Monday morning news during my freshman year (see Watching your river turn into an ocean) was during the Hodge-Podge and Bandito show, one of the better less-than-spectacular excuses for a “morning show” that the station experimented with for a semester. I think the argument was that as a "college" operated station that there should be something geared toward a "college” audience – hence, in short, rock music was played in the morning.
At some point prior to the start of this semester, Hodge-Podge (an upperclassman named John) and Bandito (a guy named, I think, Andy) had gotten together to 1) apparently decide on their captivating air names, and 2) become two men on a morning show mission, as they came across as the only ones who put any long-range planning into their broadcasts. I say this because I distinctly remember being surprised at the number of big name celebrities that had recorded "drops," or short vocal promotional spots for their "show." The only one I recall now is Carrot Top, that popular actor of oh-so-long-ago, who I think recorded two or three different versions. He identified himself ("Hey, it's Carrot Top..."), then spouted out some comedic one-liner or something (such as this Apocalyptic quote: "...and I love the smell of Napalm in the morning...."), and then reminded the few listeners we had at 6 a.m. they were in fact listening to the very station they had intentionally tuned into. I don't think our university was on the map as far as having big names stop by regularly, which therefore always led me to believe either Hodge-Podge or Bandito had recorded them over that previous summer when they knew they would be working together.
And they worked together fairly well. John seemed to be the senior of the two, seemingly "leading" the show; he turned up in a number of sports broadcasts both on the campus radio station as well as the television station in subsequent years. If anything, he might have been classified as the more "serious" one because Andy definitely came across as all party. Looking back, I would say his appearance was that of a subdued and younger Jack Black – one who liked to rock. Not an out of control personality but one who would have been better served by a radio station that didn’t revert to classical programming after the three hour rock-themed morning show.
And rock they did, most notably music I had never really heard before. This leads me to the following conclusions: 1) they were both guilty of bringing in outside music, which at this point in the station’s history was no big deal; and 2) the morning show concept was doomed because they were the only "show" (that I was associated with) to really play that album-oriented format. They were particularly partial to Van Halen's Diver Down, which they played tracks from the Monday morning it rained.
Van Halen had been getting used to their new reign, too – Sammy Hagar’s third album with the group was the risqué, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, which when abbreviated, is not mentioned on the radio. The album would garner a Grammy for Best Hard Rock Performance.
And, for what it’s worth, Hodge-Podge and Bandito should have garnered something for their hard rockin’ performances on Mondays, too – especially when they were followed by the Tuesday duo....
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Man on a Mission
(Michael Anthony/Sammy Hagar/Eddie Van Halen/Alex Van Halen)
Van Halen
From the album For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge
1991
I got a one track mind
My blinders up
Now all I gotta do is get up, go out, and get her
Got the first step down
Uh-know what I want
All seven senses tryin' to deliver
Now baby, let me fill you up inside (Up inside)
Spread your wings and (Open wide) open wide
So hot! So hot! So hot!
I'm a man on a mission
Straight ahead, less talk, more action
With no distractions
I'm all conditioned, thoroughbred
Go for the action, with no distractions yeah
You give every inch
Flesh, blood and bone
And it's all wrapped up in a tight little bundle
Got an open mind, do anything
I been aware the ball might roll or tumble
So, right down to the bottom of the top (Ooo-ooh)
I'm gonna do it all in one big pot (Big pot)
Yeah! She got! She got! Me hot. Uh!
I'm a man on a mission
Straight ahead, less talk, more action
With no distraction (Ooooo)
I'm on a mission
I'm a thoroughbred Less talk, more action, with no distraction (Ooooo)
Ow, yeah! Uh!
I got no distractions
So get on, outta the way
Only thing that's on my mind
Ah, she sure got my attention
Once you taste the real kind
Ohhhh!
Uh! Ahh! Come on!
She got. She got. Ah
Man on a mission, straight ahead
No talk, no action. I got no distractions
I'm all conditioned, what I say
A man on a mission, up ahead
Ah yeah! Woo! My kinda action
Ow! Uh!
No distractions
I got no distractions
No distractions. Uh!
No distractions, I'm on a mission
Woo! Ow!
