blog lassiter

I suppose it only fitting that since our “falling-out” was so public that our “reconciliation” also take place on the air in front of strangers.  Neil and I were never close friends – neither of us are easy to get to know – but I always liked him, even when he pissed me off.

We all have people in our lives who have influenced us – we all have our heroes.  Neil became my hero the first time I heard him back in the early 1980’s – a few years later he would become my teacher and champion.  My relationship with Neil Rogers was two tier.  There was the guy on the radio, that many of you know, and there was the guy who helped me along the way to living my dream.

Neil and I were never buddies – the only thing we have in common is a passion for “the business”.  A passion for going on the air and entertaining the masses that neither of us do well relating to off the air.  We also have egos – monstrous egos. 

A decade after I first encountered this talented and gifted man, our roles changed, we were both more or less equals – and our egos clashed.  Off the air, we are both relatively shy and reserved – on the air we can be monsters.

While I have known Neil for more than twenty years, I’ve spent far more time talking to him on the air than off.  And this is where things can be hard to understand for the civilians out there – radio guys say things on the air that they would never say in real life.  The emotions of the moment, the desire to entertain can lead to trouble. 

Without going into the specifics of it all, that is what happened between us some twelve years ago.  Neither has spoken a civil word to the other since – that is until this morning.

I’m still not sure why I started this silly “blog”, but if nothing else, it has helped to pave over a moment in my life that I have deeply regretted.  It has put me back in touch with someone who was once very important to me – and still is…