18 October 2007

WXB 102 started it all!!!

History

Nicknamed as "The Station That Dares To Be Different", DWXB-FM was the first all-New Wave music radio station in the Philippines. Broadcasting at 102.7 MHz (initially at 102.5 MHz) on the FM dial and from inside a house in Pasay City, Philippines, DWXB-FM, also referred to as WXB-102, acquired legendary status since it vanished from the airwaves on June 9, 1987. DWXB-FM captured the imaginations of Manila youth in the '80s, bringing New Wave music to the Philippine mainstream and inspiring regional rock artists such as The Dawn, The Identity Crisis, and Violent Playground, all of whom were championed by the station at a time when guitar-based OPM was ignored by the other local outlets with the exception of a weekly show on DZRJ-AM in the early '80s.

Prior to switching to New Wave, the DWXB-FM management flirted with disco in the late '70s and then adopted the American Top Forty format in 1982, dubbing itself Cute 102. By 1983, WXB 102 started including New Wave bands from the UK such as Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Devo, and Culture Club into the Top Forty mix, due to the influence of DJ Mark Fournier, known over his broadcasts as Magic. In 1984, New Wave began erupting in Manila's dance clubs thanks to the city's mobile discos, who often spun records imported from Europe, and the proliferation of New Wave music videos on Philippine TV. WXB 102 gradually evolved into a New Wave/disco radio station with the late Fournier; The Unbeatable, the alias of Dave Ryan; and Rico Severino, known as J.J.Michaels. WXB 102 briefly competed with another New Wave/disco radio station in Manila, DWBM-FM 105.1 MHz (dubbed as Power 105 FM), in 1985. But this was just the beginning.

Then the peak came. It was only in 1986 when the station went full-blown "new music" in format with the now-immortal line-up of The Morning Man or Inggo & his Request Round-Up at sign-on; Cool Carla; Julius Caesar; George Frederick, who was also the Program Director; Fat Albert & his program Rock Wave; and The Ghost. A pair of blocktime shows that caught the youth market by the neck back then were Radio Manila and Capital Radio, specializing in local underground punk like The Dead Ends and Urban Bandits and U.K. and U.S. imports that characterized a harsher or more avant-garde side to alternative music such as records from Hüsker Dü, Bad Brains, and Half-Man Half-Biscuit. At this point, "The Station That Dares to be Different" became officially known as WXB 102.

Despite its relatively low power of less than 1 kilowatt, WXB 102 developed a huge following in places where its signal could be picked up, creating mainstream hits such as "State of the Nation" by Industry, "The Ghost in You" by The Psychedelic Furs, "Feels Like (Heaven)" by Fiction Factory, and "People Are People" by Depeche Mode.

In 1986, WXB 102 was the Philippines' most influential music station, its popularity putting pressure on regional labels to belatedly release the entire discographies of The Cure, Depeche Mode, Aztec Camera, and U2 and hard-to-find LPs from The Lotus Eaters, China Crisis, Orange Juice, and The Church. On the surface, their New Wave format could be compared to overseas stations like KROQ-FM and CFNY-FM, but WXB 102 probed the genre for deeper cuts and more obscure acts, giving massive exposure to little-known or forgotten New Wave artists from the UK such as The Pale Fountains, Care, Friends Again, Fiat Lux, Martin Ansell, and Private Lives. Unable to compete, Power 105 FM switched to mainstream pop.

WXB 102 in 1986

The competition between WXB 102 and Power 105 FM had perished by 1986, the latter shelving much of its New Wave music for pop. WXB 102, with the New Wave market to itself and surprising Top Ten ratings, concentrated on pleasing its followers and instead of trying to the masses. The station developed a certain sound - a combination of jangly, romantic pop (Jimmy Jimmy, The Lotus Eaters, Aztec Camera); ethereal, shimmering rock (Care, Echo & the Bunnymen, U2); Gothic dance (The Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie & the Banshees, Xmal Deutschland); synthesized European disco (Yaz, Depeche Mode, New Order); punk (The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Dead Kennedys); and an array of spellbinding and undiscovered local talent (The Dawn, Introvoys, Deans December).

WXB 102 in 1987

While the New Wave era was already pronounced dead in America in 1987, the genre had not even yet peaked in Manila. Albums once unavailable were continuing to be licensed to Philippine labels, thanks to the tastemaking punch of WXB 102. However, 1987 would be its final year. The new Cory Aquino-led government began sequestering properties owned by her predecessor Ferdinand Marcos and his cronies, including the home studio that WXB FM beamed from. At this point, the DJs - including The Morning Man, George Frederick, Fat Albert, Julius Caesar, The Ghost, and Cool Carla - were working for free, spinning New Wave records from 6 a.m. to midnight. On June 9, 1987, despite attempts to keep it on the air, WXB 102, with DJ Allan K. on board, signed off after The Alarm's "Walk Forever By My Side."

