Richard Blade
Encyclopedia
Richard Blade is a popular Los Angeles
radio, television, and film personality from Torquay
, England
. He is best known for his radio programs that feature New Wave and Popular music from the 1980s. He has stated that Depeche Mode
is his favourite band.
and Europe before moving to Los Angeles
and starting work as a DJ there in 1982. He took a new name from the Sci-Fi film, Blade Runner
.
Within a few months of working in Los Angeles, Blade had become the #1 Arbitron
-rated radio personality on the West Coast
, and in 1982, he began to host a weekly television program on KCAL-TV
called "MV3," which later became "Video One."
In 1984 Richard created, produced and hosted "VideoBeat" for KTLA. The weekly series ran for two years.
Blade also worked as an actor in the 80s, appearing in Square Pegs
, Hunter, Divorce Court
, as contestant Dick Sheppard from England on the television game show Card Sharks
, and in other programs.
Between 1991 and 2003, Blade hosted several music-related television programs, including "America's Top Ten", which he took over from Casey Kasem
. He hosted several "Flashback" radio programs on KROQ-FM
, and was a frequent host at Los Angeles dance clubs on their KROQ Nights, including the famous Palace Theatre in Hollywood. He appeared on the cover of a six-volume set of 80s music compilations called Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites.
In 1998 Richard wrote for the UPN TV Sci-Fi series "7 Days" including writing the second season's finale "The Cure".
In April 2000, Blade moved to St Maarten in the Caribbean and took a two-year break from the industry to work on several writing projects.
Returning to Los Angeles in 2002, Blade returned to his career in radio and television.
In June, 2003, he consulted for MTV Networks
on the television program "Bands Reunited", then worked for VH1
as a writer and producer on both seasons of the series.
In 2004, he returned to radio on Los Angeles station KYSR (Star 98.7), originally as host of a Saturday night "Totally 80's" program and short features in the afternoon drive-time period. In 2006, when the station became more 90s and current-based, the Saturday night program ended.
Today he has gained a national audience in North America where he is a host for the Sirius Satellite Radio
channel First Wave
, a 1980s New Wave Music
channel. He hosts his own signature show "First Wave Rewind". He also hosts a twice-daily short feature on Sirius' The Big 80's
channel called "Behind The Big '80s". Recently, Blade has taken over for Ray Rossi on The Pulse
on weekends.
In April 2006 Richard co-starred with Gabrielle Anwar and Craig Sheffer in a movie he wrote called "Long Lost Son". The film, which was shot on location in the Caribbean, premiered on Lifetime in August 2006. He currently has a TV series he created being edited for airing on Animal Planet in 2007 called "My New Wild Life".
In August 2007, Blade made an appearance on the reality show "Rock of Love" featuring Poison
lead singer Bret Michaels
.
Blade has a regular cameo appearance in US sitcom Glory Daze
, set at a college frat house in 1986. Blade plays the DJ at the College Radio station known as 'The Voice'.
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
radio, television, and film personality from Torquay
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He is best known for his radio programs that feature New Wave and Popular music from the 1980s. He has stated that Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. The group's original line-up consisted of Dave Gahan , Martin Gore , Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke...
is his favourite band.
Biography
Blade worked as a DJ "The Young Dick Sheppard" in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Europe before moving to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and starting work as a DJ there in 1982. He took a new name from the Sci-Fi film, Blade Runner
Blade Runner
Blade Runner is a 1982 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, and Sean Young. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is loosely based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K...
.
Within a few months of working in Los Angeles, Blade had become the #1 Arbitron
Arbitron
Arbitron is a consumer research company in the United States that collects listener data on radio audiences. It was founded as American Research Bureau by Jim Seiler in 1949 and became national by merging with L.A. based Coffin, Cooper and Clay in the early 1950s...
-rated radio personality on the West Coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
, and in 1982, he began to host a weekly television program on KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV
KCAL-TV, channel 9, is an independent television station in Los Angeles, California, USA, owned by the CBS Corporation. KCAL-TV shares its studio facilities with KCBS-TV inside CBS Studio Center in the Studio City section of Los Angeles, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson.-Digital...
called "MV3," which later became "Video One."
In 1984 Richard created, produced and hosted "VideoBeat" for KTLA. The weekly series ran for two years.
Blade also worked as an actor in the 80s, appearing in Square Pegs
Square Pegs
Square Pegs is an American comedy series that aired on CBS during the 1982–1983 season. The series follows Patty Greene and Lauren Hutchinson , two awkward teenage girls desperate to fit in at Weemawee High School....
, Hunter, Divorce Court
Divorce Court
Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest...
, as contestant Dick Sheppard from England on the television game show Card Sharks
Card Sharks
Card Sharks is an American television game show created by Chester Feldman for Mark Goodson-Bill Todman Productions. Two contestants compete for control of a row of oversized playing cards by answering questions posed by the host and then guessing if the next card is higher or lower in value than...
