WZBC DJ spins punk

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of interviews with DJs from BC's FM radio station, WZBC 90.3

This week, The Heights talks with Timothy M. Wientzen, A&S '04.



How'd you get involved in WZBC?
I saw them at the activities fair freshman year and I was very interested in being on the radio, mostly because they said I could play punk rock and that they needed a DJ for that particular genre. So, I started doing a show once a week on the highly underrated WVBC. I did that for three semesters, as well as an internship with a DJ named CJ on WVBC. Now I'm on WZBC.


What time is your show?

My show is Wednesdays at 7 a.m. until 9 a.m.


What type of music do you usually play?

I mostly play punk rock, but I try to play as much new stuff as possible, so I end up playing a fair amount of garage and indie rock as well as some metal.


Why this type of music?

Well, I discovered punk rock by accident when I was 15. I went to a show to see one of the opening bands and was treated to a fantastic display of some of the best punk bands around at the time. There was hardly anybody there at all, and the whole scene had such an inviting and personal feel to it. I really like that when I go to shows, I can meet all the bands that I love and I can push people around a little without them thinking I'm a jerk. You push, they push; you enjoy the chaos together.

There's just a really good, positive spirit in the style of punk I listen to.

Punk is loud and angry so people who only hear it once or twice think it's just noise. Once you listen to it in-depth, you realize that it's a really intelligent and beautiful style of music. It's mine.



Who were your top 5 favorite bands in high school?

In high school I stuck to the "big" punk bands: Bad Religion, NOFX, The Ramones, Screeching Weasel and The Queers.



Who are your five favorite bands now?

Right now: The Ramones, Leatherface, Fifteen, Strike Anywhere, American Steel.



Why do you think this has changed?

For me, a large part of it has to do with my changing view of what's important. The bands I liked in high school were really fun but they lacked the convictions that I now I have. The bands I like now are much more political in nature; they have something important to say. Also, my tastes are much more refined now than they were in high school.

Aside from The Ramones, all the bands I like now are definitely playing to much smaller audiences. My favorites now are suited to the very specific taste that I've developed over the years.

As for The Ramones, they'll never grow dull to me. They were awesome in the 1970s, 1980s and when I saw them in the 1990s. Now Joey Ramone is dead, but they remain one of the most influential bands in the history of rock 'n' roll.



Do you have any funny or interesting stories about music, from meeting someone famous to the elementary school recital?

A few years ago, my band had a show in Warrensburg, MO at a house owned by the band Kosher. Before we left for the show, we went to Papa John's, where a few of my bandmates worked. It was "Mega Week" at that particular store and they had a pizza slice costume for people to wear and pass out coupons. They called it Mr. Slice. Well, we made off with Mr. Slice and he came to our show with us. We gave the suit to our friend Brad who put it on mid-show and burst into the mosh pit. I guess if you're in a mosh pit and all of a sudden a huge pizza slice starts trying to push you around, you're just not going to stand for it. Mr. Slice lost a few toppings that night and I'm pretty sure Brad didn't fare well, either. But the good thing is that now it can be celebrated in The Heights. I miss Mr. Slice.



What's the best part about working at WZBC?

I get to hear new music right when it comes out and I also get free concert/movie tickets. Also, sometimes, nice people call up and tell me that I'm doing a good job. I like that.



What's your perfect first date with a girl?

The perfect date? Do people still date? I don't think they do, but if they did I hope that we'd be outside a lot and make a spectacle of ourselves until security guards asked us to leave.

Then we'd eat cotton candy and feed pigeons. I'd explain my theory of infinity and she'd explain to me why she thinks the Apollo Mission was a hoax. We'd prank call people from our grade schools. And then we'd go for a bike ride at night.

If people date, I think that would be ideal.