James’ Kickstarter Project: Smells Like Rock Radio (An Oral History of Chicago’s Q101)

With the recent sale of WKQX (which most folks in Chicago know as Q101), my friend James had a brilliant idea: to write an oral history of the station. Having broadcast Alternative Rock on the Chicago airwaves since 1992, the station has played host to innumerable bands… and has been the source of what I can only imagine to be some really great stories. With James’ experience and contacts at the station, I can think of no one better to tell the story.

Nearly two years ago, James pitched a book concept on Kickstarter. Unfortunately, he fell shy of his goal and the project never got funded. I was more than upset – I was genuinely sad that this book never got to see the light of day.

Given its imminent demise (the current rumor is that Q101 will flip formats, once the ownership changes in August)… I think James is in a unique position to serve as both music insider and Chicago historian.

He’s currently trying to raise $10,000 to publish the book and I highly encourage you to swing by his Kickstarter page. I’ve seen one of his great ideas fail to reach publication, and I’ll be damned if another one suffers the same fate. James is a great guy, a great writer, and incredibly, incredibly passionate about his music.

If you want to see what I mean about passionate, check out this this video of James, speaking at CHIRP Radio’s The First Time series.

PS: If you’re curious to read more of what James has done, check out his book Off the Record Collection.

Related:
JVO On The Physical (And Emotional) Bruises Of Dodgeball
Off The Record Collection, By James VanOsdol