I remember interviewing Judith Lucy in my first month doing breakfast radio last year. She was in Perth touring her show 'I Failed!'. It was about the time she spent doing breaky on Sydney's 2day FM.
She's was a great interview and quite perky (for Judith Lucy), but off air when we were talking I told her I'd just started doing radio. She just looked at me and shook her head and said "You poor thing Andrea". At the time it didn't really register what she met. I was still so fresh faced, and twenty years her junior I thought I could tackle anything. But she had said it with such incredible sympathy. And then, just before she hopped into the lift, she gave me a hug. It was at that point when I thought - shit....Judith Lucy just gave me a hug! .... what the fuck is going to happen to me!
The week after she was in Perth, The Age printed an article which Lucy had written about the radio industry. Everything she said was so remarkably true. I'm sure some people might like to think she has a chip on her shoulder - but I've met her and it's simply not the case. She is truthful and completely honest about her time in the business.
When asked why she got into breakfast radio she openly admits, "Stupidity and greed". Those are definately two of the reason i found myself there. Cash! Obviously it was the most money I've ever been offered in my life. But in saying that, I was determined to never sacrifice my soul or as Judith likes to put it.... "your first born".
Anyway, quite a few people have been asking me about my time on 96fm and I've been having a hard time explaining because I don't want people to think I'm bitter. Because it's quite the opposite. The feelings I've had in the last week since being away from the industry have been overwhelmingly good. I'm so proud of myself and really bloody excited about what lies ahead. It's all up to me what I do and it feels amazing!
Who knows, maybe I'll start crashing down next week. But, let it happen. I would rather be sitting in the pub crying on my friends shoulders, than sitting in a meeting watching some poor fucker be made to do push-ups on the board room table infront of all their other work mates.
Life's pretty sweet away from all that.
Anyway, below is a link to the article Judith Lucy wrote last year. She sums it up beautifully.
http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/cult-radio/2006/04/04/1143916529492.html
It all starts now.
