ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Martin Bandyke is a radio host who has nearly 35 years experience in broadcast.
He spent many years at WDET-FM, Detroit's public radio station. Since early 2006, he's been hosting Ann Arbor's 107one WQKL-FM's Morning Drive on weekdays from 6 - 10 a.m. and Fine Tuning on Sundays 4 - 6 p.m. We sat down with him to learn what formed his eclectic taste in music, what Ann Arbor means to him and to share some of his biggest moments (the good, the bad, and the ugly) in live radio.
You grew up in Detroit during the Motown era, and that really jolted Detroit to the forefront of music in America. Take us back to those early years when music really became something to you.
Bandyke: "It really started with my dad. He worked at his brother-in-law’s store Niznik Records on the far west side of Detroit. A lot of the stuff that my dad brought home that really grabbed me wasn’t even rock -- it was jazz, it was Dave Brubeck, it was Charles Mingus, it was classical -- Van Cliburn at the time was a very popular pianist … we’re talking about late '50s early '60s.
"As I went into high school I met up with some guys who I formed my first band with which was a blast. And then another band later on after I graduated from U of M was the band that I worked the hardest in. We really practiced a lot -- maybe two to three nights a week and played a lot of shows and opened up a lot of well-known acts.
"It (gave) me that perspective as a radio host for empathizing -- trying to make it in this business is pretty next to impossible. Just knowing that -- it helped me build respect for what musicians do. It’s great and it’s fun, but man, it’s a hell of a lot of work and a tough way to make a living."
You’ve described Ann Arbor on your website as “one of the smartest, most caring and most creative communities in the USA” – what hooked you?
Bandyke: "I was still in high school and I went to a University Musical Society performance. They presented the Merce Cunningham Dance Company and one of their pieces called ‘Rainforest’ used Andy Warhol’s inflatable silver pillows and the music was done by a very avant-garde composer who I was really into in high school, John Cage, who was there in person. And it was one of those shows that I still remember that was so breathtaking ... it was in ’71 or so.
"I was a big record guy, of course, and worked at record stores. (Ann Arbor) had a couple of the greatest record stores. Discount Records was on the corner of State St. and University. Iggy Pop used to work there at one time. So I got hooked pretty young."
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Bandyke and actor Jeff Daniels at a 107one FM event in Ann Arbor (Photo: Martin Bandyke)
Going back to the 70s – high school years, college years – I can imagine Ann Arbor was a very different place than it is now. How was it different, and which Ann Arbor is better?
Bandyke: "When I started going to school here was when Borders Books started. I lived in that place when they were on State St. I try not to be too sentimental about the past, (but) I don’t know if I could really choose one over the other. You always have a sentimental feeling for what you grew up with.
"I wish there were more brick and mortar stores that were independently owned here. So, I do miss that to some extent but there’s so many things that are still great about this city and it still is a fiercely independent city, despite the fact that there may be more chain submarine shops in town.
"It was really when I started (working) here and researching guests and things to talk about that I was like, ‘Oh my God -- there’s even more stuff going on here than I realized ... are we in Manhattan?!"
What's the weirdest moment you’ve ever had on air?
Bandyke: "Oh, well there’s a couple!
"I adore her still to this day, the African born artist Angelique Kidjo. She really had a moment throughout the 1990's and I really looked forward to having her on my show. We didn’t have a delay -- and this was back when I was in Detroit at WDET. During the course of the interview, she said ‘motherf***er’ three times. Not once, not twice, but three times. And she wasn’t trying to be provocative. She would say ‘Oh, that motherf***ing song is so great!’ and I’d react with horror, and she would do it again and again. I finally wrapped the interview up and I’m sitting in the control room and very slowly in walks our general manager, and the look she gave me said it all.
"I’ve had people come into the studio and do a live performance midday. We’ll ask them if they’d like anything to drink. One artist said, ‘Do you have any Cognac?’ and we sent someone out to get some. I thought, ‘Hey, if it’s going to make your performance better I won’t tell if you won’t tell!’ So we bought a little pint of Remy Martin and she had a good swig. (Afterwards) she promptly put the pint in her purse and took off with it.
"So yeah, there have been some weird moments! You don’t quite know when you open up that mic what you’re going to get from guests."
Bandyke and singer-songwriter Patti Smith (Photo: Melanie Maxwell)
Is there any one moment that stands out as a favorite?
Bandyke: "I’ve spoken to some great people, but I’ve never enjoyed interviewing anyone more than Elvis Costello.
"The first time I spoke to him he was touring with the original Attractions. And I just launched into an easy question, “You’re in the Detroit area, Elvis, do you have any thoughts about some of your favorite artists from here?” His answer just went on minute after minute after minute; recollections, album covers, this explanation tying this artist to this artist. I was just in awe. (He) was just this musical encyclopedia.
"A couple years later and he was playing at the Fillmore. He remembered me and we were in this tiny little dressing room -- there wasn’t even room for us to sit together on the couch. So we sat on the floor like little teenage boys opposite each other and just yakked and yakked until we heard this ‘whoosh’ -- which was a set list that went under his door and he literally had to go right on stage. That was about as good as it gets."
Finally, is there something that you would say is surprising about yourself that your fans wouldn't know about?
Bandyke: "I love drag racing. I love IndyCar racing. I love Formula One racing.
"(Musically speaking) I also love Dionne Warwick, and The Association. Still to this day, there are several songs that I can’t play and then go right on the radio afterwards cause I’m crying …
(pauses)
"That’s going to church -- there are some of those songs that are like that. You just ride that emotion with songs like that. And I don’t know if that’s surprising to people. But there’s a lot of it that really touches me profoundly."
To learn more about Martin, visit his website and listen to him on Ann Arbor's 107one FM.