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cfny testimonials
selected stories from fans and employees
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Have some memories you want to have included here? Send
them to us!
Newest testimonials appear at the top of the page. Testimonials from station
employees appear with a yellow
background.
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I was already a fan due to the strange and cool new music, and David Marsden's crazed monologues and maniacal laughter, when i found myself in Brampton many many years ago. I remember an old (?) house near a railway trestle, and seeing a sign or something that identified this place as cfny. Mind blown, i walked in the front door! and the guy at the desk was one of the members of the band "Chicken". The slightly scraggly fellow was surprised as hell that I knew their album ("which came first"), gave me a tour and bummed a smoke. Amazing memory.
Steve Cox - May, 2009 |
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I remember quite clearly finding The Spirit back in 79. In Niagara Falls, I would listen to 102.5. Back then radios had this thing called a dial. It was a crude device that you would turn slowly to bring in a radio station. One night I missed 102.5 and found 102.1...My life changed! The early 80's were some of the best years of my life, The Spirit was a large part of that. I still have my cfny room key tag, what I remember as there first T-shirt, available only from Le Château, and of course bumper stickers! Sadly by 85, the music was changing, and cfny was changing. While it was just a few short years, the "spirit" has left me with fond memories that will last me a life time! Thank you "the spirit of radio!"
John West - May, 2009 |
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Hi everyone - I was Sports Director of CFNY (and sister station CHIC) back in its beginning in the late '70's. I still remember the July night we were going to go to 100,000 watts...we all stood around and thought, "This will be interesting as we ain't gonna change!".
Unknown to us the transmission tower was not tall enough for our signal to reach Toronto.
Undaunted - we did our gig as the best ever.
The people, the personalities, the shoddy conditions, the fan loyalty, the loopy management, the new-found talent and the seat-of-our-pants attitude combined to make it perhaps the most amazing broadcasting experience ever. CFNY truly was, "The Spirit of Radio". I was proud to be part of it. Truly special memories, and I'm glad to stumble upon this site to see it 'live on'.
Rick Muller - May, 2009 |
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I grew up not to far from Brampton back in the day so to speak. I lived far enough that I had to buy a antenna booster from Radio Shack so I could get CFNY on my radio. I was always a big fan of college radio stations. I enjoyed the fact that when you listened you didn't know what you were going to hear next. I remember feeling the same way about CFNY when I listened to CFNY at night. That was always the best time to listen. There was more of a variety at night and you could tell that the announcers really loved the music and it came first. Dani, The Brother, Deadly Headly, Pete Fowler were favourites of mine growing up. I even had the opportunity to speak with some of them as I found it was easier to get ahold of CFNY staff at night back then. CFNY had really cool promotions back then too. I use to love getting free music from CFNY. I still have a Free At Last cd the Pete Fowler gave me at the Sounds of Summer concert in Waterloo, and a Casby hat that Martin Streek gave me. Some great memories. Thank you CFNY.
Andy Daniels - May, 2009 |
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In December 1985, I was in a band called "Sons and Lovers" and we had just released an EP that was produced by Joe Vizvary of Images in Vogue. Images in Vogue happened to be doing a gig at York University and Joe invited us up as his guests. Earlier that day, while we were in Toronto, we stopped in to the CFNY studios to do an interview with Eddie Vallequette (sp?). Eddie was a big supporter of our group and extended the interview offer to us, even though were weren't signed to a major label.
Sal Iannello - May, 2009 |
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I was 15 when cfny started ,lived in Bramalea in the d section.It was great having this station in your own backyard.We would often drive out to the house on 10 knock onthe back door and request songs,one night when we were there one of the DJs gave us buttons,it had the cn tower on it and said i want David on top.Times have changed but i feel lucky to have been a part of CFNY in the early 80s. Favourite DJ Ivor and the import show,remembering him intreducing new band called Magazine
Tim Withey - May, 2009 |
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I just came across your site. Practically every musical group you played from 1980 to 1987I bought their album-I ended up with over 10,000 records in my basement... much to my wife's chagrin. I was at the CN Tower when Pete and Geets broadcast for the first time (champagne and OJ puts a nice buzz on the morning) and was interviewed by JR in 1985. I absolutely loved the station. It was part of my daily life.
These days, the music has passed me by but I relive my youth by checking out the "Best of" lists and then getting the mp3 or CD to rebuild my collection. I appreciate all your work in getting the history and this together. Long live CFNY-truly The Spirit of radio!
