My WBAB Air Check
Added 2025-03-10 20:06:54 +0000 UTCWhen I was a youngster doing local radio for WBAB (Long Island, market #18). I was working overnights - but got great ratings! This was Opie's old spot (from Opie & Anthony) who had gone on to do some other things. I heard he was reasonably successful.๐
Yes, that's a quick clip of Roger Luce at the end (of Roger & JP fame). Roger was a big supporter of mine. I owe him a lot. For all you Long Islanders, know that Roger is one of nicest human beings you'll ever meet. JP is great, too. They're still doing mornings over there!
Hope you enjoy baby me...
Comments
AJ might know one of the guys on 98 Rock out of Baltimore. One of those guys hails from New York and from Long Island. Seems a lot of talent sprouted from that area.
David
2025-04-20 23:12:27 +0000 UTCJuan Valdez' donkey looks so sad. That's gold Axl, pure gold! ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
JOE DUNN
2025-04-03 20:43:48 +0000 UTCIt's been a running joke about Hecklefish's identity. And since AJ's good at voices...
The Neoborn Caveman Show
2025-03-27 05:20:56 +0000 UTCIโm so confused. Everyone is talking about hecklefish, but I donโt hear him or see him in the video at all. Am I missing something? There is an audio clip of Cartman from south park saying tree hugging hippies that kind of sounds like hecklefish.
Greg
2025-03-27 00:28:21 +0000 UTCAwesomeness
Lance mangum
2025-03-24 20:03:36 +0000 UTCWow, Those Were Some Great Years & Times! ๐ Turn Back Time- Felt Like Everything Was Easy Going & Fun... Strange Getting Older & Things Just Kinda Get Tougher. Thanks For The Throw Backs! ๐
Robert Messina
2025-03-23 12:04:00 +0000 UTCI love it!! Axel!!! You sounded really good!!
Highway Honey
2025-03-18 05:10:19 +0000 UTC....You look the same!
Diana Heineck
2025-03-17 10:00:18 +0000 UTCWOW! I remember this time! Great times! Thanks so much!
Diana Heineck
2025-03-17 10:00:02 +0000 UTCI wonder who has that phone number now, AJ (er, AXL).
JohnnyShabazz
2025-03-16 16:35:22 +0000 UTCThat poor donkey.. I always felt SO bad for him.. I thought it was just a bummer carrying all those beans down the mountain. Boy was I wrong!! Great radio check AJ. Awesome to hear that throw back.. I miss the 90s/00s
Anthony Blacker
2025-03-16 09:31:28 +0000 UTCLove it
Tyler Barney
2025-03-16 05:35:15 +0000 UTCI love this I went to school for radio broadcasting so I totally relate to the background! I appreciate you brother ๐๐
Travis Helms
2025-03-13 20:27:08 +0000 UTCHecklefish makes an early appearance! Very nice. Liked the jokes too. Classic AJ.
Solar
2025-03-13 10:04:41 +0000 UTCi smiled the entire time, thank you for sharing. Juan Lmao
Dan
2025-03-13 05:37:16 +0000 UTCHappy Juan and his sad donkey
Melanie
2025-03-12 23:16:23 +0000 UTCYeah, that's why they made the old "Pawn on a Rope"! ๐
Bryan
2025-03-12 22:53:29 +0000 UTCThat was great!
Travis Sheaffer
2025-03-12 22:36:56 +0000 UTCLove it, I grew up watching WKRP Johnny Fever i always wanted to be a disc jockey
Ginn Wheelock
2025-03-12 22:35:03 +0000 UTCThat was ๐ great
Marilyn nunez
2025-03-12 22:20:10 +0000 UTCThat was fantastic!!!
Kristy Garlitz
2025-03-12 21:53:15 +0000 UTCWAIT.... HECKLE FISH was there also!
Eric Fletcher
2025-03-12 21:28:23 +0000 UTCFingers crossed for a new episode tonight ๐ค
Kyle Fenton
2025-03-12 19:45:55 +0000 UTCThat was a hoot! Thank you for sharing!
