Help fund the definitive history of one of Chicago's most beloved and notorious rock stations!
Pictured: author with Josh and Eli Caterer of Smoking Popes ... apologies for the shoddy Blackberry-made video.
(update 7/22/11: THANK YOU!)
After almost two full decades on Chicago’s FM dial, Q101 is going away. When the station is officially handed off to its new owner, Merlin Media, in August, a format flip is expected to happen immediately. Before the memories fade, I decided that I should write a book about the station’s run as an “alternative” rock station.
Smells Like Rock Radio: an Oral History of Chicago’s Q101 (1992-2011) will chronicle the complex, hilarious, and culture-influencing history of the soon-to-be-gone station. The story will be told by the most qualified people to tell it: the DJs, programmers, support staff, and friends of Q101.
The book will be published in two ways:
1) Publish on Demand. The paperback version will be made available through Amazon and other outlets to be determined.
2) E-books (multiple formats). Versions will be professionally formatted for iBooks, Kindle, Nook, and more.
My expenses will include (but aren’t limited to):
- Photos for use in book
- Part-time assistants to help conduct and transcribe interviews
- Copy editing
- Book formatting for multiple e-book retailers
- Unique ISBNs and bar codes for all versions
- Design work (cover, paperback formatting, website)
- Legal work
- Contributor and backer copies
I’ve estimated costs at $9750, an admittedly large chunk of change. As such, I’ve tried to make the incentives worth it!
As for why you should back this book, I'm uniquely qualified to pull it together. I've spent a lot of time at Q101 over the years, handling a lot of different responsibilities:
1993-2000
- Air talent (nights, weekends, even Morning Drive for a fleeting moment)
- Assistant Music Director
- Host, "Local 101"
- Webmaster
- Producer, "Sound Opinions"
- Producer, "Live 101" and "Local 101" CDs
- Syndicated host, "Levi's Spark Radio"
2006-2007
- Overnight jock
- Morning host
2009-2011
- Weekend jock
When I wasn't working at Q101, I was competing against it at stations like WXRT and WZZN. I have a comprehensive knowledge of the station's personnel, history, and operations. More importantly, my connections and familiarity with the station will make lining up interviews (the foundation of the book) a breeze.
FAQ
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Five logs' worth.
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The simple answer is invest that money in the book, just as I would all the funds before it. I budgeted the minimum amount for everything I need to get the book published. Extra funds would mean additional and enhanced resources. For instance:
If I had budgeted X for a copy editor based on my goal, additional money would mean that I could spend XY on better or enhanced services to get the job done.
If I had budgeted X to pay for freelance interview help, additional money would mean that I could spend XY to offer a more dignified rate to my freelancers, or hire more on.
I'm positive that I under-budgeted for mailing out rewards and publicity copies. Extra money will cover that.
Ditto on per-book production costs.
386
Backers
$14,880
pledged of $9,750 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Jun 22, 2011 -
Jul 23, 2011
(31 days)
- 2 created · 18 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: jamesvanosdol.com
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81 backers
Your name is included in the "Thank You" section of the book.
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167 backers
A PDF copy of the book before it's published and a mention in the "Thank You" section of the book.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD copy of "Black Holes and Revelations" by Muse. Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD copy of the soundtrack to "Singles." Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD copy of "MTV Unplugged in New York" by Nirvana. Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD copy of "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold. Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD copy of Pearl Jam's self-titled album (2006). Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
The Donnas "Spend the Night" vinyl wall hanging, autographed by the band.
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1 backer All gone!
Butthole Surfers "Electric Larryland" record cover, signed by King Coffey (album not included).
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1 backer All gone!
My personal, slightly used, CD promo copy of "The Unraveling" by Rise Against. Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
Smoking Popes "I Know You Love Me" 10" record. Hard to find.
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1 backer All gone!
Godsmack "The Other Side" promotional poster (11x17), signed by the band. Note that the poster is pretty wrinkled and creased.
Pledge $25 or more
10 backers All gone!
A personalized, autographed copy of my first book, OFF THE RECORD COLLECTION.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal copy of "Local 101 Volume Two." The long out-of-print CD features tracks from Lucky Boys Confusion, Caviar, Sister Machine Gun, Apocalypse Hoboken, and more
Pledge $32 or more
21 backers
THE NO FRILLS REWARD! For your pledge, you get a copy of the book. No "thank yous," no personalization, just the memories and awesomeness contained within the book's covers.
Pledge $50 or more
1 backer All gone!
Autographed Mudvayne setlist ("Lost and Found") tour
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1 backer All gone!
My personal copy of "Retro 101 v.1," a Q101 compilation of 80s music I helped produce. Artists include Ramones, Missing Persons, Wall of Voodoo, New Order, Bow Wow Wow, Oingo Boingo, Duran Duran, Romeo Void, Ministry, Haircut 100, Devo, Big Audio Dynamite, and the Cure (recorded at Twisted 4 in 1997). Also: a mention in the "Thank You" section.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal copy of "Local 101 Volume One." The long out-of-print CD features tracks from Smoking Popes, Liz Phair, Wilco, Kill Hannah, Local H, Dovetail Joint, and more.
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1 backer All gone!
My personal copy of "Live 101 Volume One." The long out-of-print CD features exclusive live tracks from Live, INXS, Bush, Our Lady Peace, and more
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1 backer All gone!
Cake "Motorcade of Generosity" promotional flat, signed by band on that tour ('94).
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1 backer All gone!
From my home collection: every Clash CD I own. Includes: London Calling, The Clash, Super Black Market Clash, Sandinista! Burning London (tribute to the Clash), Clash on Broadway, Give 'Em Enough Rope, From Here to Eternity Live, and Cut the Crap.
Pledge $75 or more
59 backers
Your personal, signed copy of SMELLS LIKE ROCK RADIO, including your name listed in the "Thank You" section.
Pledge $125 or more
1 backer All gone!
Rare promotional poster for Q101's "Twisted Christmas": the very first Twisted event. Bands featured on the poster include Hole, Weezer, Bad Religion, Dinosaur Jr., Killing Joke, and Veruca Salt. This poster was created for the first-ever Twisted show, which led to an annual tradition that kept growing bigger each year.
Pledge $125 or more
1 backer All gone!
The promotional poster for "Local 101 Volume One," signed by every artist on the CD: Dovetail Joint, Smoking Popes, My Scarlet Life, A Modern Joy, Fondly, Claire, Pulsars, Kill Hannah, The Rolls, Doris (featuring Paul Adelstein of TV's "Private Practice" and "Prison Break"), Liz Phair, John Huss Moderate Combo, The Aluminum Group, Atrixo, Certain Distant Suns, Local H, Massivivid, and Wilco. Note that there's an approximately 12" tear up the bottom center of the poster, though it does not interfere with any of the autographs.
Pledge $150 or more
18 backers Limited (7 of 25 left)
You get to write a 125-word essay on a Q101 memory, thought, or opinion and have it included in the book. Please note that essays may be edited for print, and must not be libelous, slanderous, or otherwise icky. This includes a personal, signed copy of SMELLS LIKE ROCK RADIO.
Pledge $300 or more
3 backers Limited (7 of 10 left)
You get to write a 250-word essay on a Q101 memory, thought, or opinion and have it included in the book. Please note that essays may be edited for print, and must not be libelous, slanderous, or otherwise icky. This includes a personal, signed copy of SMELLS LIKE ROCK RADIO.
Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers
My personal RIAA-certified "gold record" plaque for Radiohead's OK Computer album.
