Historic Rock Station KNAC to Return to Radio

“What a glorious day for resurrection!” is what I imagine people who believed in the second coming said, but that’s not what I’m talking about that’s coming back from the dead. This revival is actually good for the ears. When it came to radio back in the day, there weren’t as many stations catering solely to rock or metal. At least, not as many as you’d think. We had something special though once KNAC, a part of the Long Beach Spanish radio station KBUE, started playing full hard rock and heavy metal in 1986. The station is now set to return, starting on Halloween this Friday, with a new and improved era of its “Pure Rock” block that will take the place of “Highway Rock” block.

The early hours of the station now that it’s returned will feature many crazy highlights and clips from the archives, leaping back in time to all the legendary hosts that flavored the mics long ago. As the hours flow on, newer metal bands will start to flood the boards.

Gonzo Greg Spillane of Highway Radio had this to say about the reanimation:

“KNAC was never just a station; it was a lifestyle, a brotherhood, and a giant middle finger to boring radio. Bringing it back means unleashing that energy on a whole new generation while giving the old guard their soundtrack back. And no, we’re not asking for permission.

“The spirit of KNAC was never about living in the past; it was about kicking down the door to the future. There’s a hunger for a real rock station that respects the legends but isn’t afraid to play what hard rock is now. We’re here to pour a little gasoline on that flame. The reverence for our history is the foundation, but our mission is to break the next generation of headliners.”

The new Pure Rock format will sweep the I-15 corridor from Southern California to Las Vegas. You’ll be able to hear KNAC on:

• 96.9 KNAC-FM (Lenwood/Barstow/Victorville, CA)
• 94.9 KHDR-FM (Baker, CA)
• 99.7 KHYZ-HD3 (Mountain Pass, CA / Las Vegas, NV)

As well as streaming worldwide at knac.fm and knac.com.

KNAC will now be anchored by Rich Van Slyck, Gonzo and Mel Rock, who used to be a voice on both KOMP/Las Vegas, and the now defunct station KSJO/San Jose. Old KNAC personalities like Jack Trash and Thrasher will return as well, along with a pretty stacked Sunday night lineup featuring Full Metal Jackie playing tunes, as well as blocks like “Charlie Kendall’s Metalshop” and “LA Lloyd’s Rock 30.”

Get a q-tip and clean out those damn ears, folks. It’s time to tune in.