Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM

17/03/2024

An hour of debauchery with Thrasher at Live Bait in Long Beach for St. Patrick's Day 1994.

17/03/2024

Another hour of debauchery with Thrasher at Live Bait in Long Beach for St. Patrick's Day 1994.

15/02/2024

NOW PLAYING the final 8 hours of Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM from January 15, 1995 - "As it happened " on the stream with .

LA Radio Studio - Live and recorded programming originating from the LA Radio Studio, overlooking the LA Harbor in the historic Ports 'O Call Village in San Pedro, California.

12/02/2024

It's hard to believe that it will be 29 years this week when Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM left the air.

Starting now, in celebration of the station the LA Radio Studio stream will be paying tribute to the station with a continuous "stream" of the Thrashpie Radio podcast, which documented the history of the station through the remembrances of the man that hosted the morning show for much of the "Pure Rock" run - Ted Prichard aka "Thrasher".

Then on the 15th, tune in at 6am and listen to the last 8 hours of the station "as it happened" on February 15, 1995. Following that, the Thrashpie Radio podcast will continue streaming with occasional repeats of the final 8 hour presentation as part of the "mix".

Listen at:

LA Radio Studio - Live and recorded programming originating from the LA Radio Studio, overlooking the LA Harbor in the historic Ports 'O Call Village in San Pedro, California.

22/01/2024

Hilary has been an amazing broadcaster and a staple in the San Diego radio market for over two decades. She now resides at 91X - San Diego. She got her start with US at Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM.

Here is the last hour of her last show on the station.

18/01/2024

On the 30th anniversary of the Northridge earthquake, here is Thrashpie's (Ted Prichard) next morning play-by-play of the events of that fateful morning from Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM Enjoy!

From the KNAC-FM days, some afterthoughts from "our favorite guy" on one of the many earthquakes we experience in So Cal.

08/01/2024

8 years ago today Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM celebrated the 30th anniversary of the launch of the "Pure Rock" format. The reunion of the station staff took place - first - on the air and worldwide from the LA Radio Studio - and then - a party at the Ports O' Call Waterfront Dining Restaurant.

Since that reunion we've lost both those beautiful venues and - sadly - a few of the participants that attended this event. However, it was documented, and we are proud to present it again for those that may have never seen it. Enjoy!

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of the "Pure Rock" format at 105.5 KNAC-FM. Thrasher (Ted Prichard) host, with the air personalities that pro...

03/01/2024

Who remembers the Waters Club in Pedro? Who remembers the band Sardo?

18/12/2023

Our first highlight from 2023 features radio legend Thrasher from KNAC. We talk about the infamous Thrash/Trash Xmas Bash at The Marquee Club in Orange County.

11/02/2023

Here's a classic clip of Thrasher from Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM on the legendary Southern California Wally George "Hot Seat" show..

08/01/2023

Here the Pure Rock journey........

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of the "Pure Rock" format at 105.5 KNAC-FM. Thrasher (Ted Prichard) host, with the air personalities that pro...

18/08/2022

Head Bangin’ Radio is an exciting memoir of the era of FM rock radio at Los Angeles’s flagship heavy metal station, KNAC-FM, through the days of Pirate Radio and beyond. For fans of heavy metal, those nostalgic for the great days of rock radio, or anyone who wants a good laugh at the absurdity of show business (and Thrasher himself!), Head Bangin’ Radio delivers. If you ever wondered what it was like to be on the radio, or just what the heck those people were really doing “in there” as you listened, Ted lets it all hang out, blemishes and all, with humor and love for a medium that is all but gone today. Preorder now at https://bit.ly/3pfQWsK

11/06/2022

Just one year after Woodstock and the Summer of Love, a new kind of music made its way onto the airwaves and into the hearts of millions of fans. The sound was dark, brooding, and overpowering, like the music of industrial machinery, with a banshee in the lead who shrieked out lyrics from the darkes...

17/05/2022

05/04/2022

On the anniversary - April 5, 1994 - of the passing of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain, listen to highlights from the "Pure Rock Talkback" with Mike Stark that followed his passing.

A collage of phone calls and soundbites from the KNAC Pure Rock Talkback show following the passing of Kurt Cobain.

