Roger Waters, former Pink Floyd frontman, has expressed his grief and admiration for Jim Ladd, the legendary radio host who died of a heart attack on Saturday. He was 75.
Ladd was a pioneer of freeform radio, a style that allowed DJs to choose their own playlists and express their opinions on air. He was a longtime friend and collaborator of Waters, who hired him at SiriusXM in 2011 after he was fired from his previous station in Los Angeles.
Waters posted a lengthy tribute to Ladd on his official website, where he called him "a revolutionary" and "a brother." He also revealed that they were planning to launch a new radio station, Radio KAOS FM, next year, inspired by Waters' 1987 concept album, Radio K.A.O.S.
Waters also shared a video of an interview he did with Ladd in 1984, where they talked about music, politics, and life. He said that Ladd was "good" at his job and that he loved him.
Ladd was a prominent figure in the Los Angeles music scene for over four decades, working at stations such as KMET and KLOS. He was known for his eclectic taste and his interviews with rock icons such as Tom Petty, John Lennon, and David Bowie.
He also had a close relationship with Waters, who featured him on his second solo album, Radio K.A.O.S., as a fictional DJ named Jim who communicates with the album's protagonist, Billy, a handicapped boy who can control radio waves. Ladd joined Waters on the album's tour, and appeared in three of the album's videos, including "Radio Waves."
[Source: Classic Hits Today]