Mayor Of The Sunset Strip

Anyone lucky enough to have lived within broadcast range of Rodney Bingenheimer's radio show on L.A.'s KROQ during the late '70s had a privileged upbringing, whether or not they realized it at the time. While the rest of the country endured Top-40 pap from Air Supply and Loverboy, Bingenheimer's loyal listeners were introduced to the dangerous vibe of the Sex Pistols, X and the Ramones, as well as the soon-to-be-huge New Wave-pop sounds of Blondie and the Go-Gos. With an ear for the perfect pop hook and a taste for punk energy, Bingenheimer became a hugely influential DJ — even through the '90s, he was the first to spin disks from such bands as Oasis, Coldplay and No...