17/03/2022

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Again!!! By popular demand, here is the 2nd hour of "Thrasher in the Morning's" 1994 St. Patrick's Day celebration from Live Bait (now Gaslamp Long Beach)

Another hour of debauchery with Thrasher at Live Bait in Long Beach for St. Patrick's Day 1994.

17/03/2022

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Here is the 1st hour of "Thrasher in the Morning's" 1994 St. Patrick's Day celebration from Live Bait (now Gaslamp Long Beach)

An hour of debauchery with Thrasher at Live Bait in Long Beach for St. Patrick's Day 1994.

12/03/2022

Who has one of these "KNAC collectables"? If you do, it's expired!!

12/02/2022

From the VERY early days of KNAC.com, Dee Snider joins Ted Prichard (Thrasher) & Mike Stark for a 90-minute interview that covers a lot of ground including his appearance in front of Congress during the famous PMRC hearings.

A rare interview with Dee Snider from the VERY early days of KNAC.com conducted by Thrasher and Mike Stark. Topics cover include his movie "Strangeland", his appearance in Congress for the PMRC hearings and his many musical incarnations beyond Twisted Sister.

08/01/2022

Six years ago tonight.......on the 30th Anniversary of Classic KNAC - "Pure Rock" 105.5FM going on the air. A memorable evening that we were able to capture in full. Enjoy!

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of the launch of the "Pure Rock" format at 105.5 KNAC-FM. Thrasher (Ted Prichard) host, with the air personalities that pro...

15/12/2021

From October 10, 1993: Racism is the subject of this pretty intense edition of "Pure Rock Talkback" with Mike Stark. Guest include: John Metzger of the White A***n Resistance, Jay from White Terror Records and David Castagno of Screamer Magazine.

Racism in America as portrayed in a 1993 KNAC Pure Rock Talkback show with host Mike Stark, John Metzger of the White A***n Resistance, Jay from White Terror Records and Dave Castagno of Screamer Magazine.

08/12/2021

Metallica and KNAC grew together over the years. KNAC went away in 1995 and Metallica continued to grow. This is a collage of the KNAC/Metallica relationship. It starts with their final visit on the last day of KNAC where Lars and James discuss the various Metallica appearances on the station. Included is their first interview on the station with Sam Freeze and the now infamous full Long Paul interview with Lars at the "Monsters of Rock" show.

22/09/2021

MORE "Grand Prix" memories......from Pure Rock Talkback with Mike Stark....Trackside report from long time KNAC newsman and race expert Bill Banks.......and a "crossover" to the on-site broadcast with Long Paul.

21/09/2021

Grand Prix weekend approaching so it's time to pull out a Thrasher interview with former driver, current NBC race commentator - Paul Tracy. Paul came in studio during Long Beach Grand Prix week 1994.

Indy Car driver Paul Tracy visited KNAC-FM and the "Thrasher In the Morning" program during Long Beach Grand Prix week 1994.

18/09/2021

Pure Rock Talkback - 8-25-91 & 9-8-91: The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 came at a time when the Russian rock band Gorky Park had set up residence in the US. The weeks following the band made two appearances on 105.5 KNAC-FM's "Pure Rock Talkback" with Mike Stark. These are those two appearances - in their entirety.

The fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 came at a time when the Russian rock band Gorky Park had set up residence in the US. The week's following the band made...

13/09/2021

Extra points on this one if you find anything in this "bit" politically correct. From 11-12-93, "Thrasher's" version of the TV hit sitcom "Saved By the Bell". Of course this one has the fart joke built into the title - "Saved By The Smell".

05/09/2021

04/09/2021

OK.....here we go!

From April Fool's Day 1993, some Tawn Mastrey, Sam Freeze and Scorchin Scotty.

Stay tuned.....more to come.......

03/09/2021

Besides being a gathering place to remember the original "Pure Rock" FM version of KNAC, we will be using this page to push out some audio from that period.

A recent "garage cleaning" unearthed - literally - hundreds of hours of various full shows and airchecks of many of the KNAC personalities - including a lot of morning show hijinks.

Today we found 12 hours from April 1, 1993. These recordings include the return of earlier KNAC personalities Tawn Mastrey, Scorchin' Scotty and Sam Freeze "the Freeze disease".

We're not real clear yet on how any of these recordings will eventually be presented "in full", but we'll pull some clips soon to give you a tease of what to expect.

Stick around for some great memories to come!

31/08/2021