U2, Talking Heads, Depeche Mode, Blondie, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, The Clash, The Cure: Over half a billion records sold but you may never have heard of them if not for a small suburban radio station on Long Island, NY: WLIR. In August, 1982, a small group of radio visionaries knew they couldn't compete with the mega-stations in New York City. With one brave decision, they changed the sound of radio forever. Program Director Denis McNamara, the 'LIR crew and the biggest artists of the era tell the story of how they battled the FCC, the record labels, mega-radio and all the conventional rules to create a musical movement that brought the New Wave to America.
Acting
Billy Idol's unhinged storytelling is worth admission alone.
Production
Incredible archival footage of live shows and station chaos.
Writing
Tight narrative that makes FCC regulations somehow gripping.
Director
Ellen Goldfarb
Debbie Harry
Self - Blondie - Singer / Songwriter
Joan Jett
Self - The Runaways, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts - Singer / Songwriter
Billy Idol
Self - Singer / Songwriter
Nick Rhodes
Self - Duran Duran - singer / songwriter / keyboards
Tom Bailey
Self - The Thompson Twins - lead singer
Jeff Beck
Self - WLIR - production director / DJ
Vince Clarke
Self - Producer, Depeche Mode / Yaz / Yazoo / Erasure - keyboards
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
WLIR's call letters originally stood for 'Long Island Radio,' but staff joked it meant 'We Love It Rockin'.'
The documentary underplays how WLIR's format directly inspired MTV's programming strategy—without credit.
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