From A to Triple Zed

The future is bright for 4ZZZ, but sometimes we get stuck in the golden days.

Honestly, could you blame us?

After all, there was lots to be excited about in the age of Market Day festivals and the collective - where 4ZZZ was run by it's members as opposed to one person or set committee.

But now those days are over, so where did we go from there? Where are we now? And what's gotten us through these ups and downs?

Hear about the golden days and bright future of 4ZZZ in the latest episode of From A to Triple Zed. This episode was produced by Grace Pashley, former station manager of 4ZZZ.

Thanks to Clag, Custard, The Pits, Kitchens Floors, The Onyas and all Brisbane bands who let us use their music in this episode. Special thanks as well to Chris Holland for the archival audio of 4ZZZ Market Days.

This episode features an interview intitally aired on Underground Australiana, you can listen to that program on demand here: https://4zzz.org.au/program/underground-australiana/

If you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation or subscribe online now https://support.4zzz.org.au/

Gaywaves was a lifeline for queer people in Brisbane in the early 90s.

Listeners from out of town would drive just within range of the 4ZZZ signal every Wednesday evening to be part of an accepting community - in fact they still do. 4ZZZ has had continuously running programming for the queer community in Queer Radio & Dykes on Mics since the early 1990s, both programs are still on air to this day.

In this episode, hear the story of Gai Lemon who was an announcer on Gaywaves from 1990 - 2000.

Thanks to Ironing Music for letting use their music in this episode. This episode was produced by Aleisha McLaren, host of Stacks On on 4ZZZ. Listen to Stacks On on demand here, or tune in to 4ZZZ on Wednesday mornings.

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations

As 4ZZZ entered the 1990s, there was a whole lot of change afoot. We had been forced to find a new home after being booted from the University of Queensland, we had little to no cash or volunteers, and another public radio station in Sydney was about to go national - and make a 4ZZZ tradition their own.

The music you hear in this episode is from the compilation album 'Behind the Banana Curtain', from Brisbane artists like Regurgitator, Screamfeeder, Batswing Saloon and more.

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations

Hear the original 1986 report by 4ZZZ journalist Claire Grenet into the second major riots of the decade at Brisbane's notorious Boggo Road Gaol, which would be permanently shutdown just 3 years later.

The music you can hear in this episode is 'The Girls' by Xero.

The bonus episode has been produced by Scott Mercer, and the original report was produced for Brisbane Line in 1986 by Claire Grenet. Brisbane Line is one of the longest running programs on 4ZZZ, you can listen to Brisbane Line reports on local news & currents affairs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday here https://4zzz.org.au/program/brisbane-line

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now https://support.4zzz.org.au

Hear Kristin's uncut interview with the Bard of Barking: Billy Bragg.

If you enjoy this, go back and listen to the episode 'Billy Bragg and the Deep North'.

If you want to hear more from Kristin Black listen her radio program on 'Heyday' 4ZZZ, on demand here: http://4zzz.org.au/program/hey-day

You can hear snippets of Billy's track 'Love Gets Dangerous' performed live at the Easts Leagues Club in Brisbane's southern suburbs in 1987, recorded by 4ZZZ.

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations

Go even deeper into the music, voices and politics from the Murri Hour program with Warinkil Aunty Glenice Croft and Shellar MB Barney Croft as they take you through the pioneering radio program helped establish on 4ZZZ in the 1980s.

What began as a short shift for First Nations voices on 102.1FM in 1984 grew into an hours-long block of Murri perspectives by the late 80s, and eventually led to the establishment of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association that still exists today (98.9FM on the dial).

In this episode you will hear speakers like Warinkil Aunty Glenice Barney Croft, Shellar MB Barney Croft, Selwyn Johnson, Mervin Riley, Alfred Shillingsworth, Vanessa Fisher, Hedley Johnson, Bob Weatherall, Charlie Perkins, Sugar Ray Robertson, Gary Foley, Kev Carmody, Liz Bond, Toffee Wharton and Uncle Ross Watson.

