Rockline
Encyclopedia
Rockline is a nationally syndicated radio interview
program hosted by Bob Coburn that broadcasts live via satellite
every Monday and Wednesday night from 8:30pm-10pm PT
to radio stations in the United States
. Founded in 1981, it is considered to be the longest running, uninterrupted program in rock
history. The main guests interviewed on the program are various musical artists of the rock genre, including both active rock
artists (on Mondays) and classic rock
artists (on Wednesdays). The primary feature of the program is the ability for listeners to call live and ask questions to the guests. Several of the shows are also live performances.
of the Eagles and Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers
, on May 4, 1981. In June 1998, AMFM Radio Networks purchased Rockline, among other programs, from the Global Satellite Network. Under the ownership of AMFM, the show expanded to two nights a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, on January 1, 1999. In August 2000, AMFM was merged into Premiere Radio Networks
, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
. Two years later, in November 2002, Premiere announced that 15 programs were being cut from their roster, including Rockline. Shortly thereafter, in January 2003, host Bob Coburn purchased the show from Premiere. Later that same year, in November, Crystal Media Networks began syndicating the show. November 2008 saw a change in syndicator when Dial Global
picked up Rockline, while Bob Coburn continued to be the host.
. Following that, Coburn was the lone host until the early 1990s. Following his departure, there were three full-time hosts, Steve Downes
, Beau Rials and Riki Rachtman
, until March 10, 1997 when Coburn returned.
and Eric Clapton
. The two guests who have been on the most are Ozzy Osbourne
(19 times) and Rush
(18 times).
Notable non-musical guests include then Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton
with running mate, then-United States Senator
from Tennessee
Al Gore
during their presidential campaign in 1992; and on December 16, 1993 radio superstar Howard Stern
, the latter of whom was promoting his New Year's Eve Pay-per-view
special.
Interview
An interview is a conversation between two people where questions are asked by the interviewer to obtain information from the interviewee.- Interview as a Method for Qualitative Research:"Definition" -...
program hosted by Bob Coburn that broadcasts live via satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
every Monday and Wednesday night from 8:30pm-10pm PT
Pacific Time Zone
The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time . The clock time in this zone is based on the mean solar time of the 120th meridian west of the Greenwich Observatory. During daylight saving time, its time offset is UTC-7.In the United States...
to radio stations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1981, it is considered to be the longest running, uninterrupted program in rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
history. The main guests interviewed on the program are various musical artists of the rock genre, including both active rock
Active rock
Active rock is a radio format used by many commercial radio stations across the United States and Canada. Active rock plays contemporary rock artists with a mix of songs common in the classic rock radio format.-Format background:...
artists (on Mondays) and classic rock
Classic rock
Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the...
artists (on Wednesdays). The primary feature of the program is the ability for listeners to call live and ask questions to the guests. Several of the shows are also live performances.
Owners, syndicators, and show format
Rockline started in 1981 with a weekly format on Monday nights, Monday being chosen because at the time most bands did not play on Mondays. The first guests on the show were Joe WalshJoe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
of the Eagles and Tom Johnston of The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers
The Doobie Brothers are an American rock band. The group has sold over 40 million units worldwide throughout their career. The Doobie Brothers were inducted into The Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004.-Original incarnation:...
, on May 4, 1981. In June 1998, AMFM Radio Networks purchased Rockline, among other programs, from the Global Satellite Network. Under the ownership of AMFM, the show expanded to two nights a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, on January 1, 1999. In August 2000, AMFM was merged into Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
, a wholly owned subsidiary of Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
. Two years later, in November 2002, Premiere announced that 15 programs were being cut from their roster, including Rockline. Shortly thereafter, in January 2003, host Bob Coburn purchased the show from Premiere. Later that same year, in November, Crystal Media Networks began syndicating the show. November 2008 saw a change in syndicator when Dial Global
Dial Global
Dial Global is a radio syndication company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triton Media Group and is a sister company to Townsquare Media, both of which are owned by Oaktree Capital Management....
picked up Rockline, while Bob Coburn continued to be the host.
Hosts
The original host for six months was B. Mitchel ReedB. Mitchel Reed
B. Mitchel Reed was a successful American disc Jockey for both Top 40 and album-oriented rock radio, who worked in New York and Los Angeles in a career spanning 25 years.-Career:...
. Following that, Coburn was the lone host until the early 1990s. Following his departure, there were three full-time hosts, Steve Downes
Steve Downes
Steve Downes is an American DJ and voice actor. He is best known for his work as the voice of Master Chief in the popular Halo video game series. He worked as a disc jockey at Los Angeles, California, Album-oriented Rock radio stations KWST , KEZY-AM and KLSX , but is best remembered working...
, Beau Rials and Riki Rachtman
Riki Rachtman
Riki Rachtman is an American television and radio personality.-Rock scene:At the age of 16, Rachtman auditioned to sing in the band the Angry Samoans, and the next year he was in a band called the Fairlanes. In the late 1980s, Rachtman was lead vocalist of the L.A. Metal Act "Virgin"...
, until March 10, 1997 when Coburn returned.
Guests
Two major "hold-out" guests who have yet to appear on the show are Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
and Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
. The two guests who have been on the most are Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
(19 times) and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
(18 times).
Notable non-musical guests include then Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
with running mate, then-United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
Al Gore
Al Gore
Albert Arnold "Al" Gore, Jr. served as the 45th Vice President of the United States , under President Bill Clinton. He was the Democratic Party's nominee for President in the 2000 U.S. presidential election....
during their presidential campaign in 1992; and on December 16, 1993 radio superstar Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor best known for his radio show, which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style...
, the latter of whom was promoting his New Year's Eve Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
special.
External links
- Official website (includes current station list)
- Rockline page at the Dial Global website