Hey SoCal, The Mighty MET - KMET - will is back... for the day.

[Iolaus]

Hey all, I know I'm not here much, but this is something I think a lot of people might be interested in, and I wanted to spread the word while it's going on (right now).

KSWD (The Sound)/Los Angeles Brings Back KMET

KMET-FM, the legendary renegade FM station that captivated a generation of Rock fans, will return to Los Angeles' airwaves for one day on Friday, July 10. The original air personalities, jingles, rock stars, and groupies (now in their 40s) all will be there, on a day that host KSWD-FM (100.3 The Sound)/Los Angeles is calling, "Finally a KMET Friday."

KMET was the unofficial mouthpiece and meeting place for the youth counterculture movement of the '70s and '80s. The station's ratings were enormous, its concerts and events were mobbed, and other media outlets scrambled to book air personalities as guests. KMET's studios were a second home for artists like Mick Fleetwood, Jackson Browne, Ted Nugent and Bruce Springsteen.

"Finally a KMET Friday" will begin on 100.3 The Sound much like their weekday routine began for more than a decade, with top-rated morning host Jeff Gonzer and newsman Ace Young reuniting. Joining them as the day unfolds will be Paraquat Kelley, Jack Snyder, David Perry, Rick Scarry, L.A.'s first female PD Sam Bellamy, van driver Raul and fast-talking Sales Manager Bob Griffith.

The day will conclude with legendary KMET oddball Dr. Demento presenting his greatest hits at 7pm. Other youth icons of the '70s and '80s are expected to visit the studios to reminisce. (06-24-09)

I can't begin to say how this makes me feel; emotional to say the least. The only thing better would be a permanent on air reunion. I was listening when the last DJ had a surprise memo given to him, tearfully made the announcement that the station was changing, and turned the station over to pre-programed playlists. I knew that the end of an era had just occurred right in front of me. Looking back, I was right; a lot of changes in the SoCal culture happened in the mid-80's, and the loss of the Mighty MET was like someone turning off the lights on the way out.

For those that weren't here at the time, this sums up what the station was to the region pretty well.

KMET was the greatest radio station ever... impossible to adequately describe if you weren't in the Los Angeles area to hear it at it's prime. Jim Ladd, one of the key on air personalities at KMET (now at KLOS 95.5 in LA) wrote a fantastic book that every fan of rock radio, the 60's and 70's, and just plain old cool culture should find and read.. it's appropriately titled "RADIO WAVES". HIGHLY HIGHLY recommended reading!!

KMET was a Los Angeles radio station originally owned by Metromedia that first took to the air in June 1968 at 94.7 MHz. The station, nicknamed "The Mighty Met," was L.A.s pioneering station of the "underground" progressive rock format originated in San Francisco by Tom and Raechel Donahue. Completely unadulterated free form radio, playing whatever the on air jocks wanted, and playing music (and constant "commentary") that related directly to the times... good times, bad time, news, etc. In fact, even the news was reported by Pat "Paraquat" Kelly" in a completely original and entertaining way, and was rarely in sync with the news as reported on any other radio station, TV, etc.... the station literally programmed itself freely.

KMET became the soundtrack to the lifestyle, and was a station that we would all turn on first thing in the morning and listen to all day and evening long. Simply put, the best radio ever, elevating to a high art the broadcasting of rock n roll music, news and culture!

KMET's jingle was "A Little Bit of Heaven, Ninety-Four Point Seven - KMET - Tweedle-Dee".KMET signed off on February 14, 1987 with The Beatles singing "and in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" from "The End".

For any Californian expats that want to listen in, the station streams online at www.thesoundla.com.

Streaming link: http://den-a.plr.liquidcompass.net/p...=KSWDFM&uid=10

[Iain Robb]

Gosh, I remember the Mighty MET! It was kinda like the soundtrack for my high school years. How neat it would have been to be there and hear it again, but I'm on the other side of the country now, where West Coast means Tampa.