32 Facts About Rodney Bingenheimer

Rodney Bingenheimer was born on December 15,1946 and is an American radio disc jockey who is best known as the host of Rodney on the ROQ, a radio program that ran on the Los Angeles rock station KROQ-FM from 1976 to 2017.

In 2003, Rodney Bingenheimer was the subject of the documentary Mayor of the Sunset Strip.

Rodney Bingenheimer was described as a "famous groupie, now respectable" by Mick Jagger, and the film documented Bingenheimer's status as a person with numerous high-profile friends.

Rodney Bingenheimer was born in Mountain View, California, to a star-struck mother who separated from Rodney Bingenheimer's father when he was only three years old.

Rodney Bingenheimer's father had wanted to be a celebrity but settled for attending celebrity golf events.

Rodney Bingenheimer's mother was described as a "difficult woman" and a "relentless autograph hound".

Rodney Bingenheimer devoured fan magazines; he was "obsessed" with stars.

When Rodney Bingenheimer was 16, his mother drove him to southern California and dropped him off at the house of Connie Stevens, and instructed him to get the star's autograph.

Rodney Bingenheimer auditioned for the Davy Jones part in the Monkees.

Rodney Bingenheimer was described as shy, thin and unassuming with a "squeaky voice", usually described as soft.

Rodney Bingenheimer was described as having a "small, womanish face" and that he's worn the "same haircut " for most of his life.

Rodney Bingenheimer became a groupie of sorts and formed attachments with prominent artists including Sonny and Cher.

Rodney Bingenheimer ingratiated himself to many stars, people liked him.

Rodney Bingenheimer got himself a job as a gofer for the Monkees and worked as a caterer at one point.

Rodney Bingenheimer brought Beach Boys singer Brian Wilson to the recording session for Tina Turner's lead vocal on the Phil Spector classic "River Deep, Mountain High", and he was included in a dialogue by the all-female band the GTOs on their Frank Zappa-produced LP Permanent Damage.

Rodney Bingenheimer discovered the nascent British glam rock scene and met other emerging stars such as Rod Stewart.

Rodney Bingenheimer flew back and opened a nightclub initially called the E Club on Sunset Strip with his record producer partner Tom Ayres and one other partner.

Alone in LA, Rodney Bingenheimer seemed like an island of English nowness.

Rodney Bingenheimer singlehandedly cut a path through the treacle of the Sixties, allowing all us avants to parade our sounds of tomorrow dressed in our clothes of derision.

Rodney Bingenheimer's radio show had an influence on the emerging Los Angeles punk scene in the late 1970s, while Bingenheimer was at stated odds with the prevailing country-rock style that dominated West Coast music.

Rodney Bingenheimer was one of the very few DJs on commercial radio in Los Angeles who was said to have autonomy over music selection.

Rodney Bingenheimer's answer led to "99 Luftballons" being played on air.

In 1983, KROQ became the first radio station to play the thrash band Suicidal Tendencies, when Rodney Bingenheimer added their song "Institutionalized" to the playlist.

Rodney Bingenheimer developed a reputation in Los Angeles for being a kingmaker for new artists.

Rodney Bingenheimer's show became an influential part of KROQ, and helped the station become a strong influence nationally.

Rodney Bingenheimer told me to take one of the songs over to Rodney's studio, knock on the door, and tell him that Kim says we're the illegitimate sons of Rick Springfield and the Go-Gos.

In 1995, Rodney Bingenheimer introduced a segment to his show titled "American in London", co-hosted by Liza Kumjian-Smith, focusing on news and releases from upcoming British bands, which brought Brit Pop to the US and broke many UK bands such as Coldplay, Doves, Muse, Pulp, and more recently the Arctic Monkeys, among others.

Also Flipside worked on the Rodney on the ROQ compilation album projects with Posh Boy Records and Rodney Bingenheimer to help unite the project together.

Rodney Bingenheimer was present at "nearly every major interval in the evolution of rock 'n' roll" but was described as being relatively unknown outside of Los Angeles, according to the Boston Globe.

Rodney Bingenheimer is perpetually, exclusively, and proudly with the band.

Rodney Bingenheimer has facilitated the multimillion-dollar careers of the biggest names in music.

Rodney Bingenheimer has been compared to the character in the Woody Allen film Zelig in which the character keeps appearing in disparate places.