PERMANENT WAVES: Joe “The Godfather” Anthony with Rush during the Canadian trio’s 1975 debut trip to San Antonio where they performed at Randy’s Rodeo. Rush went on to worldwide superstardom and never forgot to credit Joe for being an early supporter.
(photo courtesy Al Rendon).
By Metal Dave
Restless and wild as a San Antonio teen during the 1980s, my music collection and high school memories were immeasurably impacted by legendary deejay, Joe “The Godfather” Anthony.
In those days, radio was more Mi Tierra than McDonald’s, meaning a maverick like Joe Anthony could spike the homogenized mix of corporate overkill with personal flavors from his home collection (see Legs Diamond versus Led Zeppelin). Thanks to Joe and his longtime KMAC/KISS FM partner Lou Roney, once-obscure bands like Rush (Canada), the Scorpions (Germany), Saxon (Great Britain) and Queensryche (U.S.) were rock stars in San Antonio before they signed an autograph outside their own ZIP codes.
BUDGIE: ‘Never Turn Your Back on a Friend’ featuring the future Metallica cover, ‘Breadfan.’
With Joe at the helm, San Antonio earned a worldwide reputation as the “Heavy Metal Capital of the World.” Where else could Budgie rival Boston? Where else could Angel Witch share air waves with Aerosmith? Where else were The Godz treated as such? I’ll tell you where: Nowhere! That’s where!
Rather than autopiloting albums forced onto radio by music industry robots, Joe instead offered us impossible-to-find imports and underground debut albums. When most of America was introduced to the Scorpions by way of the band’s 1982 breakthrough album, “Blackout,” San Antonio – thanks largely to Joe – was already familiar with the band’s preceding seven albums. Seven! Ditto Judas Priest.
MOXY: Featuring ‘Moon Rider,’ ‘Sail On Sail Away’ and other San Antonio favorites.
Of course Joe’s early endorsement of Rush is perhaps his greatest claim to fame (go ask Geddy Lee … and his banker). Thanks to early spins from Joe, this enduring best-selling Canadian band — for all practical purposes — actually catapulted out of San Antonio, more than 2,000 miles from home. Keep in mind that this countdown to stardom took place back when tape-trading and word-of-mouth were “the Internet” of the day. In other words, the odds of Rush becoming millionaires by way of Alamo City were more complicated than a Neil Peart drum solo. Distant early warning? Indeed.
TRIUMPH: ‘Just a Game’
Triumph is another Canadian trio that owes its fame to Joe. In San Antonio, “The Blinding Light Show” was every bit as air-guitar epic and cosmically nonsensical as “Stairway to Heaven.” Add falsetto-to-the-heavens hit songs “Never Surrender,” “Fight the Good Fight” and “Lay it On the Line,” and – BAM! — suddenly Joe Anthony is an honorary member of the band (it’s true … look it up). And how about the exhaustive list of other Joe-approved Canadian bands? Anvil, Helix, Aldo Nova, Killer Dwarfs, Moxy, Max Webster, Saga, Coney Hatch, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush, April Wine, Etc., etc., et…
LEGS DIAMOND: ‘A Diamond is a Hard Rock’ featuring the San Antonio favorite, ‘Woman.’
From soon-to-be household names like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Def Leppard (Great Britain) to somewhat lesser-knowns like Accept (Germany), Krokus (Switzerland), Yngwie Malmsteen (Sweden) and Loudness (Japan), Joe’s global treasure hunt put the world’s most precious metals right in my backyard. Ask Rob Halford about the importance of Joe Anthony and the Metal God will graciously surrender a litany of superlatives and heartfelt thanks. I know. I’ve done it.
And the concerts? Thanks to Joe and San Antonio, rising bands like Motley Crue, Great White, Quiet Riot, Fastway, WASP, Dokken and Rose Tattoo enjoyed big crowds (and plucking groupies) at Hemisfair Arena before they’d fully escaped the drink-n-drown club circuit (OK, nix the groupies on Rose Tattoo … and, um, all but the singer of Fastway).
