Interview With Charlie Kendall: The Radio Legend Behind Metal Shop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGd--B5XhyU By Meltdown | WRIF There he is—one of my childhood heroes, Charlie "The Butcher" Kendall! This is a guy whose voice and work shaped my love for rock and radio, so getting to sit down and chat with him was nothing short of an honor. The Origins of "Meltdown" Before we dove into Charlie’s legendary career, he had one question for me: Where did the name ‘Meltdown’ come from? That’s a question I get a lot. Back in the ‘80s, growing up in Western New York, there was a character called “Meltdown Mitch” on Snorton Norton’s morning show on 97 Rock. Somehow, my friends started calling me “The Meltdown One.” When I got on the air, Art Wander—who you might remember—just said, “Call yourself Meltdown.” And here we are, 35 years later. Charlie chuckled and said, Well, it’s worked for you! And yeah, it really has. I’ve been at WRIF since 1995, and this year marks my 30th anniversary here. My dad told me to give it six months and see what happens—safe to say, I stuck around. The Birth of Metal Shop Now, let’s get into the good stuff—Charlie Kendall’s Metal Shop, one of the most iconic rock radio shows of all time. If you grew up on hard rock and metal in the ‘80s, you know what I’m talking about. Charlie was the voice behind it, and it was more than just a radio show—it was a movement. Back in 1982, Charlie realized something was missing on the airwaves. Nobody was consistently playing hard rock and heavy metal. He saw that the scene was growing, yet radio wasn’t acknowledging it. So, he took the idea to David Krebs—manager of AC/DC, Scorpions, Metallica, and Aerosmith, among others. “There was no show dedicated to metal,” Charlie explained. “So, I put together an outline, originally called Hard Rock to Heavy Metal, and launched it at WMMR in 1982. Our first guest? Sammy Hagar.” For almost two years, Charlie shopped the concept around as a demo. Then, his friend John McGann pitched it to Josh Feigenbaum at MJI Broadcasting. The tipping point? They took Josh to a sold-out Judas Priest show at Madison Square Garden. That was all he needed—he was in. Metal Shop launched in February 1984, right as metal was exploding. “The wave was already rolling,” Charlie said. “Kids were trading records and tapes, but the media wasn’t catching on. Metal Shop was the first to get there and deliver what fans really wanted. It was like a teen magazine for metalheads.” The Evolution of Radio and the Fall of Metal Shop Back in the day, producing Metal Shop was no small task. “It took 10 to 15 people to put out a one-hour show every week,” Charlie said. But as technology evolved, the game changed. “Now, with Zoom and digital tools, it only takes three of us.” So, what happened to Metal Shop? The rise of grunge in the early ‘90s was a major factor. “We went from 250 stations to 60 overnight,” Charlie recalled. “Consultants told stations they couldn’t say the word ‘metal’ anymore. Once that happened, the show was dead in the water.” Fast forward to recent years, and Charlie’s son encouraged him to bring Metal Shop back. At first, he wasn’t sure. “I thought, is there even an audience for this anymore?” But the world had changed. Streaming, digital radio, and platforms like Mixcloud made it possible to revive the show without the old-school network model. The Lost Archives and the Revival of Metal Shop One of the most heartbreaking parts of Metal Shop’s history? The original archive was lost. When Clear Channel bought MJI Broadcasting, they decided not to pay for storage and threw everything away. Gone! The only surviving episodes are what fans and traders saved over the years. Charlie connected with Corey Harker, a fan and radio syndication expert who helps preserve classic radio shows. Together, they brought Metal Shop back to life. “We’ve managed to maintain the quality people expect,” Charlie said. “People used to sit in their cars, cranking Metal Shop on 11. We want to bring that feeling back.” You can now hear the revived Metal Shop at CKMetalShop.com. A Life in Radio Charlie’s career spans decades and cities across America. He’s worked at legendary stations like WMMR in Philadelphia, WNEW in New York, WBCN in Boston, and many more. He was instrumental in breaking bands like Aerosmith and played a major role in shaping rock radio as we know it. But despite his impact, Charlie isn’t in the Radio Hall of Fame. “I was never in one place long enough to build that kind of clout,” he admitted. “I’d see the writing on the wall, get another gig, and move on before they could fire me.” His radio journey took him from Mississippi to Indianapolis, Cleveland, Dallas, Los Angeles, and beyond. He programmed stations, launched movements, and even bought and ran his own stations in Mississippi. After years of bouncing around, he eventually settled in Lexington, Kentucky, where he still runs radio stations today. The Legacy of Metal Shop Charlie Kendall is a radio legend, plain and simple. Metal Shop wasn’t just a show—it was the heartbeat of an era. And now, thanks to digital platforms, it’s back for a new generation. For me, talking with Charlie was a full-circle moment. As a kid, I listened to Metal Shop, dreaming of being on the radio. Now, here I am, having this conversation with one of my heroes. “Charlie, it’s an honor,” I told him as we wrapped up. “Thanks for the inspiration and for bringing Metal Shop back to life.” If you were a fan back in the day—or if you’re just discovering it—go check it out at CKMetalShop.com. Crank it up, and let’s keep metal alive! Hopefully, this is just the first of many conversations about metal with Charlie! [select-gallery gallery_id="856408" syndication_name="metallica-all-songs-ranked-worst-to-best" description="yes"]