Freddie Fabbri, the insignificant significant one, is a D.J. at 93.7/97.9X with The Morning Freakshow(weekday mornings 6am-10am), and Freddie's Closet(Saurday nights). Winner of the Weekender's Readers Choice poll, he is by far the "God" of Northeast Pennsylvania on-air personalities. Ranting and raving about whatever he chooses, Freddie is someone you can listen to, enjoy and not turn off. You never know what he will come up with for the "devistated youth," and is sure to provide you with pure entertainment for your listening pleasure. Freddie also is an active person in the local music scene, and has given newly signed Breaking Benjamin a ton of help with getting out into the wonderful music industry. I recently had the chance to meet Freddie, and do a short interview with him. Read on to learn more about 93.7/97.9X's own Freddie Fabbri...
Jen: How are you doing today?
Freddie: I'm doing as well as a flat chested white American man can do in this bussiness for today.
Jen: Where did you grow up?
Freddie: I lived in Northeast PA all of my life; mainly Scranton.
Jen: When did you start broadcasting for both 93.7 and 97.9?
Freddie: I've been with Citadel since 1998. I started on the Bear with Freddie's Closet, the heavy metal show on Saturday nights. After the corporate wheel spun a half a dozen times, the Bear was killed and by the grace of whatever God you choose to worship. 93.7x was formed, and I landed on the afternoon shift and things started
snowballing from there.
Jen: How much do you love your job?
Freddie: Just like any job it has its ups and downs. To get to the jack nasty of it all, I love it alot. I love the arena and the doors it has opened as far as being able to play in the music bussiness. This stupid Morning Freakshow crap has been a catylist for so many wonderful possibilities I have encountered.
Jen: As a listener to your "Morning Freak Show," I have to say you are
definitely a great on-air personality. Are you satisfied with your show, or
is there anything you'd like to change about it?
Freddie: Yeah, almost everything. Its a daily grind. Doing the show is wonderful everyday because of the people that appreciate the music and comment on certain things that we may encounter on the show. Each day is different, you wake up in different moods from time to time and it's expressed in the show, or at least we hope that it is. Its friggin therapy, therapy for me. I want to talk to people, not at people. Anybody can be on the radio, anyone who can read. It's not brain surgery. I just want people who listen to want to listen for the good or the bad of it. To me thats worth working on.
Jen: Was Communications your major in college?
Freddie: Never went to college, barely made it out of high school. I have a few certificates from Marworth though. I really never had a strong desire to be in radio it just kinda happened. I was hacking with a regional concert promoter trying to get some shows off the ground in the local club scene. It was a Cinderella show(80's glam icons). Some whorebag chic was trying to have
relations with band mates, all of them, didn't matter. I asked her to leave the balcony a number of times and to no avail. I finally snapped going of on this rant all over her and the producer for the Bear was in the dressing room listening. When I was finished he approached me, and said he found the event delightful, and if I would ever consider doing some shit on the radio.
Jen: Have you had any previous jobs in the music business? If so, what were
they?
Freddie: I have worked with a bunch of concert promoters before I actually got into radio, and like alot of people around the music scene I have also in my life time craved the success of being a performer. It just all never clicked for me on any level after many attempts. If was easy to be a rock star I guess we would all be doing it. I believe it is easier to become a brain surgeon than a successful songwriter and musician. Hell the world needs brain surgeons to I guess.
Jen: Being a big fan of local music myself, I know that you also are quite involved in the local scene with helping bands such as Cyphilis and the newly signed Breaking Benjamin. With all the bands that send you stuff to play on the radio, what made you want to help get Breaking Benjamin a CD done, so that you could get their music out?
Freddie: I believe its there. They create atmosphere. The bands compliment there music. The full package. Some people have a great look, but don't have the songs or the endurance on stage. Alot of bands have good songs but don't know how to process them. So many people they they are entitled to fame and success because they paid there dues. They can kiss my ass. It's not like that in all reality. A band can be together for three months and get a record deal. Bands don't understand that. They are impatient and lose sight of there innitial goal. Have fun playing music. Breaking Benjmain and Cyphilis set something off in me that doesn't get set off often. I must go with it. I can't explain.
Jen: How big of a part do you think the local music scene plays in this area?
Freddie: As much as any other area. It all depends on who you ask. In last thirty years a bunch of performers have been signed and have had success from this area. It can happen at any time in any place. I often hear "We gotta go where the scene is we go where we can get signed." It's right underneath there feet. To steal a clip from Field of Dreams, "If you build it then will come."
Jen: Thank you very much for taking the time to do this interview for me. Do you have any last comments, etc?
Freddie: Grow thick skin you will need it in this bussiness. You will never peel every bananna in the bunch. Make sure your happy with your art before you worry about crytisism. Have fun.