Sean Peake - March, 2009 |
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There are no words to describe how wonderful it was to find your cfny site, several years ago.
I went through so many sound files and checked out the memorable posted pics.
Simply put, cfny fm 102.1 from 1977 to 1986 was my musical "Ground Zero" It changed everything for me.
On your site, I found it very emotional to read the amazing on-line comments from people from all over, who were touched by the formative years of cfny.
I now live in Victoria BC. Moved from Toronto in 1986.
The modern music station in Victoria is The Zone. They are a thinly veiled top-40 station. They play the same key tracks over and over and over.
They will play a hit from a CD. The same track constantly for a month or more. But if a loyal listener calls in to hear a different track, they frequently get shot down, and their request can’t be played. Then the dj says what about this track, which is the only one on "the list" and then they play that track instead. The same one that they play every day. What kind of station is this eh?
I never heard of a station doing that before. It’s such a shame.
I could see if they were requesting Glen Campbell on a modern rock station, but to alienate their listeners is so backwards. If they can play one Death Cab track, why not something else form their latest CD or from their older releases.
The corporate stations can’t seem to understand why they are facing a new generation of iPod users. I have never see anyone with a portable FM walkman. They just ignore the airwaves, and stick to their iTunes playlist.
Thank you so much for keeping the cfny site going. It is a precious gift to past fans.
Take care,
Wayne Woofer - February, 2009 |
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CFNY - The Spirit of Radio - The Edge. Whatever it was called, it was good. It was too good to last for very long, I realized. But what a great run it had! When I left the area in 1982 to join the military, the local Buffalo stations played classic rock, which was OK at the time. But when I came back in 1986, they were still playing the same songs. Repulsed, I happened upon 102.1 on Christmas Eve 1986 and heard some wierd song by a band called Souixie & the Banshees doing a remake of the Beatles "Dear Prudence". Something new! I tuned in every day after to hear songs by bands like Joy Division, Ultravox, The Smiths, Echo & the Bunnymen, Midnight Oil, New Order, The The, Big Audio Dynamite, Hunters & Collectors and the Happy Mondays, just to name a few. But Canada, in addition to the well known bands, offered lots of good obscure but enjoyable bands like the Thrashing Doves, FM, the Lucy Show and the Northern Pikes, just to name a few again. Hearing music by these bands made CFNY so unique. I always tuned into hear the Thursday Thirty; it was music gospel. But aside from the music, which saved me and changed me forever, there was the Toronto aspect too. Hearing all those Toronto streets named in the traffic report mystified the city even more to me. What is this Spadina Avenue, this Don Valley Parkway, the 401, Finch, Eglington? I went and I experience Toronto and loved it. What a great city. And I would not have been that interested in it if it were not for the great CFNY. The radio personalities were like friends to me and the commercials were memorable (Pizza Pizza; "Well, (sniff) it was a rainy day"). Cheers to CFNY and all that it is and was.
John Swigonski - February, 2009 |
Hi, as people keep asking me about CFNY and it's real history let me tell the truth behind the NY, it stands for New Youth, I was there, I built the new studios on Main st, and was part of the call sign decision making along with other staff members.
As I was there from 1973 to 1974 full time and worked part time in engineering from 1975 to 1979 with Mike Hargrave Pawson the chief engineer I saw the changes and I was also the AM 790 operator who spun the LP's on the back turn table after 7pm at night on CHIC FM. I experienced all with some great talent, and yes those Humber college grads who really made CFNY what it is today.
Canada's First New Youth.
Steve Martak - February, 2009 |
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In December 1985, I was in a band called "Sons and Lovers" and we had just released an EP that was produced by Joe Vizvary of Images in Vogue. Images in Vogue happened to be doing a gig at York University and Joe invited us up as his guests. Earlier that day, while we were in Toronto, we stopped in to the CFNY studios to do an interview with Eddie Vallequette (sp?). Eddie was a big supporter of our group and extended the interview offer to us, even though were weren't signed to a major label. I would love to get a copy of the recording of that interview, if at all possible. Thanks, Sal
Sal Iannello - December, 2008 |
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CFNY - my favourite radio station, the best I have ever listned to in my entire life so far. I moved to Australia in 2000 and you know what I missed the most, not my family, not my friends but my favourite Radio Station - it was just so much a part of me music lover that I am - I started listening to CFNY when I was fifteen, 1977 to be exact. I remember being at a party (that I probably should not have been at LOL) and CFNY radio was at that time based in an old house on Main Street in Brampton. My girlfriend and I went and knocked on the door and the night time DJ at that time let us in and we were so excited - he let us say a few words and choose a song - we felt oh so special. There were only a couple of years in all that time that I thought the music being played was not up to par but I still kept listening and then the music content improved again and I continued to be hooked. I have yet to find a music station in Australia that meets my expectations - although Triple JJJ comes close. CFNY I LOVED YOU AND I STILL MISS YOU GREATLY!