Lori Carrig
2025-03-12 13:42:20 +0000 UTCJust joined to support. Hope a new show comes out soon :)
Alex MacLean
2025-03-12 12:05:00 +0000 UTCAs another former ClearChannel Communications employee, Iโm glad to see anybody leave them and find success. They screwed me over and taught me what not to do with my subordinates.
SGTquig
2025-03-12 10:43:51 +0000 UTCTime wise, I think this would line up with when my brothers and I were riding to highschool together and listening to the radio. Really brings back memories.
Shawn Grant
2025-03-12 06:28:33 +0000 UTCAll I can say is love ya man, massive talent in two decades agoโฆeven grander today! Thanks for all the huge efforts, you are having an impact๐
Aaron Page
2025-03-12 05:12:22 +0000 UTCAxel, an early aughts Rock station, and a Hecklefish worthy joke about Juan Valdez and his donkey. ๐ซ ๐
Julian Ortiz
2025-03-12 02:42:00 +0000 UTCA Hecklefish cameo!??! ๐คฉ
Dustin Ognowski
2025-03-11 23:44:26 +0000 UTCPoor donkey.....:(
Don Stewart
2025-03-11 21:45:32 +0000 UTCThat was great Axel.. I wish you were around where I live wilkes-Barre Scranton area of Pennsylvania as a DJ,,AJ you even played decent music.. ๐๐ป๐๐ป
Larry
2025-03-11 21:02:14 +0000 UTCHilarious!!!! Juan Valdez's donkey....
W.J. Billz
2025-03-11 20:19:57 +0000 UTCGood stuff. ROFL. Pawn drop, sad donkey, camping, etc. Yeah good Hecklefish lines.
Byron J Wassenar
2025-03-11 19:28:56 +0000 UTCI did the same thing! ๐คฃ๐คฃ๐คฃ
Fizzgig
2025-03-11 18:42:24 +0000 UTCOh yay! I saw this first on YouTube, but it was just for members. Thank you so much for posting this on patreon too instead of forcing us to pay YouTube instead! LOVED this!โฃ๏ธโฃ๏ธโฃ๏ธ๐ Axel? ๐ค๐คจ๐คฃ
Fizzgig
2025-03-11 18:41:32 +0000 UTCIt seems clear that you've been a natural all your life, AJ. See, that old saying is true: "Work your ass off for 20 or 30 years and you can become "An Overnight Success!" Chapeau, Mr. Gentile...Chapeau.
Gus Viera
2025-03-11 15:53:01 +0000 UTCSounds like Hecklefish has been with you forever. I miss good radio.
James
2025-03-11 15:49:41 +0000 UTCThat was Cartman. "Because hippies suck"
Vince In Houston
2025-03-11 15:49:28 +0000 UTCI didn't know Heckelfish had been with you that long!! Lol
PamS. Divelbiss
2025-03-11 15:28:00 +0000 UTCRosario Dawson said that the donkey show was the deciding factor for her to agree to do Clerks II.
Vince In Houston
2025-03-11 15:09:22 +0000 UTCI realized for the first couple of seconds, I was waiting for the other guy to stop talking so that I could hear you, when it dawned on me, that it was you! Then I was thinking, 'how could I have not heard it was you from the start?' Too funny. Poor Juan Valdez's donkey. Now I see where Hecklefish gets it from! Oy vey ๐ฎ
Vince In Houston
2025-03-11 15:05:57 +0000 UTCThe memories must come flooding back AJ..
Sigma 1-969
2025-03-11 13:03:05 +0000 UTCThe Cingular sponsorship logo! Lol. Screams '90
Naomi Fiordimondo
2025-03-11 12:35:06 +0000 UTCI always envied the US having such great rock radio. In the UK, we have never had decent radio. Even the advent of DAB didn't make them much better, although we did have a great one called Team Rock for a while. Incidentally, it's good to hear the correct pronunciation of Lynyrd Skynyrd!
