Another Rock Star Autograph (Garage Find)

I was working at KXA (1982), the sister station of KYYX, when a new wave dressed lady walked in to the studio.

She asked where she could go for an interview. I thought she was a journalist there to conduct an interview, but it was Josie Cotton, one of the acts that would perform at the Wave Spectacular.

I introduced myself and offered her coffee, which she accepted.  I asked for get autograph, because this was the first rock star I had met. 

About then, Pat O'Day (The station owner and promotor of the Wave Spectacular walked by and took her to where she needed to go.

Greg Kihn--Pop Star Of The 80s

 Greg Kihn whose namesake band was popular in the '80s has died, reportedly of Altheimer's Disease, he was 75. 

Kihn sang the catchy "The Breakup Song", actually released in 1978. Also, a later hit simply titled "Jeopardy" 

During a period of either long hair or close cropped hairdo's, along with heavy synthesizers, Kihn had what I would call a California surfer look and a guitar and drum somewhat retro sound. 

He had a penchant for using puns of his last name for album titles like Rockkihnroll and Kihnspiracy. 

I got to see him perform at the '83 Wave Spectacular, which was actually held in 1982 (that's not an error) and was sponsored by KYYX. Since I worked for the station, I was able to get in free. 

The '83 Wave Spectacular Remembered On 40th Anniversary

I have wonderful memories of this event.  The '83 Wave Spectacular (which was actually in December of '82) at the Seattle Center.  At the time I worked at KYYX, which had just switched from a safe top 40 mellow rock format to a cutting-edge New Wave music, the previous summer.  

As an employee of the station, I got in for free.  I don't remember how many days that I attended, but I do remember seeing bands like Missing Persons, The Greg Kihn Band, and Oingo Boingo. 

Being from Walla Walla, I had at the time, seen very few rock concerts. The idea of being in a room with famous people was a wild concept. 

From a business standpoint, this event, from what I heard, was not a money maker.  The admission price was perhaps a little high for fans of the genre, many whom decried the commercialization of their passion. 

Seattle area historian Feliks Banel did this great report on the 40th anniversary of what I figured was a forgotten event.