August marks the 5th Anniversary of the Hitz FM memories blog. I thought I’d compile a top 10 of personal faves. Of course, this became difficult. So I’ve gone bigger. My fifteen FAVE Hitz FM moments.
Some of these posts were wildly popular. Some less so. But every one is special to me.
Please allow me one day of self-indulgence.
1. Peter Andre’s fans GO NUTS
This was one of my earliest BIG posts, gathering a bunch of the old crew together to share their memories of this crazy event.
- Windows thumped
- Screaming girls
- Non-reinforced glass
- And 2 Mr Whippy vans.
What could go wrong?
[Full story: Hitz staff remember: Peter Andre’s crazy visit]
2. The DNA of Hitz: Press Gang
It was great fun to go through this old TV series and find the many links between the fictional newspaper, and the very real radio station.
And surely, the first TV relationship we all barracked for… was Lynda and Spike?
[Full story: The DNA of Hitz: Press Gang]
3. Thankyou, Anton & Nick
On the anniversary of Hitz’s founders winning a Tattersalls award for their genius idea – I asked many of the OG Hitz FM team to write a quick note of thanks to our founders.
And boy, did they respond.
Some wonderful, heartfelt messages await…
[Full story: Thankyou, Anton & Nick]
4. The Essendon tape
This was a fun one. A random cassette turns up in a second-hand shop. It’s a fanmade recording of Hitz FM, made ‘back in the day’.
So of course, I got a copy and uploaded it for you.
Have a listen to this fascinating bit of Hitz-tory.
[Full story (& streaming audio): The Essendon tape]
5. Read all about The Hitlist
Throughout Hitz FM’s life, the staff and fans were kept up to date with news, photos, CDs and more through “The Hitlist” members magazine.
Here’s a look back, including some full digitised issues.
[Full story: Read all about it: The Hitlist]
6. ABC TVs Raw FM – inspired by Hitz
Early in 1996, a production company asked the Hitz team if they minded being interviewed for a potential TV pilot. Late in 1997 – Raw FM hit ABC TV.
- Which characters and plotlines were the closest to reality?
- What happened when a Hitz staffmember went on ABC radio to review the show?
Click and find out…
[Full story: ABC TVs Raw FM vs Hitz FM]
7. The Hitz Time travel Simulcast
This was a fun one.
I found an 8 hour Hitz recording, and shared it on the exact day (January 28) so listeners could ‘spend the day with Hitz’ 27 years later!
Click on the post, and you’ve got 8 hours of Hitz goodness to enjoy.
[Full story (& audio): Time travel simulcast]
8. Ten bits of Hitz Audio worth saving
Each year, ten pieces of ‘important sound’ are inducted into the “Sounds of Australia“. But which recordings of Hitz Melbourne audio would I save?
How would I decide?
Well, as you’ll see in this post, I gave it a red hot go.
And managed to keep the list down to 10.
[Full story & audio: Hitz audio worth saving]
9. The Hitz FM tape drive
Following on from the post above, I started a push to find, save and share those old tapes of Hitz FM that people made ‘back in the day’.
Often they’re in a shoebox, in a garage, or ‘at your parents placesomewhere’.
But every day they’re at risk of being thrown away. And thousands of people would LOVE to listen to them. They just need to be saved before it’s too late.
PLEASE – if you or a friend have ‘some old Hitz tapes somewhere’, act now. Even if you don’t have a tape player, I have volunteers who’ll help you.
[Full story & audio: The Hitz tape drive]
10. Eeek! My Hitz FM site on Geocities
Oh man, this was a trip back in time. We’re talking late-90s, Netscape, modems, “under construction” GIFs. All that.
Join me for a fun journey to the era when every second person had a “web page” that shouted about their passions – and always had a guestbook.
[Full story: Peak 90s – Hitz on Geocities]
Ten down… five to go.
Just before I continue, a few thankyous.
First of all – thank YOU for reading this.
Every visit, share and like helps me build this project and improve my pitch to find a publisher for the Hitz FM book. Oh, and as I mentioned earlier – you can get future posts emailed to you automatically by clicking on the free subscription link.
Secondly, a huge thankyou to the Hitz FM team who’ve helped so much with this blog and book. Some of them being interviewed. Some supplying old tapes. Others just encouraging me when I needed it.
OK, let’s continue my fifteen FAVE Hitz FM moments... in 5 years of blogging.
11. Hitz Moorabbin Broadcast 150 song Spotify playlist
A special gift to the fans. To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Hitz’s first Melbourne-wide broadcast, I created an ELEVEN HOUR playlist from that time.
Every single song is one that Hitz played in the Summer of 1993/94.
Every track.
[Full story: 30 years since Moorabbin – and your gift]
PS: don’t forget to click the Spotify button, then “save” it to your account!
12: DNA of Hitz: Pump Up The Volume
Christian Slater was all kinds of cool in the 90s. Especially the early 90s. So a cult film starring him – about pirate radio? Hell yes.
And maybe, just maybe there’s a few bits in there contributing to the DNA of Hitz FM. Check out the post – and photos – and you’ll see.
[Full story: Hitz FM vs Pump Up The Volume]
13: Fox FM vs Hitz / Grubby & Dee Dee talk
Many of us grew up listening to “Grubby” (Peter Stubbs) and Dee Dee (Diane Dunlevy) on Fox FM, and later Gold 104.
Back in 1994, they were doing Fox breakfast when a bunch of “pesky kids” stole their youth audience and saw them tumble off the No.1 spot, down to No.4.
But what it was it like, from their perspective?
Find out in this entertaining chat, full of photos and videos from that era.
[Full story (inc. Video): Fox vs Hitz – Grubby and Dee Dee]
14. The Hitz FM staff reunion
It took a few tries. A few spreadsheets. And a hell of a lot of emails. But a year ago – August 2024 – we finally did it.
We got over 50 of the OG Hitz FM team in a room – and had a damn good time.
Check out the photos, the stories and more in the post below.
[Full story: The 2024 Hitz FM staff reunion]
15. Stream it – The start of Hitz Broadcast 4
It’s great to still be finding and sharing photos and recordings that nobody has seen for decades. This post from last year was the 30th anniversary of the start of Hitz FM broadcast 4.
There’s photos with celebs, behind the scenes stories, and a 45 minute recording with amazing songs and chaos galore.
[Full story & streaming audio: Back for more- the start of Hitz broadcast 4]
Well that’s it.
Five years, eighty posts, tens of thousands of words distilled down to just 15 stories. Thanks again for reading.
PS: I’ll try to get that book in your hands, before the next anniversary.