Susi Su
2025-03-11 11:47:51 +0000 UTCHi from Long Island! ๐
Joanie Yannotti
2025-03-11 11:44:33 +0000 UTCKinda sounded like Cartman to me
Gordana Rioux
2025-03-11 11:27:01 +0000 UTCDead Guy in the envelope baby
Venom AD
2025-03-11 10:31:41 +0000 UTCNot at all surprised that you've done radio. First time I heard you speak I said to myself that guy's got great radio voice. I did an FM technology talk show here in Spain for 12 years. They liked my American accent. I see Hecklefish has been with you a long time. Cool clip thanks for the memories!
Jim Shaffer
2025-03-11 09:42:03 +0000 UTCWas Hecklefish still Hecklefish?
Pintius
2025-03-11 05:30:19 +0000 UTCJuanโs donkey. LOL
Ke11er
2025-03-11 05:01:01 +0000 UTCAlmost didn't watch. If it had been a Pop station I would have been deeply Disturbed.
Ashdad
2025-03-11 04:36:56 +0000 UTCInteresting hearing an early bit from Hecklefish too๐๐
J. Andrew Medina
2025-03-11 04:04:07 +0000 UTCI give you โBest of Youโ by FF .. enjoy
Soilman
2025-03-11 03:56:02 +0000 UTCThere will be a cringy image everytime I drink my coffee. โ๏ธ It could be worse, have you heard of the donkey show? ๐คฃ
Fancy Pants
2025-03-11 03:50:41 +0000 UTCMan, love the 'Don't drop the pawn' joke A.J. ha ha ha. You always know how to enjoy yourself on the air. :-) Thanks for sharing the memory
Mark Rizzo
2025-03-11 03:32:35 +0000 UTCBro so wild the journey - did heckle fish exist back then ? I swear when you started talking and then South Park cartman audio played I thought it was heckle fish Lolol
Chris Conlan
2025-03-11 02:51:02 +0000 UTCummm. nice video! when's the episode?
Lucas Koeneman
2025-03-11 02:44:21 +0000 UTCAXL!!!!hell yeah!!!rock and roll baby;you were allready the best AJ
CosmicVoyager
2025-03-11 02:33:31 +0000 UTC"Don't drop your Pawn!" ๐๐คฃ๐๐คฃ
Thomas Braden
2025-03-11 01:49:25 +0000 UTCThat was great. Now I know who is behind the voice of the HeckleFish!๐
Judy
2025-03-11 01:39:30 +0000 UTCdamn you look very different
Richard hill
2025-03-11 01:38:39 +0000 UTCI used to listen to WBAB in the 70s and early 80s before I moved out to California.
Judy
2025-03-11 01:35:13 +0000 UTCThe cowboy hat is awesome! Hope you had the boots too!
russell johnston
2025-03-11 01:32:09 +0000 UTCHilarious ๐
Ryan Anderson
2025-03-11 01:01:16 +0000 UTCDonโt drop your pawn ๐
Simon Owusu
2025-03-11 01:01:08 +0000 UTCI'd have listened to you, that donkey comment was brutal lol
Jesse M
2025-03-11 00:51:29 +0000 UTCThey did a talk show on 102.5 in tampa for years too. Jp still does the show, both really nice .
Kevin Nemet
2025-03-11 00:34:55 +0000 UTCI agree. Itโs not fair that men get better looking with age.
J Church
2025-03-11 00:34:44 +0000 UTCLove it, I did a little Radio work back in the 80s, but was nowhere near as good as that. I too thought I heard Hecklefish, but on replay, yeah it was Cartman. lol.
OzDrDj-n-Jadelynmon
2025-03-11 00:31:32 +0000 UTCI love this so much. Thanks for sharing baby AJ.
J Church
2025-03-11 00:28:13 +0000 UTC"Isn't that called camping" ๐๐๐๐๐
Wolf86
2025-03-11 00:27:36 +0000 UTCโtouwnamentโ โค๏ธ
J Church
2025-03-11 00:27:20 +0000 UTCHecklefish ate Cartman? Or was it Cartman hiding in disguise all along?
The Neoborn Caveman Show
2025-03-11 00:26:15 +0000 UTCPretty sure it was Cartman from south park.
Greg
2025-03-11 00:23:16 +0000 UTCDuuude! I totally remember listening to you on WBAB. Did you come over from WRCN?