, and in other programs.
Between 1991 and 2003, Blade hosted several music-related television programs, including "America's Top Ten", which he took over from Casey Kasem
Casey Kasem
Kemal Amin "Casey" Kasem is an American radio personality and voice actor who is best known for being the host of the nationally syndicated Top 40 countdown show American Top 40, and for voicing Shaggy in the popular Saturday morning cartoon franchise Scooby-Doo.Kasem, along with Don Bustany and...
. He hosted several "Flashback" radio programs on KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
, and was a frequent host at Los Angeles dance clubs on their KROQ Nights, including the famous Palace Theatre in Hollywood. He appeared on the cover of a six-volume set of 80s music compilations called Richard Blade's Flashback Favorites.
In 1998 Richard wrote for the UPN TV Sci-Fi series "7 Days" including writing the second season's finale "The Cure".
In April 2000, Blade moved to St Maarten in the Caribbean and took a two-year break from the industry to work on several writing projects.
Returning to Los Angeles in 2002, Blade returned to his career in radio and television.
In June, 2003, he consulted for MTV Networks
MTV Networks
MTV Networks is a division of media conglomerate Viacom that oversees the operations of many television channels and Internet brands, including the original MTV channel in the United States...
on the television program "Bands Reunited", then worked for VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
as a writer and producer on both seasons of the series.
In 2004, he returned to radio on Los Angeles station KYSR (Star 98.7), originally as host of a Saturday night "Totally 80's" program and short features in the afternoon drive-time period. In 2006, when the station became more 90s and current-based, the Saturday night program ended.
Today he has gained a national audience in North America where he is a host for the Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
channel First Wave
First Wave (Sirius)
1st Wave is a 1970s/1980s Alternative rock / new wave radio station on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 33 , XM Satellite Radio channel 33 and Dish Network channel 6022. Until February 9, 2010, it was on Direct TV channel 839. It also played 1990s alternative music up until Lithium's launch in 2007...
, a 1980s New Wave Music
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
channel. He hosts his own signature show "First Wave Rewind". He also hosts a twice-daily short feature on Sirius' The Big 80's
The Big 80's
The Big 80's was a series of music videos broadcast on VH1 starting in 1994 and sporadically airing until 2000. The show ran for 90 minutes.-Format:...
channel called "Behind The Big '80s". Recently, Blade has taken over for Ray Rossi on The Pulse
The Pulse
- Radio :* The Pulse , a hot AC channel on Sirius XM Radio* The Pulse , The original Sirius incarnation on channel 9 until November 12, 2008* The Pulse of West Yorkshire, a UK radio station originally known as Pennine Radio...
on weekends.
In April 2006 Richard co-starred with Gabrielle Anwar and Craig Sheffer in a movie he wrote called "Long Lost Son". The film, which was shot on location in the Caribbean, premiered on Lifetime in August 2006. He currently has a TV series he created being edited for airing on Animal Planet in 2007 called "My New Wild Life".
In August 2007, Blade made an appearance on the reality show "Rock of Love" featuring Poison
Poison (band)
Poison is an American glam metal band that achieved great success in the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. To date, Poison has sold over 30 million records worldwide and have sold 15 million records in the United States alone. The band has also charted ten singles to the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100,...
lead singer Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels
Bret Michaels is an American musician, actor, director, screenwriter, producer and reality television personality. He first gained fame as the lead vocalist of the glam metal band Poison. Besides his career as lead singer, he has several solo albums to his credit, as well as one chart single...
.
Blade has a regular cameo appearance in US sitcom Glory Daze
Glory Daze
Glory Daze is an independent film starring Ben Affleck, Sam Rockwell, French Stewart and Alyssa Milano. It had a limited release in 1996.- Plot :...
, set at a college frat house in 1986. Blade plays the DJ at the College Radio station known as 'The Voice'.
Film appearances
Blade appeared in several films, including:- Girls Just Want To Have FunGirls Just Want to Have Fun (film)Girls Just Want to Have Fun is a 1985 dance film starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt, directed by Alan Metter.It resembles the style of Footloose and Flashdance. For many years, Comedy Central, Lifetime, USA Network, Lifetime Movie Network and ABC Family have aired the film...
(1985) - Depeche Mode 101 (1989)
- Rock 'n' Roll High School ForeverRock 'n' Roll High School ForeverRock 'n' Roll High School Forever is a 1991 musical comedy film and sequel to the 1979 film Rock 'n' Roll High School. The film stars Corey Feldman, Mary Woronov, and Sarah Buxton.-Plot:...
(1990) - SpellcasterSpellcaster (film)-Plot:Winning a trip to Italy through a contest, Jackie and her brother Tom join other winners Myrna , Yvette , Terri , Harlan and Tony . They settle into the rooms of an old castle, together with Cassandra , a rock star playing along in the contest...
(1991)