On Air Hosts: Dan Reed

Things You Might Not Know About Dan Reed, Host of Afternoons on XPN

In addition to hosting, Dan is Operations Manager and Music Director for WXPN. From our interview with Dan, here's the inside scoop on Dan Reed.

Let's Start with music and the first record you purchased.

I'm not 100% sure about this one, was probably a Monkees album with my Christmas money one year... I do recall buying Lou Reed's Sally Can't Dance album at a Rink's department store in my hometown of Hamilton, Ohio when I was in 7th grade – I had saved my grass cutting money.

Who did you see at your First Concert?

I saw The Banana Splits live at Coney Island in Cincinnati when I was 7 or 8, but my first "real" concert experience was Gary Wright, Manfred Mann's Earth Band & Robert Palmer at Riverfront Coliseum in Cincinnati, circa 1976.

What bands have you played in?

I've been the singer in a few you've never heard of...

Musician you were was most excited to meet?

I'd have to say the aforementioned Lou Reed... I got to meet him just a year ago or so after one of his Berlin concerts in Brooklyn. He was rather surly and uncommunicative, just as I had hoped he would be.

Favorite Local Bands

I really like Man Man... they're always very interesting. Dr. Dog have got it goin' on. Ben Arnold is a great songwriter.

How You Got into Radio

My high school had a vocational radio program, and it was all downhill from there. I always wanted to be a disc jockey, so I feel very fortunate that I've been able to end up doing what I wanted to do as a little kid. Except for a five year hiatus in the late 80's when I was in the concert business, I've managed to make a living in radio ever since I graduated from college.

Philadelphia Phantoms Fan

Dan likes to take his son, Max, to both Phantoms and Flyers games. Here's Dan making a stop for a cheese steak before a game at Chubby Steaks in Roxborough talking about the one and only Philly Cheese Steak.

Weirdest Boss

I work in radio... all my bosses have been weird!

All Time Favorite Bands/Artists

The Replacements, Nick Drake, Patti Smith, My Bloody Valentine, Chuck Berry, Lou Reed / The Velvets, James Brown, The Stones, Iggy & The Stooges, John Coltrane, Nirvana, Joni Mitchell, P-Funk, Merle Haggard, The Clash, Peter Tosh, Pretenders, Black Sabbath, My Morning Jacket, tons more...

Favorite Movie

For years now, when people ask me this question, I've always said Midnight Cowboy, so I'll stick to that one - even though Fargo is right up there, as is Godfather II, Office Space, Strangers On A Train, Pulp Fiction, High Noon and Dr. Strangelove.

Favorite People

I've got the greatest family in the world, so it's gotta be Ann, Cale, Cara, Aprile & Max!

Bonus Questions... Dan, where do you hail from?

Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A.

Previous gigs, other than the infamous Dock Ellis Band

WFPK / Public Radio Partnership – Louisville (prounounced Looville), Ky.
WNCW – Spindale, N.C.
WNKU – Highland Heights, Ky.
WOXY – Oxford, Ohio

College

B.A. / Communications, School of Radio/Television from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio - 1984

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