Metalshop

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, gather 'round the cosmic campfire 'cause we're divin' deep into the groovy vibes of "Metalshop," that far-out weekly show hosted by the legendary Charlie Kendall, spinnin' right here on THE ZOO. Man, this show's like a time machine blastin' heavy riffs and wild tales from the metal universe, keepin' the spirit of rock alive and kickin'. From what we've dug up in old interviews and social media buzz, "Metalshop" first hit the airwaves back in 1984, runnin' strong till 1995, syndicated across over 250 stations nationwide, dishin' out 586 episodes of pure metal magic. Charlie, known as "The Butcher" for his razor-sharp style, chopped up the scene with interviews that made ya feel like you were hangin' backstage with the gods of rock.

Picture this, brothers and sisters: one trippy story from the archives has Charlie chattin' with Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe about their wild rides through the sunset strip haze, sharin' laughs over the chaos that fueled their anthems. And dig this quote from a recent post – Charlie's catchin' up with Rob Halford of Judas Priest, where Rob spills on the leather-clad revolution that turned metal into a movement of peace, power, and pure energy. "Man, those sessions were electric," Charlie reminisced in an interview, talkin' 'bout how he'd weave in stories from the road, like the time Judas Priest blew minds with their twin-guitar attacks that echoed like thunder in a psychedelic storm. Social media's lit up with fans sharin' memories, like one Zoo Freak postin' about hearin' Andy Scott of The Sweet droppin' wisdom on glam rock's glittery roots, blendin' it with metal's heavy groove.

Oh, and let's not forget the epic comebacks – after a long cosmic nap, "Metalshop" roared back to life, with Charlie hostin' fresh episodes packed with new blood like the hot British band Tailgunner, who Charlie interviewed about their fiery riffs inspirin' a new generation of headbangers. In one groovy chat on a podcast, Charlie shared how the show was born from his love for the heavier side of rock, sayin', "It was all about connectin' the freaks with the music that made their souls soar." Trivia time, folks: did ya know "Metalshop" once featured a massive Metallica marathon that became the most listened-to gig in broadcast history for its network? Fans on X are still buzzin' about episodes with Graham Bonnet, where he grooves on his Rainbow days, paintin' pictures of psychedelic harmonies meetin' metal might. It's like a never-endin' jam session, with Charlie pullin' strings to keep the vibe flowin'.

Now, let's rewind the tape and talk about how this rock wizard got his start, man. Charlie's journey kicked off at the tender age of 14, durin' a Boy Scout tour of a local radio station – talk about a sign from the universe! He stepped into that on-air studio, felt the magic hummin' through the airwaves, and knew right then that radio was his callin'. From there, he hustled his way up, startin' at spots like WKDL and WROX-AM, even becomin' owner of WROX later on, full circle style. His passion for spinnin' discs and sharin' stories grew roots in those early days, blendin' rock's raw energy with a hippie heart for community and connection.

By the swingin' 70s, Charlie landed here at KZEW in Dallas, the iconic rock haven known as "The Zoo," where he rocked the afternoon drive as one of our station's key voices. Man, KZEW was, and still is, a beacon for free spirits, blastin' out tunes from the likes of Led Zeppelin and The Who, and Charlie was right in the thick of it, shapin' the sound that defined a generation. He was part of the original air staff, bringin' that authentic rock ethos to North Texas listeners who tuned in for the pure, unfiltered groove. Stories from those days paint Charlie as a trailblazer, supportin' up-and-comers like Aerosmith early on – he's even mentioned in their autobiography for givin' 'em that crucial airplay boost. Tom Petty's book nods to him too, for liftin' careers with his far-out programming choices.

Charlie's path didn't stop at KZEW; he grooved through legendary stations like WNEW, WMMR, and WBCN, always keepin' the peace and love in rock's rebellious heart. He climbed to VP roles, overseein' fleets of stations, and lent his voice to big-time gigs like PBS's NOVA and the Billboard Music Awards. But "Metalshop" became his masterpiece, a space where metalheads could unite under the stars, sharin' tales of triumph and rockin' out to the heaviest vibes. Recent social vibes show him interviewin' fresh acts like Paralandra and Crobot, keepin' the flame eternal.

And hey, if you're feelin' the call to dive deeper, check out Charlie's official website, his official Facebook, and X accounts – all hyped with that referrer groove. There's also an active Facebook group for Metalshop fans, where freaks swap stories and keep the community vibin'. For more rockin' action, tune into THE ZOO, where the spirit lives on.

So, Zoo Crew and Freaks alike, keep the records spinnin' and the love flowin' – "Metalshop" and Charlie Kendall are reminders that rock's revolution is eternal, man. Peace out and rock on!