Episode #99
#99 Ivan Bodley - Creator of The Hardcore Show WTUL
Radio was already heavily formatted by the time the 80’s hit. You had your classic rock, your country, your R&B stations and others, and they were virtually the same across the nation. Radio WAS top 40, with the exception of the far left side of the dial. There you could find, among other choices, college radio. These stations neither got their funding from, nor answered to, large corporations. And though their listener base was a collage of personalities and preferences, a specific age range congealed them. Enter Ivan Bodley… In 1982, the 17 year old arriving freshman at Tulane University in New Orleans hits up the college radio station, WTUL, looking for free records. What he found was an opening for the Music Director position. He very quickly became the liaison for labels looking to promote on the college radio circuit. He was also the eyes and ears for local club owners seeking reassurances before booking. Though WTUL’s reach was limited in distance, it sat in the middle of approximately one million people back then. Ivan would use his knowledge and his reach to usher in New Orleans’ first and only extreme music on the radio by creating The Hardcore Show. It would run on the weekends from 2 to 6 am and featured everything from Metallica and Slayer before they were known to lesser-knowns like Shot Down in Ecuador Jr. He interviewed bands in town like The Ramones, the Circle Jerks Butthole Surfers, and Tex and the Horseheads. Now, Ivan Bodley was unassuming. Ivan had no idea that people were listening. But throughout my years of interviewing I can tell you that The Hardcore Show has been cited as invaluable in inspiring, motivating, and informing the minds of today’s successful musicians in the greater New Orleans area. So without further adieu, here’s Ivan Bodley. https://neworleansmusicians.com Leif Meche Band Bret Flesh Parade Elevate yourhealth and well-being. Shop Realmushrooms.com and support this show! Here’s 20%off just for our listeners. https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=1494 Free trial for AI assisted editing with Opus Clip. Create viral short videos for social! OPUS CLIP: https://tolt.link/nom Donate to this show: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=83ZWJWHNRAYNU