PowerSurgePerf
2025-03-10 23:44:49 +0000 UTCtoday.
Deirdre a greene
2025-03-10 23:44:34 +0000 UTCYou are better looking tod
Deirdre a greene
2025-03-10 23:43:42 +0000 UTCWas there an early Hecklefish there? Before he became your "Scully"?
The Neoborn Caveman Show
2025-03-10 23:41:14 +0000 UTCSo youโre Hecklefish!!!!! The mystery is solved. ๐
Kimmie
2025-03-10 23:15:57 +0000 UTCI was upset this wasnโt the HAARP VIDEO. But it was too funny. Iโm not upset anymore. But I still want the video lol
Branson Gray
2025-03-10 23:12:58 +0000 UTCBorn and bread in long Island BAB was my go to radio station. Grew up on it.
Mo
2025-03-10 23:05:13 +0000 UTCWow, I didn't know that you and Hecklefish went that far back! Good stuff!
jay
2025-03-10 23:02:01 +0000 UTCI still have my box of tapes from my Jacor and Susquehanna days. Probably some from college too. *shudder*
Shรถn
2025-03-10 22:59:52 +0000 UTCMy Mom worked in radio for 40 years ended up General manager so my siblings worked in radio on and off in our youth. Did you know an engineer named Jimmy Mitchel, I understand he worked at stations all over the country? thanks! edit,mom retired mid 90's so Jimmy was probably before your time.
Xerravon
2025-03-10 22:57:48 +0000 UTCGreat classic aircheck. Thanks for sharing.
TWRS
2025-03-10 22:53:45 +0000 UTCIn your black and white photos you look like a 1950's teen heartthrob singer!
Joan Robinson
2025-03-10 22:50:24 +0000 UTCWhy did the donkey look so sad? Because he dropped the pawn during the tournament!
cree1069
2025-03-10 22:49:50 +0000 UTCHippie liberal college student?...Ummmm, that was Hecklefish's voice! And now we know...๐
Kelli McMahon
2025-03-10 22:40:28 +0000 UTCYo why does AJ look like Zac Efron post chin-job? :P
Jamie Johnson
2025-03-10 22:30:05 +0000 UTCWhere are the crew posting old pics? Can we see them?
Bryan Scott Hardie
2025-03-10 22:29:35 +0000 UTCHey Aj, thank you so much for showing us this. I enjoy seeing a Piece of The Why Files History. And not to age you or anyone else, but I was, ah, born in 2002. So... yeah. Thank you again for showing us this, and maybe you can show us a few other things one day. And maybe you can show us what Hecklefish was doing in 2002? Take Care.
TheCuriousNoggin
2025-03-10 22:25:10 +0000 UTCAbsolutely hilarious, what a special treat.!!! Thank for sharing. So GREAT, love ๐
Sandra Childress
2025-03-10 22:24:10 +0000 UTCAwe I loved this and was that an early Hecklefish type in the background I heard.
DKW
2025-03-10 22:19:57 +0000 UTCThat's great AJ. I lost all my air check tapes years ago save for a program I recorded in full when I did overnights at the University of Evansville's Mighty Fine 91.9 WUEV. I had a captive audience: all of my callers were from the Vandenberg County Jail. Good times.
Brian Smith
2025-03-10 22:19:32 +0000 UTCJuan Valdez joke was ๐๐ผ
Zeb Francis
2025-03-10 22:19:07 +0000 UTCLmao I'm from Long Island! 102.3!!!!!!
Jessica Abbene
2025-03-10 22:01:08 +0000 UTCToo funny... too funny... wicked sense of humor! And... was that the one and only Hecklefish early on?
Derek P Payne
2025-03-10 21:54:48 +0000 UTCLove the playlist lineup! ๐ค
Tony K
2025-03-10 21:50:11 +0000 UTCHahahahahaha that was fantastic!
Lazy A-Hole Ranch
2025-03-10 21:48:24 +0000 UTCThat was really cool, especially the sperm part ๐
Daniel Byrnes
2025-03-10 21:46:57 +0000 UTCMe too!! Hahahaha now we know for sure!!
