© 2026 The Couch Critic
Status
Released
Release
2017
Runtime
1h 35m
Available options inUS
"The story of the most influential radio station in America"
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.
24 Cast Members
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
Nancy Abramson
Self - WLIR - DJ
M. King Adkins
Self
Ron Alexenburg
Self - record executive
Sam Ash
Self - Sam Ash Music - owner
Tom Bailey
Self - The Thompson Twins - lead singer
Ivan Baker
Self - Ivan Ivan - producer, manager, executive, DJ
Jeff Beck
Self - WLIR - production director / DJ
Eric Bloom
Self - Blue Oyster Cult - lead singer
Delphine Blue
Self - WLIR - DJ
George Cheyne
Self - APB
Vince Clarke
Self - Producer, Depeche Mode / Yaz / Yazoo / Erasure - keyboards
Miles A. Copeland III
Self - The Police - manager, IRS Records - founder
Paul Cramer
Self - WXXP, Pittsburgh - DJ
Cy Curnin
Self - The Fixx - lead singer
Gary Daly
Self - China Crisis
John De Bella
Self - WLIR / Greater Media Philadelphia - DJ