[News] Steve Wright RIP

[Bry Nylon]

The passing away of anyone is incredibly sad. And thoughts go out to immediate family members.
I was not a fan of his radio show and would avoid most of the input he played. My memory of him back in the eighties was that as a radio presenter he was excruciatingly bad-singing over tracks and fading out songs well before they had finished.

Whether you liked his output or not, there is no doubt that Steve Wright was a natural broadcaster, with genuine warmth who made broadcasting live to millions of people every day sound very, very easy. That's a real talent.

But well done for making it about you

 

[Guinness Boy]

Used to be my listen to DJ in my teens/ twenty. Such a young age. RIP Steve

Not great news for most of us on NSC but 0-21 is probably “tragic” and 22-40 covers “such a young age”. 69 is firmly in the “red zone” if you’re a life insurance underwriter or actuary.

 

[dangull]

He never gave in

Not great news for most of us on NSC but 0-21 is probably “tragic” and 22-40 covers “such a young age”. 69 is firmly in the “red zone” if you’re a life insurance underwriter or actuary.

Well that makes it ok then. Well done Steve Wright for making it to 69

 

[Gazwag]

I would have seen you. I was in the front row. You weren’t the guy who gave his name as Arthur Ritis were you?

Nope

 

[Guinness Boy]

He never gave in

Well that makes it ok then. Well done Steve Wright for making it to 69

You’ve missed the point entirely. Steve was at an age where death is to be more, rather than less, expected. It’s just a statistical fact.

Doesn’t make it any better for his loved ones or the many people on here who grew up with him. But let’s stop pretending that 70 next birthday is young. It isn’t.

 

[Brighton1959]

Just sad - RIP Steve Wright

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Not many radio programmes I've ever made an effort to make sure I heard but his was one when I was growing up. Used to love the pretentious music journalist, Arnie and his uzi 9mm and of course Mr Angry

Ah yes, Arnie, sometime during a show in 1991 - "I am the Terminator, I have come from the future to murder Bryan Adams, he's still number one"

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Ah yes, Arnie, sometime during a show in 1991 - "I am the Terminator, I have come from the future to murder Bryan Adams, he's still number one"

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

Fantastic post. Wish I’d just written that.

 

[Wozza]

I'll always associate him with this track.

My God, he hammered it - even though it didn't make the top 40.

 

[Eeyore]

Not great news for most of us on NSC but 0-21 is probably “tragic” and 22-40 covers “such a young age”. 69 is firmly in the “red zone” if you’re a life insurance underwriter or actuary.

I'm moving out of the 45-54 survey group and will be leaving the 'taken too soon' category in March.

 

[Austrian Gull]

Ah yes, Arnie, sometime during a show in 1991 - "I am the Terminator, I have come from the future to murder Bryan Adams, he's still number one"

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

As you correctly point out, he was one of the few Radio 1 DJs to survive when Matthew Bannister took over the station and cleverly chose to leave when he wanted to.

It all feels so strange as I was only listening to him on Pick of the Pops this morning. He made that show his own with a completely different style to Paul Gambaccini.

 

[Eeyore]

Ah yes, Arnie, sometime during a show in 1991 - "I am the Terminator, I have come from the future to murder Bryan Adams, he's still number one"

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

It's a good summary. I love radio and am a bit old fashioned in the way I view it. I was in the Smashie and Nicey category, but although Steve's shows weren't for me, I liked him and felt he struck a good balance between public service and entertainment. I can see why he was popular. It's a sad loss.

It's a shame that radio went too far and we ended up with the likes of Russell Brand. Steve Wright never had to push the boundaries to endear himself. He was easy listening.

 

[Seagull58]

Ah yes, Arnie, sometime during a show in 1991 - "I am the Terminator, I have come from the future to murder Bryan Adams, he's still number one"

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

Noel Edmonds was doing the funny characters on the Radio 1 Breakfast Show before Steve Wright started. In fact, I think Steve Wright took over the Breakfast Show from Noel Edmonds.

 

[OzMike]

That is sad, I used to like his show in the 80's and his humour, a bit Weird Al.
This is sudden, but he had a good run.
RIP Mr Wright.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Fantastic post. Wish I’d just written that.

To quote Oscar Wilde....you will, dear boy. You will

I never heard a second of Steve Wright on the radio, but I'm moved to check him out. Sounds like one of the good guys. RIP

And as a 65 year old, 69 seems pretty young to me.

To paraphrase Woody Allen, one doesn't wish to achieve immortality through one's work. One aims to achieve it through living forever.

 

[Man of Harveys]

For all the justified criticism of some of its main “characters” - I’m looking at you, DLT - I really rather miss the hugely popular and down-to-earth, fun nature of the old Radio One. The roadshows, Our Tune, the ancient and sometimes very dodgy DJs, all things that are easy to mock in hindsight.

But since then nothing that appealed so widely, right across all age and class divides has replaced it. Getting rid of hugely popular figures is always justifiable with a public sector broadcasting remit but something that a lot of people simply enjoyed was disbanded. With the BBC there’s often a real sense of not knowing what you’ve got until it’s gone. Just my humble opinion.

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Let's ask Elvis, surreal and brilliant along with the old lady.

“Elvis is in the building” always made me eager in anticipation. Surreal and very funny.

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

Bumped into Wrighty in Churchill Sq not long after it opened. Didn't delay him long as he was with family, but did seem a genuinely nice guy.
Will be putting on a few of the tribute shows for him on BBC Sounds today while at work

 

[Is it PotG?]

Wright took the American zoo format and introduced it to Radio 1 and was popular enough to survive the big cull that removed the Smashy & Nicey's in the early 1990s. Musically, he was quite dreary, but then you never really listened to his show for the songs, just the bits in between. For that he assembled a good team who were able to keep their fingers on the pulse of popular culture for a good few years.

Indeed, and a good point.

Just reading a tribute from Danny Baker, who had more than one issue with the Beeb over the years. At LBC, Baker's excellent show with Amy Lamé, Baylen Leonard and David Kuo was organised chaos with a top team.

 

[Hamilton]

Just reflecting on this and surprised how saddened I am.

I guess as others have said, he was so much part of my youth. In the background he was one of those voices I just let wash over me. A bit of a comfort blanket.

RIP