WDRE Remembered

One of the radio stations that was an essential part of the 1990s for me was WDRE-FM, whose passing 10 years ago this month will be marked by a reunion show on Y-ROCK on XPN on Wednesday.

In November 1992, the new owners of religious station WIBF (103.9 FM) in Jenkintown, PA decided to simulcast New York's WDRE (for "Dare To Be Different") into the Philadelphia market. For many of us, the "modern rock" blend was a welcome relief to the formulaic rock of WMMR and WYSP. The playlist was a mix of grunge and alternative: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Tori Amos, Liz Phair, Cake, as well as "older" artists like U2 and REM. By the time the New York station reverted to its WLIR call letters, the station had developed its own local programming and identity. Bands like No Doubt and Garbage developed a local fan base thanks to exposure on 'DRE and Radiohead played at the station's Christmas show(!) at Egypt (a club on Delaware Avenue).

Then there were the DJs, who really seemed to be having a good time while keeping up on all this great music: Marilyn Russell, Dan Fein, Bret Hamilton, Jim McGuinn, Preston Elliott, Mel "Toxic" Taylor, and the morning show crew of Sarah, Vinnie, and Spike.

The stations was still, however, never a big ratings success, and in February 1997, station ownership announced that it was flipping the format to hip-hop. But, unusual for radio, it gave enough advance notice for the staff to plan one final, blowout concert - "Bitterfest" (featuring G. Love) - at the Electric Factory, on the last day. It sounded like a blast!

Thanks for the good times guys!

Modern rock wasn't quite dead in Philadelphia; Y-100 (WPLY-FM) would become the home for some of the jocks ... but that's a story for another day ...

Y-ROCK On XPN's WDRE Tribute

The Internet Archive's WDRE Site

WDRE Tribute Site