Post-XB: New Dreams for Old

In November 1987, seeing that the absence of WXB 102 left a void on Manila radio that could be capitalized upon, NU 107 debuted at 107.5 MHz on the dial with a series of test broadcasts that resurrected 102 staples such as Wire Train, INXS, Echo & the Bunnymen, Depeche Mode, The Pale Fountains, The Housemartins, The Waterboys and Icehouse in what was termed a "New Rock" format. It essentially picked up where WXB 102 left off, debuting late '80s New Wave acts like Black, Crowded House, and Johnny Hates Jazz. However, NU 107 wasn't considered as adventuresome as its predecessor. In late 1987, Power 105 FM had returned to its short-lived New Wave format from the mid-'80s. Power 105 FM, plunged further into the New Wave waters that WXB 102 once swam in. Just as WXB 102 did, it bravely paraded the most rare New Wave records they could find, carving a fanbase for virtually unknown artists such as Eyeless in Gaza, Fruits of Passion, The Explorers, The Room, and White China.

In 1988, Mickey the Clown from WXB 102 reappeared on DWBC-AM as Mick Flame and hosted a 102-styled show often featuring former WXB 102 DJs as guests.

Except for NU 107, which continued to tweak its format and became an alternative rock powerhouse in the '90s, none of it lasted as Manila entered another decade.

In the late 1990s, tribute sites to WXB 102 started appearing on the Internet from fans. Moreover, various radio shows began debuting in the Philippines that paid homage to the quirky and colorful music of the former FM station and its successors brought to an entire generation of teenagers in the country.

Rebirth

On 10 September 2005, lifelong fan and New Wave historian Michael Sutton, CEO of the independent label Sutton Records, revived WXB 102 in cyberspace, fulfilling a decades-old fantasy that had its online roots in the no-budget taped broadcasts he and Magic recorded for the original WXB 102 tribute site (maintained with Luis Reyes, Jr.) in 1998. With Seattle-based DJ Brent Sanders as engineer and Los Angeles-based DJ Klyde using his WXB102 Forever website for as the station's HQ, Sutton brought WXB 102 back on the air. Sutton proceeded to recruit some of WXB's original staff, including Mick Flame, The Morning Man, and Cool Carla, to record their first WXB shows in 18 years.

Listeners can now hear WXB 102 through webstreaming powered by Live365. In 2006, WXB 102 started playing the most recent songs from New Wave legends, current indie and alternative acts such as Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, Kaiser Chiefs and The Killers, as well as reggae and ska.

On October 23, 2006, WXB 102 became the first online music station to have a countdown hosted by DJs in various countries.

On January 15, 2007, WXB 102 began broadcasting live for the first time since going off the air nearly 20 years before. WXB 102's legendary Program Director/DJ George Frederick returned to the airwaves along with The Ghost, Mick Flame, and Naughty Natty, one of the station's original volunteers. Two days later, Julius Caesar came back to the station, also broadcasting live from Manila. WXB 102 is the only Internet-based New Wave radio station with live DJs broadcasting daily.

On July 26, 2007, WXB 102 became the No. 1 highest-rated Internet radio station in the dancepunk/80s/new wave category on Live365.

102 Music: The Next Generation

Just as WXB 102 challenged its competitors in the '80s by playing cutting-edge artists (Echo & the Bunnymen,R.E.M.,New Order, etc) that nobody had heard of yet, the station continues to champion adventurous independent acts and new music:

Current WXB 102 Staff

XB Trivia

  • Steve Kilbey of the Church, Will Sergeant of Echo & the Bunnymen, APB, and Tom Haran of the Expression have all recorded station IDs for WXB 102.
  • WXB 102 was the first FM station simulcast on the AM band in the Philippines.
  • The first 102 party was called "SHADOW CABINET of WXB 102."
  • When George Frederick took over PD duties in 1986, he threw away the pop records from Madonna, Rod Stewart, and Michael Jackson, among others, that the station was still playing.
  • "Enveloped Ideas" by the Filipino New Wave group The Dawn was voted as the greatest 102 song of all time by listeners in 2006.
  • DJ Ben Hitler died from a heart attack in 2005.
  • Although known as a New Wave radio station, WXB 102 wasn't afraid to bend the format by surprising fans with the non-punk likes of Richie Valens ("La Bamba"), Nancy Sinatra ("These Boots Are Made for Walkin'"), and Frank Sinatra ("My Way"). Cheech & Chong were also staples. It's a spirit that continues with the station's online revival.
  • The first record played by George Frederick on WXB 102 was "Seven Seas" by Echo & the Bunnymen.
  • The female voice in The Morning Man's Request Round-Up stinger was none other than his wife of 31 years, Sumitra.
  • When Allan K. returned to WXB 102 in 2006 after 19 years, he opened his first show with a sample from his final goodbye on June 9, 1987.
  • Mick Flame is short for Michael Flameno.
  • The Morning Man brought the reggae to WXB 102, including Bob Marley, Aswad, Black Uhuru, and Laid Back.
  • Contrary to myth, WXB 102 DJs worked with a playlist in 1986-1987. They were produced by programme director George Frederick.
  • The OPM pop song "Pain" by Martin Nievera was once played on WXB 102 to fulfill KBP regulations for playing local Philippine music. When George Frederick celebrated his birthday on the air in 2006, owner Michael Sutton dedicated the song to him.
  • Mark Fournier died in 2000. The resurrection of WXB 102 is dedicated to his memory.
Source: Wikipedia
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