Tearson Bites the Dust at WMGK
There's a time honored, but not so honorable tradition in broadcasting. On-air talent hardly ever gets to say "so-long" to listeners or viewers when they're being canned. Today, the ax fell on WMGK's Michael Tearson. But will you hear the tree fall?
Tearson Bites the Dust at WMGK
Jonathan Takiff, Daily News Columnist
There's a time honored, but not so honorable tradition in broadcasting. On-air talent hardly ever gets to say "so-long" to listeners or viewers when they're being canned. Today, the ax fell on WMGK's Michael Tearson. But will you hear the tree fall?
One of Philly's true pioneers of progressive rock radio, Tearson broke into the biz with his late 1960s years at a then student-run, all-volunteer WXPN, then moved to WDAS-FM, for many moons to WMMR and later back, briefly to a now professionally steered XPN. Tearson has been holding down the fort at WMGK since April 2002 with a two hour (6 to 8 a.m.) "Saturday Morning 60s" heritage music show that he put together with amazing first hand knowledge and a great record library from his South Jersey home studio.
But this morning, MGK program director Charlie Lake told Tearson the party is over after this Saturday's show. And since that episode (and several more) are already in the can, M.T. won't get to say his farewells. A pity. This isn't just "another one bites the dust," it's one of the classic rock outlet's true "keeper of the keys" getting locked out, no longer to share his small insights and big picture perspective, or what veteran reporters like to call our "institutional knowledge."
Tearson is sanguine about the whole thing, joking that doing his show from home kept him out of the line of fire (and firing) for much longer than most. And he's got gigs going on Sirius/XM satellite radio, heard regularly on the Blues channel and often doing fill in (including today) on Classic Vinyl.
Still, as Leonard Cohen wrote and sang, "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye." Wonder if Tearson wasn't being prescient the other day, when he posted the survey question on Facebook "What's your favorite kiss-off song?"
Contact Daily News staff writer Jonathan Takiff at takiffj@phillynews.com.
He'll be back somewhere. No worries.— delder- I was delighted to find him on Sirius some time ago. Having you there, Michael, is wonderful. Keep up the good work.— Twin Peeks
- Gorilla radio..good luck MT— jiggs111
- He was the mc on Sunday at Dickie Betts concert at Scottish Rite Auditorium. Michael Tearson into the night.— BobbyD
- Another Philly-rock institution. Grew up in my early teens listening to Tearson at 'MMR.— mrjarn
- The old student-run wxpn was so much better than today's all-too-ordinary xpn. I guess this is just one more nail in the coffin of a once-great station. No reason to listen these days--or to contribute.— Bartleby
- Well said. XPN hasn't had a listenable show since Crossroads.
Except for Gene Shay, that is...— Genghis - I remember growing up in the 80's, with " Michael Tearson till 2" on WMMR.— grtm
I always loved his show on WMMR all those years ago. I'm glad to still be listening to him on SiriusXM.— Boto- Michael Tearson is bigger than WMG-freakin-K ever was or will be. Glad he's got his Sirius XM gig to fall back on and no doubt we'll continue to hear from Mad Dog long after 'MGK has gone on to sports talk or whatever.— PhillySubsMac
I believe whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you... stranger— TimmyDay- Would love to see Gargano & Cataldi both get the sudden axe..— Dutch10
- That is a joke WMGK.Nobody listens to you anyway. Michael Tearson was the only talent on there.
He has more knowledge of Classic/Progressive rock than any other on air personality. Thank you Michael.I will continue to enjoy you on XM/Sirius.
Schwartzy— schwartzy - Hear him on Sirius XM. Too bad they stuck it to you Mike on MGK. I know the feeling (getting the shaft). Best of luck!— Bill8339
- Didn't he do the program, "My Father's Son" on XPN in '71?— VermontPhilsFan