OWED TO JOE: My record collection featuring Fastway, Saxon, Accept and a couple hundred other bands indebted to Joe Anthony.
Need more? How about Riot, Montrose, Axe, UFO, Heaven, Killer, Starz, Y&T (when they were still known as Yesterday & Today), Mama’s Boys, Raven, Dirty Looks, E-Z-O and Baron Rojo? All came to my attention courtesy of Joe “The Godfather” Anthony.
Of course, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention Joe’s unwavering support of local and regional acts like Prezence, Pariah, Juggernaut, Mox Nix, Pantera and many, many more.
Yes, like Joe’s legacy, the list of bands goes on forever (and ever). Sadly, “The Godfather” died in 1992, but I’ve still got a few hundred vinyl records that keep his spirit alive.
KILLER DWARFS: ‘Stand Tall.’
I could never do Joe Anthony justice in the finite space of this blog, but I hope this trip down Memory Lane was enjoyed and appreciated by all who were there.
RIP Godfather … and thanks upon thanks for all your hard rock!
Joseph Anthony Yannuzzi (1936-1992)
2Fast2Die/Metal Dave Glessner would also like to thank: Tom “T-Bone” Scheppke, Debbie “The Electric Lady” Alcocer, John Lisle and Steve Hahn for years of listening pleasure (and unintended corruption). You rock!
BELOW: Two of my favorite gems courtesy of Joe Anthony: Starz and Riot
Unfortunately I wasn’t in the area in those days but knew of SA’s metal reputation as all of my favorite underground bands always played there (and no in VA) and know from my years in central Texas how important Joe was to the scene.
Rock in peace.
Yeah, Sean. You would’ve been the biggest Joe fan. His taste and influence in music is impossible to fully explain. Thanks for reading and posting
I grew up on Joe Anthony in the 80′s. I learned everything about great metal and rock n’ roll from him. That instrumental “Flash Out” from Loudness still takes me back to those days. Rock Louder!
Yeah, Rex. That tune was Joe’s theme song if memory serves
Wow!! You have just heard a piece of real SA rock and roll history. The journey with the Godfather started when I was in middle school. I will never forget staying up until midnight on Fridays for Joe. I wore out my Panasonic boom box recording all my favorites and still have most of the tapes to prove it. My vinyl collection is a who’s who of 80′s rock, many of which are inspired by Joe Anthony and his reign on 99.5 KISS. Looking back on it now, i didnt realize how ahead of the game he was ( and us as a result). Over the years i began to realize how good we had it after seeing many of the bands you mentioned pay tribute to Joe. Go to any metal show in SA today and you will see all of our generation with the same look in there eye.It is the look of experience and gratefulness that SA really was and is the Heavy Metal Capital of the World. Every band told it to us at every concert. After all these years I know it was not lip service..it is the TRUTH. I saw TBone at the recent Scorpions show in SA and i thanked him. I heard his voice behind me standing at the booth of the new station he is at. I recognized it right away. I never got to meet or thank Joe but i will always hear his voice as it sounded through the speakers. Thank you Joe Anthony and thank you Dave for recognizing such an important contributor. Rock on brother!! Mark
Well said, Mark! Great recollection my friend. Thanks for taking the time
Oh and this phrase should ring a bell as it was the prelude to many a song,
” This is __________(insert name) of _______(insert band name) and your rockin with The Godfather Joe Anthony on 99.5 KISS San Antonio!!”
My favorite was always Klaus Meine’s because of the heavy German accent and the passion in which he said it. I found myself yelling that in the crowd at the recent show. Those that “knew” turned around with a smile.
Hey Dave, this guy sound’s very much like ex BBC Radio One Friday Rock Show host Tommy Vance. You’ve mentioned him to me quite a few time’s, he did killer job from what you’ve just said we need more DJ’s like him etc.. To carry the flag for Hard Rock and Metal music..
His kind is a rare and dying breed. Just like radio itself
My fondest memory or should I say huge impact moment from Joe was when he debuted Accept’s Fast as a Shark. Me and Craig were in the parking lot of GW Jrs hot dog stand on Walzem RD. No looking back after that one. Got the red vinyl the next weekend.