Thanks to Warumpi Band, Mop & the Dropouts, No Fixed Address & Us Mob, Sherry Watkins, The Kuckles (Jimmy Chai), Mareba, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody, and Maroochy Barambah whose music you can hear throughout this episode.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners be advised that this episode contains the voices of First Nations people who have now passed on.

There are also descriptions of police brutality & suicide throughout this episode. If this raises any issues for you Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online with Beyond Blue now.

A special thanks for Aunty Glenice and Shellar, who produced this entire episode by re-visiting 4ZZZ's Murri Hour archives to share their story with us.

Collage in episode image was made by Shellar. First aired on the 45 Years of 4ZZZ special broadcast on December 8, 2020.

The 4ZZZ newsroom asked questions daily of Queensland's notorious premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Through the riots, protests and police intimidation, an unstoppable group of 4ZZZ journalists remained bent on exposing the murky underbelly of Queensland politics during the Bjelke-Petersen reign, which would be a laughing stock if the consequences weren't so serious.

Thanks to Xero, Ironing Music, The Parameters and Ups & Downs for letting us use their music throughout this episode.

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations

In the Deep North - the conservative Brisbane of the 1970s & 80s - 4ZZZ was the radio station that spoke directly to the disenchanted, told their stories and played their music.

Not only did 4ZZZ champion local bands on air, they brought acts to Brisbane at a time when international - even interstate - touring artists would overlook the city.

That's how Billy Bragg, the bard of the working class, ended up at the Easts Leagues Club on a sweltering evening in March 1987 for a 4ZZZ fundraiser, and a three way friendship formed between a city, a singer and a radio station.

Thanks to Wondrous Fair, The Parameters and of course Billy Bragg for letting us use their music throughout this episode.

From A to Triple Zed was produced as part of 4ZZZ's 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now - https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations

What began as a short shift for First Nations voices on 102.1FM in 1984 grew into an hours-long block of Murri perspectives by the late 80s, and eventually led to the establishment of the Brisbane Indigenous Media Association that still exists today (98.9FM on the dial).

In this episode you will hear speakers like Warinkil Aunty Glenice Barney Croft, Shellar MB Barney Croft, Selwyn Johnson, Mervin Riley, Alfred Shillingsworth, Vanessa Fisher, Hedley Johnson, Bob Weatherall, Charlie Perkins, Sugar Ray Robertson, Gary Foley, Kev Carmody, Liz Bond, Toffee Wharton and Uncle Ross Watson.

Thanks to Warumpi Band, Mop & the Dropouts, No Fixed Address & Us Mob, Sherry Watkins, The Kuckles (Jimmy Chai), Mareba, Archie Roach, Kev Carmody and Maroochy Barambah whose music you can hear throughout this episode. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners be advised that this episode contains the voices of First Nations people who have now passed on.

There are also descriptions of police brutality & suicide throughout this episode. If this raises any issues for you Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat online with Beyond Blue.

A special thanks for Aunty Glenice and Shellar, who produced this entire episode by re-visiting 4ZZZ's Murri Hour archives to share their story with us.

Collage in episode image was made by Shellar. First aired on the 45 Years of 4ZZZ special broadcast on December 8, 2020.

From A to Triple Zed dives into the archives of 4ZZZ (otherwise known as 'Triple Zed') to hear how one community radio station has been shaped by the passion, punks and politics of Brisbane over 45 years.

This episode is a taste of what's to come - from how our fiercely independent newsroom thrived under a corrupt Queensland government through the 1980s, to the legendary 4ZZZ gigs in the halls, pubs and rugby clubs of Brisbane to how oppressed communities found a platform on the station.

Soundtracked by Brisbane artists you would have heard first on the station over the decades (check out The Parameters and Ironing Music if you like what you hear in this trailer episode).

It's all part of our 45th birthday celebrations, if you want to support radio that's been independent and live since 1975 you can make a donation online now - https://support.4zzz.org.au/donations