Laura Ramstadius - September, 2008 |
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I listened to CFNY starting in about 1980 and steadily through the 80s and even into the 90s. The 80s were a good time in my life and CFNY was the soundtrack for that. I was enough to grab the best 85 of 85 air check from this site a few years back and I still listen to it.
Modern music lost its edge in the 90s (pun intended) and I lost interest. There is still good indy music to be found on CBC's R3 but it's only available on satellite, Net radio or podcasts.
Chris J. Paxton - August, 2008 |
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I first heard CFNY the summer of 1979 growing up south of Buffalo. The song was the sex pistol's "Friggin in the Riggin"..what an introduction!!! I listened exclusively for years and what a relief from the stale music local radio played. Many friends were also turned on to it and to this day we all feel that it changed our life in regards to how we appreciate music. I have met May Potts(what a babe!!) talked to Freaky Deaky Chris Shepard. traveled to Toronto for road trips for CFNY events and once just to get a bumper sticker so I could proudly proclaim that I was a listener. A friend of mine and i even had a New Wave hour at a local community college radio station..LOL we were the ONLY ones who liked the music!! We also had the Continental Bar in Buffalo that was as authentic New Wave/Punk as it gets..johhny thunder, Billy Idol,the Forgotten Rebels all played there and we had a listened to a heavy dose of CFNY influenced music by the DJ on the dance floor. In the words of the promo heard during commercials... "CFNY"(in a robot voice)"the Spirit of Radio"!!!!!!!!
Willy - July, 2008 |
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hello, love the cfny site, i have a story for you i remember it was 1977 and my cousin and i hung out at cfny dont know the location then for a week it was great, got a whole bunch of singles from them they said take them there yours i was in heaven i remember taking them home and played them first before any radio station. i remember it was an old house converted into a radio station and the stairs were steep fell a couple of times terry dont know his last name was on mornings i think and lee somebody sorry it was so long ago if only i had known what it would become i would have asked for a job. im on cfrc.ca wed 1 to 230pm check it out. again thanks for the memories jb. ps anybody know where i can find don berns please and thanks.
Jim Birtch - March, 2008 |
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Listening to the old CFNY broadcasts is like remembering a best friend who is no longer with us. The memories of youth, and the feeling of energy come flooding back like the warm sun on a breezy day. Maybe this IS the "Spirit" of radio.
In a driveway near Yorkdale Mall one wintery night in the late 1970s, my cousin and I played with the car radio as we waited for my uncle to return. As the light snow cascaded down, we locked onto the most perfect ambient sound and we were instantly transported away - we were on the Trans-Europe Express. For years to come, CFNY took me to the most fantastic real and imagined places.
As a result, I became a CFNY junkie and I proudly owned loads of CFNY paraphernalia. I still have a pristinely preserved black and white CFNY bumper sticker from the early 80s which I guard jealously. Courtesy of CFNY I attended dozens of shows, and my music collection contains cassette tapes I won for doing/saying some wacky things on air. And the CFNY Video Roadshows were moshpits of fun too.
I miss Lee Carter's London reports, I miss Mr. Goo Head, I miss not being talked down too and intelligent talk, I miss all of the fantastic DJ's, and the music that made you dream. If CFNY were around today (let's face it, today's 102.1 in NOT CFNY) it would be the most popular station listened to worldwide; on the web and on SIRIUS satellite radio. I'm just thankful I was in broadcast range when it mattered.
Long may the Spirit live!
