This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
When news of veteran radio personality Jim Ladd losing his gig at KLOS broke, foremost from Ladd himself was that he didn't get to say goodbye. "My disappointment is I didn't have a farewell show," he told the OC Register.Ladd, among over a dozen people terminated at KLOS/95.5 FM and KABC/790 AM on October 25, was known as the "the last free-form rock DJ in America," and had been at L.A.'s venerable hard rock station for 14 years, after having worked there twice previously, as well. Ladd was one of the only commercial radio DJs who selected his own playlist, and often took requests from his loyal listeners.
Denied a "farewell" broadcast, there is some upbeat news for Ladd fans today: He will grace the airwaves Saturday from 4-7 p.m. on KFI, having been offered by the station manager to do the "goodbye" show he was not able to do at KLOS.
Trivia: Ladd was the inspiration for the 2002 album and title track The Last DJ by Tom Petty.
