Eddie Trunk

Eddie Trunk is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show "Eddie Trunk Rocks." Based in New York City on the radio station Q104.3 (WAXQ) FM, it features a variety of new and classic hard rock and heavy metal acts typically not heard on regular rock radio. In addition to music, Eddie Trunk's radio show features interviews with many prominent hard rock and heavy metal musicians [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.freemagazine.fi/content/view/135/152/|title=Eddie Trunk FREE! Magazine Interview|] .

Along with the weekly radio show "Eddie Trunk Rocks", Trunk also hosts "Eddie Trunk Live" on the XM satellite radio station "The Boneyard" (Channel 41) [ cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.xmradio.com/onxm/channelbio.xmc?ch=41|title=In the Studio at Boneyard|] and is a music host and interviewer for the cable television channel the MSG Network [http://www.msg.com/msg/] in New York City [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400026|title=Eddie Trunk (Official site) Bio|] .

Eddie Trunk had hosted "Friday Night Rocks" and "Saturday Night Rocks" for WNEW-FM in New York City until the radio station underwent a format change in 2003. He was also a regular disc jockey on Q104.3 before joining WNEW-FM and was a VJ who hosted the weekend episodes of Metal Mania on the cable television channel VH1 Classic [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400026|title=Eddie Trunk (Official site) Bio|] .

Trunk had also hosted a weekly Saturday four hour program on XM Radio's Boneyard Channel. Trunk was suspended after an interview with New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza. In that interview, Piazza was critical of XM Radio's programming on the Boneyard Channel [http://www.orbitcast.com/archives/eddie-trunk-dumped-from-xm-because-of-mike-piazza.html 1] . Trunk was not heard on XM again until late November 2006 when he appeared on the Ron and Fez show to announce his return to XM. He began hosting "Eddie Trunk Live" on the Boneyard beginning the first week in December 2006.

In May 2006, Guns N' Roses lead singer Axl Rose made a surprise visit on Eddie Trunk's Q104.3 radio show. Rose walked in unexpectedly to Trunk's radio studio in New York and spent two and a half hours live on the air with Trunk and other guests. [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BlabberMouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=52064 |title= Blabbermouth.net DJ EDDIE TRUNK Talks About AXL ROSE's Surprise Visit To New York Radio Station |]

Biography

Eddie Trunk was born on August, 8 1964 in New Jersey [cite web|accessdate=2008-05-24|url=http://www.eddietrunk.com/index.cfm/pk/content/pid/400026|title=Eddie Trunk (Official site) Bio|] . As a teenager, he became obsessed with Kiss, and other bands including Aerosmith, UFO and Black Sabbath. Eddie has stated that he has never cared about which bands are "cool" and endured teasings for listening to Kiss during the 80s when they fell out of fashion. During high school, he began to write reviews of records for school credit and soon found his passion in music. Trunk's first exposure to radio was when he learned about a local college radio station that would allow high school students to work there during the summer while the college kids were at home. He volunteered but the program was scrapped because of security concerns but the idea that he could make a living in radio remained. Eddie then attended a local community college but dropped out because he decided that it was not for him. He did get a job at a record store right across the street from WDHA-FM, his favorite New Jersey radio station. There he got to know many of the DJs and other radio station employees and would often consult him on which hard rock/heavy metal songs to play though the Program Director resisted this.

From a friend, Trunk learned of a pirate radio station that was illegally broadcasting from someone's basement. Trunk went over and played a few records and did a few shows. He made some tapes that were not all that impressive and showed them to WDHA. His enthusiasm along with the increased popularity of the metal genre earned him an invitation to "hang out" at WDHA. After about of year of working at the station as an unpaid intern, he finally convinced management to do a hardrock/metal specialty show. For ten years he worked part time and eventually hosted, produced and programmed it.

Around 1986, Trunk became an employee of Megaforce Records which had signed both Metallica and Anthrax. He became Vice President of the company at 25 years old. During that time he earned executive producer credit on some works from the following bands: Anthrax, Raven, TT Quick, Manowar, Overkill, King's X, Prophet, Icon and Ace Frehley. In fact, Eddie was the main driving force behind reviving Ace Frehley's career, convincing Johnny Z to sign Ace to a solo deal.

In 1994, Trunk devoted himself to radio full time and was hired by a radio station called Pure Rock Q104.3 in New York. He wanted to do a metal show but was not permitted to do so because there were rumors that the station was going to be sold. These rumors proved true and the station was sold a year into Trunk's career there. During the last shift of the station, Trunk abandoned the playlist and played requests. Phone lines were jammed and the last show was a great success, but many thought that it would be the end as Pure Rock Q104.3 became Classic Q104.3. Quite the opposite was true, the new management were so impressed that they allowed Eddie to stay. He spent two years there and became incredibly popular.

Around 1997, WNEW FM was looking to become a more "heavy" station and move away from their classic rock look. Trunk was one of the first hired because of his experience and willingness to be a team player. He immediately wanted to do a metal show like the one he had with WDHA and eventually Saturday Night Rocks was born. Unfortunately, Eddie had to compromise and let the station choose most of the music. Then WNEW made a drastic change into talk radio and Eddie's show was one of the only ones retained. Eddie Trunk was able to program his own show after the format flipped and was the only music show on an all talk radio station that featured the Opie and Anthony and Ron and Fez shows. WNEW made a format flip in the early morning hours of January 27, 2003 to a soft-rock station, firing all on-air talent.

References

External links

* [http://www.eddietrunk.com Official website]
* [http://myspace.com/eddietrunk Official Myspace website]
* [http://www.freemagazine.fi/content/view/135/152/ 'New York City’s rock radio saviour', Eddie Trunk FREE! Magazine Interview]
* [http://podcast.morningshowcentral.com/?p=28 Eddie Trunk Interview on Uncensored Net Noise]
* [http://maximumthreshold.net Friends of Eddie Trunk]