DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH
METAL’S MODERNDAY CRUSADERS
One of the most important UK voices in the 90s rock and metal scene, Claire presented the BBC Radio 1 Rock Show in the early 90s, and was the gateway to alternative culture for a generation of fans.
“It was one of the most exciting times of my life,” she recalls today. “Radio had a ridiculous amount of power in the early 90s and it was a huge responsibility, but one that producer Tony Wilson and I took very seriously. We’d spend most of the week planning the show, trying to get the right mix, from classic to alternative to thrash!
“The 90s were exciting – the music was constantly evolving,” she adds. “From Paradise Lost to Therapy?, Pantera, Sepultura, Machine Head, Metallica, Alice In Chains, Slayer, Faith No More... the list was incredible.”
While you can hear Claire today on Absolute Radio, she admits the 90s brought some particularly epic, unlikely-tobe-repeated memories.
“Introducing Metallica on the radio, live from the stage at Milton Keynes in 1993 was a mindfuck!” she laughs. “And having Slash co-host the show in ’94 was a blast – accompanied by the obligatory bottle of JD!”