Runaway Radio

With Runaway Radio director Mike McGuff has created a raucous rock and roll documentary about the iconic Houston Album-Oriented-Rock (AOR) radio station 101 KLOL. It started in 1970 as a progressive rock station, where DJs played what they liked. It grew into a national phenomenon that was revered and copied widely. McGuff interviews 1970s rock luminaries such as Lyle Lovett, the late great Dusty Hill, Melissa Etheridge, and Sammy Hagar, along with various influential DJs (radio, no computers) from across the US from the last few decades.

In Houston, KLOL drew inspiration from the “Border Blaster” radio stations in Mexico, such as XERA and two others that were run by the famous disc jockey Wolfman Jack, XERF in Via Acuna (near Del Rio, Texas), and XERB, (in Rosarito Beach near Tijuana). Mexican radio stations did not have to adhere to the power limits of U.S. stations. Because of this, they could pump directional radio signals to the north with power up to 65,000 watts. The stations were heard around the country and wildly popular in Texas. So much so that ZZ Top wrote about them in the song “Heard it on the X.“

“…a progressive rock station, where DJs played what they liked.”

KLOL was a hub for bands getting started. One of the only female DJs at the time, Dayne Steel, loved a Sammy Hagar song so much that she made it number one… in Texas. Hagar says he’s forever grateful to her for playing “I’ll Fall in Love Again.” It raised interest in his “Standing Hampton” album enough to put him on the map. One of the best elements of KLOL versus programmed music now was that there was no algorithm. The DJs played what they liked, which made for a wide variety of songs and styles curated by people who had seasoned sensibilities. These days, as The Who said so long ago, “Rock is dead. Long live Rock.”

Too many details would ruin the fun of discovering the delights within Runaway Radio. However, meeting BDSM “Traffic Master” reporter Lanny Griffith and out-of-hand DJ Dennis “Crash” Collins proves to be tons of fun. Crash was well known for bringing the party; something wild was bound to happen when he was around. The film clicks along as frenetic as an old Iron Maiden riff, with McGuff cutting between voice-overs, interviews, photos, and clips from back in those days. Everyone shares great stories of the rise and fall of KLOL. Much praise comes to the legacy of the station from people who never worked there, as so many were inspired by the insanity and fun KLOL brought to the air. KLOL was also active in the local community, pulling together successful charity events at the drop of a hat when the call went out. They were the original “GoFundMe.”

If you remember AOR from the 1970s, Runaway Radio will fill your heart with bittersweet memories of the wild, hairy days of rock radio. If you’re too young for that, this film will be a fun way to learn about a time before streaming. While I know you don’t want some dinosaur telling you how much better the good old days were, but you will still enjoy the lively stories of rock stars sleeping on the sofas of star-makers and high-flying DJs ruling the airwaves. They were certainly different times from a rock radio era populated by unique characters and styles. This doc rocks as much as the old rock rocks. Do yourself a favor and make some time for it.