106.1 Rock Radio

Sometimes, when Radio 1 just plays too much of that Kesha rubbish and XFM is playing the Courteeners yet again, I switch over to 106.1 Rock Radio.
Because it’s fun, I think sometimes, to play air guitar even though you’re driving or if you have the joy of being in the passenger seat, even doing some air drumming.
And if that’s what you’re after, tuning into Rock Radio will probably instantly reward you with anything from «Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door» by Guns ‘n’ Roses to «Heroes» by David Bowie. They’ve got a bit of taste too, you know.

I remember seeing the adverts for this scattered around when it was first kicking off, and felt a shiver of anticipation race up my spine and shoot out of my face. A real rock radio station? Really?
You see, I remember as a kid being annoyed by the fact that radio stations with ‘Rock’ in the name invariably just played terrible pop, so I was afraid something similar was going to occur. Luckily, such a travesty did not happen and I happily set it to be my wake-​up alarm every morning. One of my most memorable moments of last year was waking up just as ‘Enter Sandman’ was beginning. Metallica was the last thing I expected to hear, but it was not begrudged.
They play mostly older rock, and nicely do not shy away from hard rock or heavy metal. Altogether, it’s the best radio station in Manchester and in my opinion one of the best out there.

Rock Radio and black coffee are my essentials when Unilocaling.
Like George, when I lived in the Midlands I listened to Kerrang Radio and for my first 4 years in Manchester I was unable to find a replacement for this radio station until the founding of Rock Radio in 2008.
Currently I’m listening to Moose’s show. I like him because he’s Canadian and because I also know a Canadian called Moose. He occasionally plays some obscure Canadian rock (which assures me that the DJs do actually get a say on what’s played) and he just accidentally called Biffy Clyro ‘Billy Clyro’. He, like many of the presenters, clearly has no interest in modern rock or any other genre, so concentrates on 60s-​80s rock — expect to hear Black Sabbath, The Beatles, The Stones, AC/​DC, Guns N Roses, The Eagles, Pink Floyd etc. They also tend to throw in the occasional Manchester track by Oasis or The Smiths.
As Emma-​Louise states, the tone of the shows is fun and very conversational, but in my opinion this shouldn’t mean shoddy producing — I’ve heard numerous songs being played over adverts, silences for more than 20 seconds, presenters swearing when they think their mics are off, mistakes when reading the news etc. Although, I suppose that in some way these errors can be quite endearing as they add to the feeling that the presenters are simply there to have fun, chat about music they enjoy and supply the masses with their daily dose of classic rock.

Where else would you get to hear a 65 year old, still-​gigging-​with-​his-​rock-​band presenter with quite possibly one of the broadest Mancunian accents in the North West?
Where else would a sound clip from the local news of an interview with a rainfall expert be interrupted by a loud and obvious yawn from said presenter, only for the poor newsreader to protest and say, ‘That nice man did not give us his time for you to be so rude!’?
What other radio station would have a poster campaign that reads, ‘We think most number ones are number twos’?
Known as ‘Manchester’s First Classic Rock Station’, Rock Radio launched in early 2008 and not only plays all rock music all of the time but has a decidedly rock n’ roll attitude. From the cheesily sublime to the avant-​garde esque ridiculous, presenters are pretty much given free reign with their playlists as long as they occasionally play the newest single by so-​and-​so (as I type this, Nov ’09, that’s usually Bön Jovi, Green Day or Kiss).
There’s an air of fun about Rock Radio. It’s very conversational, you feel as if you’re in the pub with an old friend. Bands are interviewed and great documentaries are broadcast. There are prize-​dishing competitions — during ‘Rocktober’ the station practically gave away a whole kit to set up a band, and November’s ‘Rockamend a Friend’ event is also nicely lucrative. The tunes are great, after all, even the poppiest of listener will love at least one classic rock song, and the presenters all genuinely know what they’re talking about. Turn it up on a long journey in the car and headbang your way down the M6. You know you want to.
Just don’t accidentally tune into Rock FM, Preston’s über-​pop station. It’s been happening so often Rock Radio have created a Compare the Meerkat spoof advert for that very purpose.