Photo by: Jayesunn Krump

A Pizzazz Magazine Exclusive

Publisher Don Lemmon

Pizzazz Magazine: First of all, you spent several years climbing and re-climbing the terrestrial radio ladder. Can you quickly recap that for our readers? 

Rick Emerson: Radio isn't so much a ladder as it is a kind of greased pole, at the peak of which stands a rabid baboon, ready to smash your knuckles with a crowbar. To paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson, the radio business “is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason.” I started out as a minimum-wage part-timer in a miniscule town, and I'm currently unemployed. Between those two stages, I worked in every radio format imaginable, moved at least a dozen times, hosted a nationally-syndicated show, was fired from that show, and rose from the ashes like a pasty, manic-depressive phoenix.

Pizzazz Magazine:  Can you describe a day in your shoes?  

Rick Emerson: Like all guys in the entertainment industry, I have a stable wife, without whom I would be lost…and homeless. She works the late-night shift at a mental hospital (insert joke here), so our days begin a little later than those of most folks. After ingesting a quart of high-octane, Black Tiger coffee, I spend about 90 minutes updating my blog (rickemerson.com) and answering email. My wife and I then spend a few hours together, reading, watching a movie---all the stuff normal couples do at night. Around 6pm, she takes a nap and then goes to work, which is when my day really begins. I'm most productive at night, and do a ton of writing, scheming, planning, and general work between 7pm and 1am or so, after which, I catch a Sopranos re-run and hit the hay. Er, I also have a poodle I take care of.

Pizzazz Magazine: What would you say is the highlight of your life so far and how does it compare to your overall goals?

Rick Emerson: There are two that come to mind. The first was, as a 17-year-old DJ, getting a job at my hometown's most popular radio station, OK95. I can remember my very first on-air segment there as though it were yesterday. The second highlight (so far) was the production and release of Bigger than Jesus: The Diary of a Rock and Roll Fan , the filmed version of my one-man stageshow (www.biggerthanjesus.net). The audience reception, both at the live performance, and to the finished film, is like nothing I've ever experienced. I'm not sure what my future holds as far as radio goes, but the life of Bigger than Jesus has only just begun. 2006 is the Year of the Rock.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who was the first person to tell you that getting into radio was a crazy idea? At what point did you agree (even if it was momentarily)?

Rick Emerson: Because I started at such a young age (14), I managed to short-circuit most of the “radio is a dumb idea” comments. When those remarks did come, they were typically from other people in the business, folks who had experienced, first-hand, exactly how tough the entertainment industry can be on your sanity and personal life. As for when I agreed? Hell, every day…at least for a moment. But it's in me---what can I do? Some people are born to be accountants; I'm not one of those people.

Pizzazz Magazine:  Let's talk about "Bigger Than Jesus" for a minute. Before that, you and director Joni DeRouchie released "Remote Control," so BTJ is actually your second foray into filmmaking. When did you become interested in the filmmaking process?  

Rick Emerson: Originally, I was only interested in having a simple, low-tech representation of the stageshow, so that I could book the live performance into other venues. It wasn't until Joni and I started collaborating on the stageshow's content that I realized it could work so effectively as a film. The whole notion caught me by surprise, since I had no aspirations of filmmaking, but once the idea was raised, it seemed obvious. Remote Control was a stop-gap project between stages of the Bigger than Jesus production; it was a story I'd had in my head for years, and with a crew already assembled, it seemed natural to finally film it.

Pizzazz Magazine: Can you give us a recap of "Bigger Than Jesus?"  

Rick Emerson: From the DVD back cover: “Rick Emerson relives the comedy and tragedy, the highs and lows, and the isolation and ultimate redemption of a small-town kid transformed by music. From the first time hearing the crushing chords of Led Zeppelin, to the buy-in of Kurt Cobain's “genius,” to the sell-out of Metallica, Bigger Than Jesus: The Diary of a Rock and Roll Fan is a love letter to the music that forms the soundtrack of our lives. This concert film of the popular stageshow features three decades' worth of rock and metal classics performed by a live band.”

Pizzazz Magazine:   Any plans for your next film project?

Rick Emerson: At the moment, our energies are focused on a national release of Bigger than Jesus , both in terms of sales and festival appearances. Beyond that, there are a few (well, a dozen) ideas that Joni and I have been kicking around, but we'll probably have died in a murder-suicide by then.

Pizzazz Magazine: Can you share any news on your possible return to radio?   

Rick Emerson: There are, as they say, “some conversations” happening, but The Rick Emerson Show is a strange fit for most stations. A great many radio executives believe that because they don't get the show, no one gets the show, which is, obviously, a deeply stupid way of thinking. I'm bound and determined to stay in Portland, which means passing over some offers from other markets, but the Portland audience and I have such a strong connection that I can't imagine taking the show anywhere else. Once the fallout from Howard's departure settles down, things may fall into place; watch rickemerson.com for news as it happens.

Pizzazz Magazine:  What is the CD that you're currently addicted to?  

