Art Bell Has Died

Those of you who are fans of talk radio (and possibly some of you who aren't) may have heard that Art Bell passed away on Friday. As others have said (more eloquently and with more impact) Art's approach to radio was one of the critical factors that moved my personal course from "I think I can do this" to "I must do this".

I had the chance to meet Art, drink scotch and smoke cigars with him at the 2001 Radio and Records Talkers Convention, and it was hard to suppress my 'fanboiness' and just be 'cool'... so cool, in fact, that I declined the opportunity to have a photo taken with him, but did shoot one with my dear friend Sean Meehan. I can't put my hands on the original (sans POTUS), but maybe Art would have appreciated the anomalous juxtaposition more than most.

I don't think we'll see broadcasters of his ilk again... The times and medium have changed and I fear we have all become a bit too jaded to embrace the weird and wonderful world that was late night radio and Art Bell. R.I.P. Art