In memory of Pete Fornatale, a great Brian interview on WNEW-FM from 1976

[PS]

For those of you who grew up in the NYC area in the late 60's/early 70's and discovered the wonders of FM radio "in your room."

In memory of Peter Fornatale, a great aircheck with Brian from Thanksgiving eve, 1976, that you may not have heard before. Brian sounds so amazingly lucid, clear-eyed, and straight forward, even during his season in Landy hell. Pete always brought out the sun - he truly loved Brian and the Boys and it came right through my magic (non-transistor) radio.

http://www.nyradioarchive.com/audio/WNEWFM_19771103_FornWils_KT.mp3

Here's what I wrote on FB today:

Very sad to see this. This guy was a wonderful FM DJ at the very dawn of that new medium. The entire WNEW-FM team of the late 60's/early 70's was a fount of illuminations for my generation to listen to "in our rooms," late at night...the eclectic Jonathan Schwartz, gravel-voiced Scott Muni, seductive Allison Steele, crazy Zacherly, intense Rosko, cool Dennis Elses and gentle Pete Fornatale, who never shied away from his love of pop, whose voice always sounded like he was smilin' on air...

They were calm, they were close-miked and intimate, they played whatever they fancied, for however long, including entire album sides (oh when the White Album came out, or the Let it Be bootleg tapes showed up early...) and the wondrous clarity and quiet of the FM experience.

In the years before the horror of Clear Channel and all that it implicates...

These radio folks became our daily audio friends, and turned us on. Pete loved Lennon, and he especially loved Brian and the Beach Boys, turning me on to all the treasures to be found in Smiley Smile. Wild Honey and Friends...

Thanks, Pete. Great to think about you this morning over coffee. We heard you out here in Radioland, and deeply appreciated having you as a pal.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/arts/music/pete-fornatale-a-pioneer-of-fm-rock-dies-at-66.html?_r=1&hpw

[The Shift]

Great interview… doubt Brian will ever be on such enthusiastic form again, not publicly any ways…   Many thanks indeed for sharing.

[Mikie]

The interview Brian did with Fornatale right after Murry's death in '73 was good too. Brian and Diane went to New York and Pete interviewed them. Use to have a cassette of it but lost it, darn it!  Still trying to find it.....

You're right though, PS, Brian was VERY lucid diring this interview in '76. As he was with Pewter and Mike Douglas and other interviewers at the time.

[MBE]

Pete as I mentioned in another thread about him, really got the Beach Boys to relax and give fine interviews. Nobody ever did better with Brian or Dennis.

[PS]

The interview Brian did with Fornatale right after Murry's death in '73 was good too. Brian and Diane went to New York and Pete interviewed them. Use to have a cassette of it but lost it, darn it!  Still trying to find it.....

You're right though, PS, Brian was VERY lucid diring this interview in '76. As he was with Pewter and Mike Douglas and other interviewers at the time.

I REMEMBER hearing that interview live, from 1973, Mikie. I'll keep a lookout, too. We all had such great hopes with the Landy thing, initially. The Brian's Back campaign was really working it. Then that Saturday Night live solo spot was so weird and sad, as was the Lorne Michael special. It all went bad quickly, until Lester Bangs helped me to reconsider LOVE YOU with his unforgettable review:

"The Beach Boys "Love You" pulls off a feat that's eluded, say Pete Townsend and Mick Jagger - It's almost more juvenile than their original stuff, it's not self-conscious, and it sounds right up-to-date. It's joyous, roller-rink-in-the-sky sound that always made them the real American Music...and as far as I'm concerned it might be their best album ever".

[Steve Mayo]

bet that memory comes back to you soon.... 

[Mikie]

Mr. Mayo comes through again!   Thank you, sir!

And yes, I remember the Dennis interview with Pete was good too.  The Boys seemed to like the man and were comfortable with him.  Pete had an easy-going delivery.

[Sie W]

Thanks for the post, enjoyed that.

[Ovi]

Amazing interview, thanks for sharing.