Rick Emerson: Wednesday 13's Transylvania 90210 ---it's zombie punk-rock with a catchy, Alice Cooper feel to it. It hasn't left my stereo since October. Also, Green Day's American Idiot , which may actually be the album of the year two years in a row.

Pizzazz Magazine: What one thing you haven't done you would still like to?

Rick Emerson: God...I'm trying to think of an answer that doesn't involve breasts. Well, uh…no, that one involves breasts, too. Let's see…I'd really like Christy Canyon to---oops, no, sorry. Ah! Wait! Here's one: I'd love to shake Rush Limbaugh's hand, and tell him what an inspiration he was to me when I was first coming up in the business. That may sound strange, since I'm as big a bleeding-heart liberal as you'll ever meet, but the fact remains that Rush was, and is, a magnificent entertainer---perhaps the best that radio's ever seen. His comedy, his timing, his wordplay…without him, I wouldn't be where I am today, no lie.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me one of the negative aspects of working in radio that everyone needs to know. Do not say there are none! The biggest lie about your work is:

Rick Emerson: Well, in terms of music radio, there are plenty, among them the inability to choose or guide your own playlists. Having your hands tied in terms of what music you're presenting can be teeth-grindingly frustrating. And if you work in a genre that you also listen to , prepare to lose a lot of your favorite songs---you'll become so burnt-out on them that it's impossible to listen to them for pleasure. After leaving music radio, it was years before I could enjoy listening to a Led Zeppelin record. In terms of talk radio, there's the same drawback that all entertainment-based jobs have---your identity becomes wrapped up in your performance, and when you have a bad show, its stays in your guts, aching, until you can erase it with a good performance.

Pizzazz Magazine: What are your 5 favorite or most frequently visited websites?

Rick Emerson: Fark.com (of course), AintItCool.com, DrudgeReport.com, Gmsv.com, and BigNaturals.com. Oops…damn!

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me something people do not realize about you, maybe it's not a secret, maybe it's not anything special, but it is something no one else has ever asked you about until now. What's boring to you is news to everyone else...

Rick Emerson: I love pecan pie; God help me, I love it so. And not the terrible, store-bought kind with gelatin-based filling. I'm talking the hardcore, chess-pie style, made with brown sugar. Mmm…. brown sugar .

Pizzazz Magazine: What's the craziest thing you have experienced in your work? Maybe it's something you witnessed and didn't participate in, but what would shock us, make us laugh or show us another side to things besides the obvious...

Rick Emerson: It's really hard to think of an answer that wouldn't incriminate someone I've worked with. The problem is, since most radio people are irresponsible morons, the funniest stories are the most obvious; they always seem to involve an underage girl, some inanimate object fashioned into an ad hoc bong, and that nineteen-minute Peter Frampton song. But…uh…I'm not in that story, of course.

Pizzazz Magazine: Anything embarrassing happen when YOU were trying to look cool? What? Embarrassing and crazy are different things!

Rick Emerson: Every day, to this day. The worst was probably the time when, at about age 20, I dyed my hair purple for some reason; as if that weren't a bad enough idea, I also used a temporary vegetable-based dye, and because I compulsively run my hands through my hair, my hands were stained purple for a solid week. The worst part was that I didn't realize it until I was shaking hands with my boss one day, and he looked down and asked, “What's up with your hands?” I had no answer.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell us a few sites that friends of yours own that would appreciate a plug:

Rick Emerson:

1) TimRileyMedia.com: the official site of the greatest newsman ever to hold a microphone.

2) ClydeLewis.com: Clyde is the man behind Ground Zero , which has, pound-for-pound, the best production values of any radio show I've ever heard. He's like Orson Welles meets Howard Beale. The most talented person I know.

3) GeekInTheCity.com: Fast becoming the official clearinghouse for the Geek community's every need. Reviews, news, rants, swag---it's all there. Has a +10 cool power.

Pizzazz Magazine: The biggest PLUS FACTOR about your line of business is:

Rick Emerson: Truthfully? That I can wear whatever I want. No foolin'; I haven't put on a tie in 15 years, and my wardrobe consists almost entirely of black t-shirts. In a world of TPS reports and nattering HR people, that freedom is almost priceless. Plus, the freedom to speak my mind on the air has saved me a fortune in therapy bills.

Pizzazz Magazine: Sometimes those who weren't so supportive in the beginning, suddenly become supportive. Who are the people around you that you feel were really there for you when you needed the encouragement?

Rick Emerson: Well, in the very early days, it was a guy named Brian Jennings, who was the first radio “pro” to recognize that I had talent and something to offer an audience. He gave me a shot when I was a young man, and I'm forever grateful. Later on, Bruce Agler, who was my program director in Portland, molded the show into its current, brilliant form. Without Bruce, I wouldn't even be a tenth of the talk host I am today…he's the Obi-Wan to my Luke, for sure. I'd also like to take a special moment to acknowledge the teachers, administrators, and religious figures of my youth---all of whom tried to undermine and quash my ambitions and dreams…and all of whom failed.

