http://www.newsday.com/news/headbanger-rocks-on-dj-trunk-finds-new-radio-niche-for-his-heavy-metal-show1.

319448

Headbanger Rocks On / DJ Trunk finds new radio niche for his heavymetal show
April 10, 2003 by Alan Krawitz. Alan Krawitz is a freelance writer. / Friday nights rock once again as Eddie Trunk, New York City's guardian angel of hard rock/heavy metal, returned to the airwaves recently on WAXQ/104.3 FM after his show was bounced from another city station. Trunk's new show, "Friday Night Rocks," an outgrowth of his original "Saturday Night Rocks" show, features classic headbanger bands such as Black Sabbath, Metallica and Judas Priest as well as new artists. Trunk credits both "Q104.3" program director Bob Buchmann and legions of listeners for helping to get the show on the air. Queens listeners were among thousands of rock fans who deluged Trunk with supportive e-mails and calls following the show's recent cancellation on WNEW/102.7 FM, which is switching formats. Trunk created his hard-rock specialty show on that station and had been a fixture since 1998. "In radio, they don't ever warn you when you're about to get fired," said Trunk, who at 38 is already a 20-year veteran of radio. "The air staff are always the last to know." Mary Abruzzi of Whitestone was upset to hear that Trunk's show had been booted off the air. "Eddie's show is one of the last bastions of heavy metal left for us in Queens," Abruzzi, 32, said. "I'm thrilled that he's back."

Trunk said his dedicated audience lobbied Buchmann to give the hard-rock show a time slot on the station. Trunk had done a previous stint at WAXQ from 1994 to 1998. Buchmann said he received hundreds of e-mails asking for the show. "His show is a natural fit for the station because we already play many of the artists that he features," Buchmann said. "Besides, a little renegade radio never hurt anyone." And, renegade radio has been Trunk's specialty since he landed his first job at a station in his home state of New Jersey in late 1983. "Many programmers underestimate this type of music," Trunk said. "When it's done right, it can be a viable format." Trunk's career also includes work at an independent record label, an artist management firm and freelance music journalism. Recently, Trunk has done guest spots and artist interviews for both MTV and VH1 Classic. Although many radio insiders continue to view "Friday Night Rocks" as esoteric, Trunk's show has built a loyal audience that includes police and firefighters, and has even attracted its share of celebrity supporters. Mets catcher Mike Piazza is a frequent guest and sometimes studio co-host. "I always have a blast hanging out with Eddie and doing the show when my schedule permits," Piazza said. "Growing up a fan of this music, I never understood why there were so few outlets for it. I was thrilled to hear the show was back on in New York." Trunk said Piazza "knows as much, if not more than me, when it comes to heavy-metal music."

Other recent celebrity guests have included Steven Van Zant of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and HBO's "The Sopranos," Gene Simmons of the rock group Kiss and Brian Johnson, lead singer of AC/DC. A recent visit to the "Q104.3" studio in Manhattan revealed a side of Trunk that few listeners are privy to. Clad in blue jeans and a Mets T-shirt, Trunk, who said he always strives to be more than "just a voice between the music," resembled a whirling dervish as he alternated between searching for music, watching four computer monitors and choosing calls from seven phone lines. "In the studio I do everything on the fly," Trunk said. Many times, Trunk doesn't know which ear-splitting band he'll play next. His only requirements for playing requests: "It's gotta rock and have tempo ... but no rap." Playing a frenetic set of air guitar between songs, Trunk selected his music from a collection of more than 600 CDs, many with dark, macabre names such as Slayer, Anthrax and Coroner. Trunk's only help in the studio is his intern, Matt Ramsing, 20, from Sunnyside, who attends John Jay College and plans on being a New York City police officer. "I love the music.... I'm a real metalhead," Ramsing said. "Even after I enter the police academy, I'll still help out with the show." Marc Coppola, a "Q104.3" DJ and 30-year radio veteran, said he's happy to have Trunk's show follow his on Fridays. "Eddie is one of the last guys doing this kind of show," Coppola says of hard rock. "I'm glad he's here." "Friday Night Rocks" is on "Q104.3" from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. For more information, visit www.eddie trunk.com and www.q1043.com.