The recording date is unknown for this sample of 1990s 100.7 Double-X. Oddly enough, there’s very little information available on this radio station, so listener input is very important as we log the history of radio.
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By Steve West
Steve West is a 41 year veteran of broadcasting. His air work as a Jock and News Anchor includes six radio markets and over two-dozen radio stations. Steve is the founder of Airchexx.com and Hitoldies.net - All the BIG Hits!
Double X was a legend in the ‘Burgh! The first commercial alternative/modern rock station.
This aircheck is of Phil Kirzyc – who went afterward to WDVE in Pittsburgh and is still there to this day. The reference to the new Icehouse LP dates this to late 1987 or possibly early 1988.
At first, I’d have guessed 1988, because of “New Sensation” being an ’88 hit. However, the radio spot for the Jesus And Mary Chain concert “…this Monday night” pretty much gives it away that this is a recording from right in the middle of November, 1987, just before the 16th. The 16th of November 1987 was Monday, and this documents a Jesus And Mary Chain concert that happened in Pittsburgh at an unknown venue (“The Station That Dares To Be Different” fills in the blank there as Graffiti.), //www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.songkick.com%2Fconcerts%2F1302513-jesus-and-mary-chain-at-unknown-venue&ei=lt_JU72PLoKpyATUpYL4CA&usg=AFQjCNFBzGLbJsw3M_k-PMZBsMyHZxr2xA&bvm=bv.71198958,d.aWw
Sounds like a modern rocker from 1988… WXXP did become rhythmic WMXP Mix Jamz 100.7 sometime around 1990. It’s now Star 100.7.
This radio station was on for two years from 1986-88 in Pittsburgh and was a sister station of then-Modern Rocker WLIR-FM 92.7 in Garden City, Long Island — the de-facto New York City Alternative station with a signal great at Jones Beach and nowhere else. Double X was a good attempt at bringing the “DRE” Dare To Be Different concept to a city that really had a great Modern Rock scene. Sadly, WDVE and B94 owned the radio market and Double X suffered from a financially troubled owner and an inability to do more than get promoters to support the station. No beer money. No car dollars. Result? The evolution to the dreadful “Mix Jamz,” which was exactly as it appears — half Churban, half Hot AC circa 1991. A GSM’s dream; a programmer’s hell.