This weekend, the University of British Columbia's campus community radio station, CiTR 101.9 FM, is celebrating 75 years on the air. The station has played a pivotal role in the careers of many writers and broadcasters, including Exclaim! associate editor Brock Thiessen and CBC RadioSonic co-host Leora Kornfeld. But the most notable CiTR alumni, the man who is responsible for introducing the station to music fans across Canada, is Nardwuar the Human Serviette.
Long before his reign as MuchMusic's most enjoyable VJ, before snagging interviews with Kurt Cobain and Snoop Dogg or making headlines for ambushing former prime minister Jean Chretien during a scrum with a question about pepper spraying protesters, the master interviewer and researcher learned the ropes of his trade on the Vancouver college radio station.
Nardwuar's 27-year-long relationship with CiTR began when, as a high school student, he discovered The Altered Alternative Show in 1985.
"That is what first attracted me to CiTR," Nardwuar told CBC Music by phone earlier this week, "we heard they'd take anybody on the air ... and that kind of symbolizes CiTR. Just welcoming anyone."
Nardwuar gives a CiTR station tour in 1987
By October 1987, Nardwuar began his own show at the station. His first on-air interview was with Joey "Shithead" Keithley. "It's taught me everything, period," he says, reflecting on his experiences at the station, where he still serves as a music programmer and host of the long-running Nardwuar the Human Serviette Radio Show.
"I love [CiTR], it saved my life when I was in the hospital in 1999," he says, referring to a cerebral hemorrhage that nearly killed him. "CiTR got the word out and people visited me in the hospital and helped me get through a difficult time."
What the Canadian icon loves most about the station is that it allows its hosts to speak freely, and share their pure love of music.
"The people doing [shows at CiTR] are doing it because they love it, and they are just totally experts in their craft, they really want to teach people," he says. "That's what's great about campus community radio. It wants to give back to people, and not just be one-sided where they just want to earn money. It's for everyone to get involved."
As an ode to CiTR's 75th anniversary, Nardwuar lists his top five station shows of all time.
1. The Altered Alternative Show.
"That was a show that was on Saturday mornings on CiTR, and it let anybody come down to the show and be on CiTR. That is what first attracted me to CiTR. When I was in high school [in 1985], I knew a guy, Alexis, and me and him and John Beradino, we headed down to CiTR because we heard they'd take anybody on the air. So that was pretty exciting ... and that kind of symbolizes CiTR. Just welcoming anyone. That show kind of stands for it.
"When I went there I was able to see DOA and Pointed Sticks stuff that I'd only heard about, I'd never actually seen in person. It was amazing. I'd seen real, live gig posters too. That was sort of my attraction to the whole thing. I didn't start my own show on CiTR until October 1987."
2. The Jazz Show with Gavin Walker.
(Provided by Duncan McHugh)
"It's been on for over 20 years. It's incredible. He's been doing it so long, and he's just so knowledgeable about jazz. It's the best show probably in Canada. Thee jazz show! Enough said!"
3. Flex Your Head.
(Provided by CiTR)
"Another show that severely influenced me. It was a punk rock show hosted and started by Eric Thorkelson. He had played in a bunch of local bands like Fratricide and Strain. He got a radio show. Him and a guy called Jinx. Now I was a volunteer coordinator at CiTR when he got his show. So, I was actually in charge of training him, and showing him how to use the equipment. In turn, he taught me a hell of a lot about hardcore.
"The first time I ever even heard the band Minor Threat was on his radio show. It's still on the air, I think it started in the late '80s, and I think he continued it on until at least the 21st century, then he handed over the reins to someone else."
4. The Rockers Show.
(Provided by Duncan McHugh)
"Featuring George 'Family Man' Barrett, that's the reggae show on CiTR on Sundays. It's been on the air for 25 years, and George 'Family Man' Barrett is a distant relative of Bob Marley. That's where I learned about reggae and I'm still learning about reggae. Also, it's the most awesome time to have a reggae show because it's on Sunday mornings. You're just waking up after a hard night of partying, and what can you chill out to? The reggae show."
"It really was a huge influence on me that I love, and I think it was an influence on Vancouver. It was hosted by Adam Sloan, and another guy called Peter Courtemanche, who is still on the air doing a noise-related show. I loved that show because it showed that radio could be whatever you wanted it to be.
"Back east, college radio called noise 'radio art.' We didn't call it radio art on CiTR, we called it 'noise.' My ass was kicked when I started listening to that show because I thought I'd heard and seen everything. I remember once I walked into the DJ booth and there was Adam Sloan lying on the CiTR control board with the microphone to his heart. I was like, 'What the hell are you doing?' And he was like, 'Shut up, I am broadcasting my heartbeat!'
"I thought I knew everything, and that proved that I don't know everything. And it also proved that every time I go into CiTR I learn something."
CiTR's 75th anniversary celebration begin this Saturday, Nov. 17, at Vancouver's Chapel Arts Centre, with the CiTR Diamond Radioversary Party. The exhibit and showcase will include performances by Fine Mist, Gang Signs, Carolyn Mark and the New Best Friends and more.