Roberta - February, 2008 |
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New Technology and CFNY The Spirit of Radio are not synonymous with me... yet a favourite 'MODE' is the not-so-popular Mini Disc or MD! I laugh at the antiquity that implies comparing it to the IPOD which quite frankly AUDIO quality sucks big time. Hell, a damn burned CD is a sh*t load better than the IPOD... anyways being an avid Audiohile as well as a Collector of GREAT MUSIC, CFNY was[and in my mind will forever when it didn't become so repetitive and boring] the pinnacle of AUDIO. There is NO station out there that even compares to the beauty of musical diversity that Dave Marsden had nurtured. So much of modern day radio stations are based on some Play List and the popularity of the bands and artists. When did the Ends justify the Means... when some yahoo in an office suddenly made some sort of decision/analysis that Money could be made through PROTESTING the Existing STATUS QUO. It is amazing listening to SHAM 69, THE CLASH openly accentuate the NEW WORLD ORDER and the very real issues that the UK had experienced in the late 70's early 80's. Canada didn't go through that to the extent the UK did but still marginalisation remained!
CFNY had brought out the anger, violence, brutality of the New World Order, misogynistic sh*t, poverty and desperation... that continues on with very little change. One just wanders down East Hastings in Vancouver, 97th ST in Edmonton, or the tremendous amount the Mustard Seed in Calgary or the masses all around the Core in Toronto and Montreal. Music can't change the world but it can certainly be a start to become aware of real issues that effect everyone in a worldly way... whether it is the poor in South Africa, Canada, Japan, England, Sweden, Iraq, Egypt or wherever.
Be informed, listen carefully and observe what is happening to your neighbours.
M. Yamamoto
Red Deer, AB
M. Yamamoto - February, 2008 |
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I began listening to CFNY in the late 70s when I was in high school. I don't know how I found it because I was living on the escarpment near Hamilton but I could get a weak signal on a cold winter night, when the barometric pressure was high and I held my radio up to the heavens in a northeasterly direction while biting my lip. You get the picture.
My father walked in on me one night when I was hanging my radio, and half my body, out my bedroom window trying to find the signal. He was an engineer and, when he stopped yelling at me for heating the great outdoors, I somehow managed to convinced him that any station that put Japan and the Kinks on the same playlist was worth the effort and he rigged up some sort of antenna thing so I could receive the signal better, albeit slightly.
I was there through the first part of the 80s when the station was at its zenith. I quit the station around 1986-87 when it got too predictable for my liking.
I have long-since moved away from the area but whenever I find myself back there I tune into 102.1 in the hopes that I'll find a 21st century version of the spirit the station embodied 30 years ago. I'm still looking.
A bit of serendipity happened this week when I stumbled upon your site. I called my children (whose iPods include everything from Imogene Heap and Led Zeppelin to Bach) into the room so they could listen to Killing Joke on the JR show. While I won't admit that they've heard the whole CFNY story too many times, they asked, "Oh, is this the station that you used to get in high school on a cold winter night when the barometric pressure...?".
Enjoy your day! And thanks for the memories.
Carol - January, 2008 |
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Remember the show "Listener's Choice"?
Back in the late 70's, a loyal listener was chosen to co-DJ one full hour with one of the DJs, using your own collection of music (that means vinyl!). Got to chat on air with Brad McNally and play your fave songs, brilliant!
I actually got to do it TWICE.
GREAT TIMES!
Dean Kelly - December, 2007 |
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I can't believe that this website exists -- thank you for making it. I listened to CFNY exclusively throughout the entire 80s. It was the soundtrack for my life during high school and college. When I went to college in Massachusetts, I actually would record hours of CFNY to play during the next semester. Listening to your live feed of CFNY transports me back then, stripping away 20 years and making me feel like a kid again.
Dan Sroka - December, 2007 |
Commercial radio works on the premise of "give the people what they want", which becomes a case of lowest common denominator. CFNY was about educating the people as to what they SHOULD be listening to. I was an apt student.
At 14 years old, I was a typical kid listening to the usual crap. Then i found a tape and a note on the bus one day. It was from a girl to her boyfriend telling him to stop listening to such crappy music, and to listen to the tape. So I stuck the tape in my walkman and listened to the CFNY radio show she had recorded. Morrissey, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Depeche Mode... It changed my life. From then on, I listened to CFNY exclusively, and became a total music snob.
My favorite moment was listening to the radio in the car on an Easter Sunday evening. I think it was Lee Carter DJ-ing, and he played the Jesus and Mary Chain song "I want to Die Just Like Jesus Christ". It was so irreverent, so awesome! I think I went out that week and bought the CD just because of that moment.
That would never happen now.
Thanks CFNY for the education. I wish you were still around for my kids today.
Larry - December, 2007 |
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