Amen, Al. Hence the first 3 words of my tribute. That song was a ripper (still is)! Thanks for reading and posting
This article is great!
I have most of these albums and Moxy is one of my favorite. I had to special order it because I could not find it local. I must say he influenced me and made me into the music lover I am today.
Yup. I remember you having to order Moxy and Stone Fury. Thanks for reading and taking the time to post
wow a great read and tribute to a man that introduced us to so much music!Thanks Dave!
Thank YOU, Jesi. I know you were there!
I think Joe’s theme song was by White Pigs – Blessed are the Unholy. If you look it up on Youtube its listed as White Pigs – munster’s theme song. Anyone else remember this being Joe’s theme song??? Moxy, Legs Diamond, Rush, etc., etc… All the songs Joe played are the same ones that are on my favorite playlist today. @Mark Lee I totally can hear the KLAUS MEINE promo in my head! Rock on guys!
I think you’re right. I do remember White Pigs/Munsters, but also recall the Loudness song. Maybe Munsters was Joe’s “theme song” and the Loudness track opened a late-night, on-air segment? Thanks for your recall. Good stuff!
Sure do remember those days Moxy was my first concert they headlining for Black Sabbath and Boston In good ole San Antonio I grew up with Joe Anthony The God Father of Rock Those memories will lst me a life time wouldnt trade them for nothing in the world Awesomenesssss
I have Prezence, Jumbo and Heyoka and other really hard to get Joe Anthony faves for anyone who needs it. Just want to keep the music alive. sapd893@sbcglobal.net
Also I have as slayer…liquid sky cry for the king…winterkat light of day and more.
S.A. Slayer…damn auto correct…jumbo played the Godfather Theme as a tribute to Joe.
I just posted Jumbo-Classified Love, Winterkat-Light Of Day and Liquid Sky- Cry For The King on YouTube in honor of Joe Anthony. Those are 3 artists/songs I have not seen on YouTube before. Check em out and comment on YouTube if you like.
Very cool post! I just found this while surfing around for some info on Joe Anthony. I grew up in SA during the late 70′/early 80′s, and remember his shows well. I’m currently putting together a setlist to play on our high schools internet radio station. Of course I’ll be starting out with Loudness, then Starz…
Bands would make sure to hit SA on either Friday or Saturday night! I was lucky enough to spend most of the 80s and early 90s listening to Joe…Thank you Joe for all you did!
I worked for a few years at 99.5 KISS ( after growing up listening to Joe Anthony).. He was just awesome!!! Leslie
Thanks Leslie. I bet you have some great stories. Joe was so important to my rock collection and memories. Thanks for reading and posting your comment, 2F2D
I will never forget listening to Joe Anthony’s Metal Hour every night. actually it became like a three hour show after a while.
Joe Anthony was a huge part of my growing up in San Antonio. I was raised on his influence of bands. Please think about getting this information on Wikipedia.
I just saw something about early Rush on Twitter and decided to try and see if the SA Randy’s Rodeo show was their first American gig. I was there, and that day was the time I met Joe Anthony, who was consumed with bringing the show off smoothly. WAY too many people showed up, and when an announcement said not everybody could come inside, beer bottles flew. Joe kept a potentially bad situation from turning into a riot when he got on the PA and started to explain.. everyone in the crowd shut up at once, and quickly calmed down. That Voice – we had all practically been raised by it, and you had no fear it would lead you the wrong way – I can hear it now like it is a record I have always kept – I hadn’t thought about this in years, then I stumbled onto this site and man does it all come back..
