just in my opinion, Wolfman would not like today's pool of where American discovers talent, TV Shows like American Idol, The X Factor, America's Got Talent. Many new great bands and artist were discovered in places that were almost dumps back in the day. Mariah Carey was getting hot right before the Wolfman passed away. I often wondered through artist like her, where he thought Pop Music was headed?

[@koolbossjock]

What he sez is true,I have been in radio 22 yrs and computers along with Cheap channel aka clear channel hve ruined radio forever.that shit about our research shows is a joke.You cannot predict what age group is going to like a song.

[@paulvangelder7046]

straight from my heart, telling them so many years ago, are they deaf?

[@pbrickley6247]

Casey Kasem was scared to death of Wolfman Jack and briefly considered moving to Japan to escape Wolfmans fans in 1975.

[@THEMOJOMANsince1959]

All Casey Kasem had was an odd voice. In person no personality, STIFF

[@markybgoode]

First, let me say, Wolfman is my favorite DJs. That being said, he appears haggard in this video, by repeating himself about computers, etc. It's true, demographics and such determine a lot of what's played. But back in the day radio wasn't much better: just listen to old air-checks. People always romantisize the past. If you like the old music better-fine. But back in the day, payola was a problem, and "suggestive" records were often banned.

[@JonathanLangdale]

"Do you like the record, computer?" .

[@BigAndTall666]

That is all the good old stuff, it´s very remote to the "music" played nowadays...I don´t think that he would have much of a chance today, the modern dj´s are all the same: it´s all "bla-bla-bla" without any other message than "hear me, i´m on the radio"....I fear that if any character like the wolfman were to pop up today, he would quickly be drowned in the "white noise" of modern dj´s and that´s a pity! "The old grey mare ain´t what she used to be, ain´t what she used to be", like...

[@dunlap4info]

Does anyone know the year of this interview? It's funny how the Wolfman was talking about computers destroying radio/DJ's. My blind cousin was a radio DJ for 13 years and had to be fired from his job because he couldn't use the new computer systems that were taking over radio, his shift became completely automated by a computer. Only job he ever had. Couldn't get work after this happened to him. This interview had to have been about the time my cousin lost his job in the late 80's/early 90's.

[@blind51de]

I wish I'd been alive, or musically aware, when Wolfman was on the air. That "show" his estate cobbled together is so repetitive.

[@JohnRinNoHo]

Frank Zappa also has an interesting take on what happened to music: Frank Zappa - Decline of the Music Industry

[@Channel-cm7yc]

He's defiantly turning over in his grave with radio the way it is now!!

[@iamranndizzle3204]

No he wouldn’t

[@super63strat]

Remember Wolfman at Old Town in Kissimee Florida in 87

[@blueticecho]

Yeah...and no need to worry about being indict for payola with a computer...

[@JT422B]

how old is this interview

[@boomerservantez8367]

What exact year was that... I know he speaks of The Wave Peeps thought they would dethrone POWER 106 L.A. but that never happened. They were playing smooth jazz so at the time it was music some Angelenos never heard... But the funny thing is The Wave played songs I played when I was on POWER 106. But we too stole from KROQ

[@AnotherAlly]

What year was this from exactly? Awesome vid.

[@ToolsnFire]

What year is this interview?

[@choclochonclo]

The Greatest DJ ever sure do miss him

[@j1mmyd1ck]

You would think they would do better lighting!!! wtf shadows!!!!

[@Tonithenightowl]

Oddly his regular speaking voice sounds a lot like George Carlin's voice. Is it me or what? lol His radio voice is unmistakeable but if I just tuned into this I would think it was Carlin.

[@fringestream990]

There is a great app I heart radio.....it's a great concept. But if you travel often or surf through I heart's app every damn station has a genre and it's repeated throughout the whole country. Listen to a rock station in Seattle, you can hear the same exact songs on a rock station in Atlanta. I mean how many times can I listen to Sweet home Alabama???

[@user-qt5xt5mh7u]

2:41

[@jeffreygriffin7248]

6:34

[@apexdna]

What year is this?

[@revelveteen]

you're wrong. check out COMMUNITY RADIO, noncommercial, volunteer-run, listener sponsored. No one in COMMERCIAL radio like this now, though.

[@HUTINAK]

I am sorry Wolfman. The DJ's role has taken a backseat. By the industry's choice. The talent, or lack of, on air today are stifled by these large corporations that have sucked up the private stations As a result, the've stripped all personality comeing from the onair and moved it to it's imaging. A good example is JACK FM

[@petertripp3921]

"Classic music legend"?

[@JoelSamuelProductions]

Here is a rare video related to the prophetic people in Radio in Arizona check it out kzbin.info/www/bejne/mH3biYGveJlqaKs

[@SWC44]

PS, Just Subbed and Liked,, When I Graduated From CSB,, We had 2 turntables,, 3 cart Machines,, No Puters,, But Know There called What,, Radio Personalitys??????? Thanks Again,,

[@BBQFanNo1]

The subliminal bad demonic vibes and bad spiritual messages are bumming out the human sub conscious too much from the music waves processed within the last 30 years.

[@DexterHaven]

At times like 5:40, he keeps touching his nose like he did coke. From his physique, you could tell he had a sedentary job.

[@zirk1007]

Who is blind blake