Celeste Lusby
2025-03-10 21:31:59 +0000 UTCEpic!
Beyond Strangeness
2025-03-10 21:25:32 +0000 UTC๐คฃ Loved this! I still love a lot of those tunes
Laoch Highlander
2025-03-10 21:25:15 +0000 UTCGโDay AJ , Opie and Anthony are great guys, I worked in the studio next to theirs at WNEW NYC , .We were broadcasting live breakfast radio to Australia , infact they actually brought me on their show and asked me some rather funny questions! ๐ Great Aircheck reel !!
Dinkum Aussie
2025-03-10 21:24:13 +0000 UTCI grew up on LI listening to WBAB
RileyRoo
2025-03-10 21:17:01 +0000 UTCHow many of us called the number on the top right of the left image? ๐๐๐ That was awesome! Frosted tips n all!!โค๏ธโค๏ธ
RicanHavoc
2025-03-10 21:14:26 +0000 UTCCamping, swimming, coffee you sure you werenโt a frustrated camp counselor?
Mark william lane
2025-03-10 21:14:07 +0000 UTCVery James Dean
Avraam Avraamides
2025-03-10 21:07:04 +0000 UTCDude! ๐ My avatar is pissed.
SGTquig
2025-03-10 21:00:36 +0000 UTCAJ, you do make me feel less ancient, Ty! Iโm 65 so listened to radio in 60s & 70s. Boston, MA. Same great style of AUTHENTIC radio, where boundaries were often pushed real hard. Surprised that Juan Valdez thing got by censors! Much love to you & the Crew, michelle
Michelle Daniels
2025-03-10 20:51:56 +0000 UTCI heard a Heckle Fish!
April Danann
2025-03-10 20:46:30 +0000 UTCThat was so cool!!! Thanks for sharing...
Monica Merrem
2025-03-10 20:45:33 +0000 UTCThat was GREAT!
Michelle Daniels
2025-03-10 20:44:32 +0000 UTCHa! This explains so much. Thanks for the blast from the past. I too miss real radio.
B B
2025-03-10 20:41:31 +0000 UTCOh goooood the cringe was real! Haha
Randi Bernamonti
2025-03-10 20:33:46 +0000 UTCLook at that young AJ !!! Was this before mensa or after ? When did u actually become a member? Who considered you for mensa? I've been wondering that since Gino mentioned it .
Adam (Pappy) Koehler
2025-03-10 20:33:29 +0000 UTCHey Axl, is that still your phone number? ๐
Mike Blackburn
2025-03-10 20:32:51 +0000 UTCDid you have Hecklefish back then? I thought I heard him.
Sharon M
2025-03-10 20:29:05 +0000 UTCAhh... Back-announcing, a lost art!
Davey_D
2025-03-10 20:26:40 +0000 UTCDamn... I wanna listen to this station. *sigh* I miss REAL radio.
BrashFink
2025-03-10 20:26:00 +0000 UTCi was going to say, fond memories.... and a lot of cringe ones...
Richard Bramlett (H Y B R I D)
2025-03-10 20:23:02 +0000 UTCDid I hear Hecklefish?
Katherine Carroll
2025-03-10 20:22:33 +0000 UTCYou comedic timing was great โway back then! Quite fun.
Cynthia Graham
2025-03-10 20:22:18 +0000 UTCIt would be great to have some more old recordings youโve done with Hecklefish watch-along commentary.
Renee Murphy
2025-03-10 20:22:02 +0000 UTCSo, HeckleFish has been around as long as you, eh?
Daniel Boucher
2025-03-10 20:21:49 +0000 UTCDid you get my salt water tip for sinuses ? Works great . Cool old clip by the way.
Gary McDonald
2025-03-10 20:19:45 +0000 UTCThe frosted tips ๐
Drew Zimpelman
2025-03-10 20:19:22 +0000 UTCHoward!
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:17:51 +0000 UTCIt was always in there waiting to come out...
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:17:46 +0000 UTCDo you think I could still get away with that one??
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:17:24 +0000 UTCIt's an uphill battle, but I'm going to stay the course.
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:17:09 +0000 UTCStill a solid joke.
