What happens if you get a DJ from America and an Aussie together
Interview conducted February 04, 2020
by Dan Locke
Australian singer songwriter and Melbourne based Leanne Kingwell got together with international award winning radio programmer and presenter Jonathan L from Berlin, Germany, and came up with a kick-ass reboot of Sonny & Cher’s 1965 classic ‘I Got You Babe’.
Dan Locke: What is your musical up bring?
Jonathan L: The mid-fifties. The golden age of Rock and Roll. Age of 9 it was all about Elvis Presley, Gene Vincent, then Buddy Holly, Dion & The Belmonts. Growing up in New York listening to Alan Freed, Murry The K, and the WMCA Goodguys. Early 60’s The Ronettes, Bob Dylan, Motown, and the ‘British Invasion’ (Stones, Beatles, Animals, Gerry & The Pacemakers, etc.) James Brown and his Famous Flames. Early 70’s T.Rex, Jefferson Airplane, Grateful Dead, Muddy Waters, Mothers Of Invention, Electric String Band, and Ramones.
So many more artists but just mentioned a few. In other words diversity. All styles of music.
What do you think Sonny would think about your “I got you, Babe”?
Good question. I would hope from the grave he would love it. Different times.
Holly Beth Vincent and Joey Ramone’s 1981 cover I suppose he would like and Leanne and my version too. Or, he would have hated both. We will never know.
Jonathan, you were part of the beginnings of Lollapalooza. How has it changed from what you started?
My radio station in Phoenix, Arizona and I was heavily involved in promoting the very first ever Lollapalooza in 1991 in Phoenix. Perry Farrell was the founder, not me. I helped begin the radio festival revolution by putting together the KUKQ Fest and KUKQ Birthday Bash from 1989 through 1993 prior to Lollapalooza. I got all the artists, set the line-ups and made the stage announcements. Plus interviewing the majority of artists on my mid-day shift day of shows. I have not stated anywhere I personally started
Lollapalooza.
Jonathan, how was it to be an editor of High Times?
I never claimed to work for High Times Magazine. I was, however, editor of Drugs and Paraphernalia Digest for the first three issues in New York City the summer of 1978 for the former sales manager of High Times. In 1978 the founder of High Times Thomas ‘King’ Forcade committed suicide. The magazine was then taken over by his wife and changed into more of a lifestyle format for a time making a few key people leave. I worked for a competitor of the above-mentioned publication by the owner of their former employee who left.
Jonathan during your career at KLPX you had a show called “Virgin Vinyl”. Who was your most surprising co-host?
I began my radio career on KLPX with Virgin Vinyl in March of 1982. I suppose out of hundreds of interviews, most surprising was Henry Rollins. He was a guest host. Mostly a 2-hour interview where he at one point pulled out a piece of tin foil, and preceded to speak about being in Texas where a murder happened and he was standing close by. As he told a rather long story, he opened up the tin foil and revealed it was a piece of the person brain he quickly picks up and put in his pocket. A shocking moment on live radio. My response to looking at it was a shock! Henry was pleased with that moment in his Black Flag years.
Jonathan Tell me about Ronnie Spector. How is she as a person?
First, she is a beautiful individual. Second an iconic singer (seen her live twice). A voice like no other.
I was introduced to Ronnie and her husband Jonathan Greenfield by Joey Ramone years back. Joey was a ‘real’ friend from the mid-’80s till his death. I have been with Ronnie several times and nowadays get updates from Jonathan. She has a great sense of humor. Long gotten over her first husband Phil ( read her book “Be My Baby” ) who is still rotting in prison for committing a murder.
When I was a teen when “Be My Baby” hit the airwaves, for me Ronnie was my teenage “cream dream”.
Which I told Ronnie both in private and live on the radio and she thinks it’s cute smiles and laughs.
Jonathan, You appeared on MTV2 and showed a 23-minute video feature about the band Rammstein. Are you going to see them on their upcoming tour?
1998 I was asked by Universal Records in America to be a good part in the video promoting the “Mutter” album for American fans of the band during my Los Angeles years as VP of Alternative for the now-defunct Album Network trade magazine for the music industry. I helped promote the band to radio on the song “Du Hast”. Was successful. Gold Record for me on “Sehnsucht” and I have seen the band three times live. Twice at The Palace in L.A. and once in Berlin at Wuhlheide open-air stadium. I saw them in their prime and the answer is no. I’ve seen over a thousand live shows in my lifetime and honestly feel if you have seen them years ago when they were new or young, why go see them as most are either my age or close now. Maybe many would disagree with me but that’s fine.
MTV was something else. In 1990 I flew to London to secure Sisters Of Mercy to headline night one for my KUKQ Birthday Bash. The 1991 Festival featured them as headliners over two nights along with 10 other acts including Front 242, The Feelies, Danielle Dax, Havana 3 A.M., Jellyfish among others. MTV sent a crew to film the entire event with host Dave Kendall. That was a huge boost for KUKQ nationwide at the time.
Jonathan, what is you’re feeling about FM radio today? And do you think that the web will give it a final funeral?
I am not a fan of how radio has been gobbled up by big corporations. Radio is being led by Major record labels who spend a lot to get certain artists on-air and they are 1% of how much new music is out there every week. What that translates to is so many artists are smothered and never will be heard by the masses. Frankly, with so many other alternatives to traditional FM radio -radio is free to listen but has lost its luster over the years to the present. Internet web radio is great but most cannot achieve advertising in a big enough way to pay presenters which provide content. So, unfortunately, some go away at one point. Well branded and self-funded web stations can last. Let’s not forget Public radio. Currently, the best way to listen and discover new music. Spotify is great but let’s be honest, it takes people away from listening to both radio and the net.
How did you two meet?
I had been a big fan of Leanne and played her music so much on her last album. We made contact through Facebook and she also did spoken pieces throughout a special I did on Australian music.
How did you decide to start this music project?
After my last two songs back in 2016, I was getting an itch to do something completely different. So we had a conversation in 2017 and I suggested we do a song together. Leanne agreed and did so much to get our project off the ground.
Why did you decide to record Sonny and Cher hit “I got you, Babe”?
Because it is a classic song for all time. Whenever I heard it on the radio or saw Sonny & Cher perform the song on TV it always left a lasting impression. Great song and wonderful to remake it in a unique way with my original written words to begin and voice it.
How is the rest of the cd?
Leanne and I did the song as a one-off. No album in the plans that I’m aware of.
Any plans to tour behind it?
None
How do you see yourselves in 5 years?
(Jonathan) alive and kicking and still doing my radio show playing and
discovering new artists giving them international exposure.
Anything in closing?
Thank you very much for your time featuring Leanne and myself.
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