I lived in McQueeney, between New Braunfels and Seguin, and grew up on KMAC – KISS, Joe Anthony and Lou Roney. When you say we had it good, boy you aren’t kidding. There wasn’t internet everything RIGHT NOW like today, and, for example, a friend in Seguin had one of the very few copies of the Oz Knozz LP “Ruff Mix”. My friends and I made the pilgrimage to his house to dub that record onto reel-to reel tape. How did we know about that obscure band? KMAC – KISS. Joe Anthony would get on a kick for some band or song and for a couple weeks could not be shaken of it.. When Santana’s Europa, on the LP “Moonflower”, came out I remember one afternoon as it finished playing Joe took a long pause, pulled a deep sigh and played it again, TWICE.. Looking back I consider myself really lucky to have had the kind of influence on my music likes and dislikes that Joe and Lou provided. And let’s not forget Mark Chapman, who ran the KMAC side from 6 pm till dark in the late 70s – early 80s. KISS listeners today have a great station to be proud of, but to really understand the KMAC – KISS (spread the word..remember the sticker?) of those days was to have lived it. Any one of us would have taken a bullet to keep that sweet sound playing. Loyalty is a slogan now, but it was serious business “back in the day”. There should be something more than a blog where these memories and ideas can live.. I don’t know quite what that would be, exactly, but for someone who cannot even type to pour out like this – good stuff.
I can trace everything musical back to these guys.. I prefer an LP to not be ‘banded’, a forgotten term today but referring to the tracks on the side of an album being broken into individual songs with silence between them – look at most records and there are ‘bands’ between the songs – and the key ones not banded are of course “Dark Side of the Moon” and “Wish You Were Here”, which may seem surprising choices to be in such a ‘metal’ rotation but they were – testament to the freestyle ways of these guys. I do photography now and did then, when there were real ‘darkrooms’, and I remember one extremely trippy afternoon I was developing and printing pictures and this strange music was seemingly NEVER going to end – it was the KMAC – KISS debut of Kraftwerk’s LP “Autobahn”, quite naturally being played in its entirety with no commercials… Joe A. strikes again. Most records were banded, but I have liked the ‘no silence’ concept my whole life – Mahogany Rush, 2112, Alan Parson’s “Tales of Mystery and Imagination”, Pink Floyd – these were and remain my favorites, thanks to you know what station.
OK I don’t want my computer to run out of ink, so I will leave with this.. when some old geezer talks about the good old days at KMAC – KISS.. tip your hat and give a little nod to Greatness. Those really WERE the good old days.
Jimmy, thanks for an amazing comment on 2Fast2Die. You clearly remember and respect Joe Anthony. I appreciate readers like you who are truly passionate about music and the personalities that give it life. Thanks for finding me. Best regards, Dave/2Fast2Die
Everything came tumbling out, and the details were kind of blurred. After processing it a while, I realized that it was not Mark Chapman, but Mark Champion.. Apologies Mark if you saw this, I got it corrected as soon as I realized the mistake I had made..
Thanks again Dave for this really nice piece being here.. I will try to ‘spread the word’ about 2fast2die…and if I find my stash of 70s KMAC – KISS stickers, you will be the first to get one.
I was a Joe Anthony fan for years, thanks in part to my older brother. He would drive me home from school, playing tapes of bands he heard on Joe Anthony’s show! Of course, I became a fan too. One song in particular still bounces around in my head to this day. “Crystal Butterfly”. I love that song to DEATH! I was lucky enough to meet the Godfather at one of the KISS FM sponsored events. I think it was the Fantastic Film Festival that they had every year. Lots of old sci-fi and fantasy films ( always old chewed up copies, too!) and tons of listeners on various drugs, sneaking alcohol into the theatre. Oh wait, that was me! Uh… sorry. Anyway, got to meet Joe after the movies and in person he was a rather quiet, and unassuming guy. Only when he put on the radio voice did your skin get all gooseflesh! We miss ya Joe. Rock on!
Thanks for a great comment on my 2Fast2Die page. I, too, LOVE “Crystal Butterfly.” The band was Killer(s)? if I recall correctly. GREAT song.Thanks for reading and sharing. Cheers, dave/2Fast2Die
I so wanted to live in San Antonio just b/c of Joe Anthony!
Grew up on this stuff in the late 70′s. Spread the Word!
You knew you had grown up when you stopped rushing home after to school to watch Capt. Gus and Batman and instead you were tuning in to listen to the Godfather.
He’d play two different bands and ask us to call in and vote for which one we liked better.