A Memoir of 1960s Los Angeles, the Rise of Freeform Underground Radio, and the Legendary KPPC-FM
by Dave Pierce
Riding on the Ether Express is author Dave Pierce's fascinating firsthand account of a Louisiana boy's wild journey through 1960s Los Angeles, including stops at the acclaimed Pasadena Playhouse and the legendary radio station KPCC-FM. In addition to initiating the Free Form Underground Radio format between 1967 and 1971, KPPC was also the launching ground for such notable radio personalities as Charles Laquidara, Jeff Gonzer, Steve Segal, and the legendary Dr. Demento, not to mention "The Credibility Gap" comic troupe which included future Hollywood stars David L. Lander, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer.
Dave Pierce was a disc jockey, and later music director, at KPPC from 1964 to 1971. More than simply the story of the radio station, Riding the Ether Express is testimony to the reciprocal relationship that once existed between radio (via the disc jockey) and American social change, as well as a captivating look inside of American family life during the 1960s, as Pierce and his wife raised two children in theatres and radio stations during this turbulent decade.
Softcover, 382 pages, ©2008
ISBN: 9781887366779