Pizzazz Magazine:   Who was your biggest professional roadblock with regard to radio? You don't have to name names, but is there any one person who foiled your dreams?  

Rick Emerson: When I worked in another state (which shall remain nameless), I was part of a massively-talented group of talk hosts who were redefining what radio could be; we were leaving political hackery behind and focusing on entertainment and pop culture. We were thwarted by a rotund imbecile who covertly arranged our firings, and who pushed to replace us with a children's format. The story has a happy ending, though: years later, in the midst of a two-day job interview, he was arrested for patronizing a whorehouse. Sometimes, Jesus does listen.

Pizzazz Magazine: What question makes you crazy whenever asked and hopefully saying so here will prevent it from being asked again?

Rick Emerson: Nothing, really…I figure if people care enough about me (or about the show) to ask a question, I should be flattered. Doesn't bother me at all.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who do you see on TV, in film or hear on the radio that just makes you wonder how in the hell they got where they are?

Rick Emerson: Someone once said that there are only two constants in comedy: respect for George Carlin, and the belief that someone with less talent that you have is doing better than you are. I firmly embrace both of those statements. The biggest problem with talk radio is its lack of emphasis on entertainment. The dial is full of guys pontificating and punditizing…and with a handful of exceptions, they're nearly all tedious and dull. And, for the most part, I don't wonder how they got there; it's usually one of two things…they either knew the right people, or they simply bought their way into the job *cough* Air America *cough*.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me a joke!

Rick Emerson: A clown and a nine-year-old are walking into a forest. The nine-year-old says, “These woods sure are scary,” and the clown replies, “How do you think I feel? I have to walk out of here alone!”

Pizzazz Magazine:  Tell me a little about Joni DeRouchie.  

Rick Emerson: Joni DeRouchie is a filmmaker and general visionary who dwells in the metropolis of Vancouver, Washington. She's made three films as of late 2005, and will be branching into music video in 2006. She's the perfect complement to my writing/performing style in that she adds a layer of softness to my spiky, high-octane ranting. Really, she's the only reason you're even talking to me right now, since Bigger than Jesus: The Diary of a Rock and Roll Fan wouldn't have come nearly this far without her.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who should hang up their hat in your business? Why?

Rick Emerson: Well, I wish that Rush Limbaugh would remember that he's an entertainer first, and a political shill ninth. He used to be untouchable; he's become less funny and more predictable in recent years. I was also going to say Paul Harvey, but I think he might already be dead---if not, give it a few days.

Pizzazz Magazine: Tell me your favorite movie genre, name a few titles, think video rental or DVD's you own and watch the most:

Rick Emerson: I'm a sucker for sharp, dialogue-heavy films, especially the kind that are angry, thinly-veiled screeds. Of particular note:

Glengarry Glen Ross : My favorite film of all time, and the one that I most frequently quote and imitate. Flawless.

Network : A very close second. Blew my mind when I was younger, and still does today. Hilarious, frightening, gripping, prescient.

Chasing Amy : A romantic comedy for the rest of us. Wrenching and hilarious, it manages to respect its audience (geeks and misfits) while taking us through the torturous ups and downs of a young relationship. Left me devastated for days when I first saw it.

Pizzazz Magazine: What TV show do you miss from childhood... I used to love Land of the Giants and Dance Fever (kidding on that one)....

Rick Emerson: Land of the Lost , baby! Although that's cheating, since I now own it on DVD. Sleestaks, represent!

Pizzazz Magazine: Ever had someone from your past try and track you down and drive you nuts?

Rick Emerson: Not to the best of my knowledge, although the plastic surgery helps.

Pizzazz Magazine: If you were anyone besides yourself, who would you be (even for just a day, on a good day, of course) and did you emulate them growing up or is this a recent admiration you have acquired?

Rick Emerson: I always want to answer “Hugh Hefner” to this question. Otherwise, I'd probably have to say Paul Stanley from KISS, or one of my other rock star heroes. I've accomplished a lot in various fields, but when it comes to music, I'm mostly just a commentator. It would be great to experience the other side of that. As for emulation, hell, one viewing of Bigger than Jesus should demonstrate how much I'm still ripping that guy off.

Pizzazz Magazine: Who in your business would you like to say, "Hey, remember the time someone hooked you up and now look where you are? How about hooking me up with... (blank)?" Insert the BLANK....

Rick Emerson: I'd give my left pinkie, a thumb, and one of my back teeth to get some time with Cameron Crowe. In addition to being such a heartfelt and talented filmmaker, he's
a die-hard believer in rock and roll, and I can say, with no shame or hyperbole, that he is very much the sort of spirit that Bigger than Jesus: The Diary of a Rock and Roll Fan was created for. Plus, I'd pay for lunch.

Pizzazz Magazine: What did we forget?

Rick Emerson: Only that Bigger than Jesus: The Diary of a Rock and Roll Fan will change your life, heal your warts, whiten your teeth, tame your pets, simonize your car, and chase away unruly neighbors! Buy it now, fools! (www.biggerthanjesus.net)

For Rick Emerson's Official Website: CLICK HERE