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:16:54 +0000 UTCWow... you still spinning vinyl and playing imaging off of carts, I bet! By the time I got in to radio (about 1999) we were 90% computerized. (Enco)
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:16:40 +0000 UTCGreat music playlist!
Andrew Lader
2025-03-10 20:16:40 +0000 UTCI think 4.6 million on YouTube would disagree
Antonio Margheriti
2025-03-10 20:16:38 +0000 UTCThatโs fโing hilarious!!
C.Hopper5
2025-03-10 20:16:03 +0000 UTCThis. Is. Truth.
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:15:35 +0000 UTCI felt it, too!
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:15:24 +0000 UTCI honestly don't think I'm that interesting! But thank you, Ant.
The Why Files
2025-03-10 20:15:14 +0000 UTCHaha. This is great.
Jason Moore
2025-03-10 20:15:12 +0000 UTCYouโre a fascinating individual to learn about
Antonio Margheriti
2025-03-10 20:14:30 +0000 UTCok, the juan valdez joke.....you were channeling the fish there i think
Night Of The Living Fred
2025-03-10 20:14:25 +0000 UTCCreed and Nickleback. It was the best of times, and the worst of timesโฆ ๐
Rob Schwager
2025-03-10 20:14:21 +0000 UTCThis is awesome. I used to DJ for the college station at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro back in the early 90's ... I think I used to have a box of reel to reel tape of some of my work, but it's long gone. Wish I had some of it..that would be fun.
Chris
2025-03-10 20:13:30 +0000 UTCSweet! Nice blast from the past.
Mark Taylor
2025-03-10 20:13:13 +0000 UTCLol yes that is camping lol
John Swanson
2025-03-10 20:13:05 +0000 UTCLong time listener, Axl, I heard you moved on to better things! I'm pullin for ya, buddy!
Richard Bramlett (H Y B R I D)
2025-03-10 20:12:53 +0000 UTCThat coffee donkey joke at the end. Better times.๐
Vincent Marziale
2025-03-10 20:12:35 +0000 UTCLoved it I can feel the vibes of the Why Files and hecklefish humour
Pfa1981
2025-03-10 20:12:27 +0000 UTCThis makes me think of "W eeeehn BC".
Avery's Mom
2025-03-10 20:12:00 +0000 UTCDonโt drop the pawn should be a shirt.
Patrick Thomas
2025-03-10 20:11:57 +0000 UTCNice!! I look back and old photos, (especially band photos) and it's so weird to see the young me, lol!! This is really awesome AJ!! ๐ค๐ค
MiseriesChild
2025-03-10 20:11:32 +0000 UTCWow look at those frosted tips!!! I feel like I heard you when I was a kid! Nassau County born here!!
Justin Friedman
2025-03-10 20:10:55 +0000 UTCInteresting. Sounds like Hecklefish was with you back then too. : -). Fun stuff.
MikeD
2025-03-10 20:10:48 +0000 UTCI see the beginning of Hecklfish in this.
Richard Swaim
2025-03-10 20:10:40 +0000 UTCYep - I was a listener back then. I was an O&A fan and then was introduced to you. Good times! Who knew goldfish had such a long life span.
Dan B
2025-03-10 20:10:40 +0000 UTCThat's awesome!
JT
2025-03-10 20:10:05 +0000 UTCOh wow! Too cool!
MaryJaneMcWeed
2025-03-10 20:09:41 +0000 UTCI grew up on WBAB, but probably before your time. Uniondale. I moved away in 1987.
AnnieHawk
2025-03-10 20:09:38 +0000 UTCUsed to listen to you then, am friends with Bob Buc today. You are a great talent!
Texas Joe (from Long IsL.)
2025-03-10 20:09:36 +0000 UTCNice! Thanks for sharing
Sibyle
2025-03-10 20:08:45 +0000 UTCWBAB ! Lawn Guyland !!!
Kathleen Dorney
2025-03-10 20:08:27 +0000 UTCThanks!
Zaniyah Miles
2025-03-10 20:08:24 +0000 UTCMorning mate from Tassie
Gavin Evans
2025-03-10 20:08:02 +0000 UTC
