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A wonderful DJ when he started and a very nice guy; one of those who took time to contact me after I emerged from Her Majesty's Estate in 2005 with sympathy and support.
Very sad. There seemed to be two stages to his life - the first when he was sharp, driven and innovative, and the second when he seemed to coast pretty aimlessly. Did he have any personal life after his divorce? I heard he tended to just exist for radio. Even when he went to the States every year he'd stay in his hotel and take notes on the radio he studied. I suspect the end of his daily show hit him harder than he suggested.
Very sad, he was just beginning to be re-introduced back to Radio 2, taking over Pick of the Pops and doing several one-off bbc sounds shows. He was one of the first people to have the idea of a Posse on the radio, much copied by others, such as Chris Moyles.
The previous post implies that he didn't have much social life after his divorce, loneliness can be a great killer.
JK2006 wrote: A wonderful DJ when he started and a very nice guy; one of those who took time to contact me after I emerged from Her Majesty's Estate in 2005 with sympathy and support.
I don't know much about him as I didn't and still don't listen to mainstream radio stations. Even as a young man, it was only on LW or SW bands. (German rock stations, Laser 558 or Atlantic 252)
However going to prison and getting released does prove who your friends really are. Steve Wright, did sound like a good guy.
I don't necessarily agree that he was coasting for the last few years. He used to come in the early morning to prepare for his afternoon show and stay for a couple of hours afterward. Compare this to Jeremy Vine who does his Channel 5 show in the morning and rocks up for his Radio 2 midday slot minutes before it starts. Steve's shows kept the same format for years, but it is a format that worked and it evolved through the decades with different characters introduced. He lived to do afternoon radio and he was determined to get back into it. There were rumours that he would be involved in the BBCs new radio channels which seem to be radio 2 before all the 90s djs like Vernon Kay, and Scott Mills.
Very sad that we have lost both Steve Wright and Paul O'Grady who both shouldn't have lost their shows.
I know Paul was forced out after sharing his slot with someone else. I don't think either person
wanted to leave their shows. A big mistake on the current controller's part i think.
I heard it said that Steve died of a broken heart because he missed his show and a while back
someone said that Paul died because he "over-worked" himself after losing his show.
Sad if true.
2 of the main people that there was uproar about being axed both now gone and brilliant
broadcasters.
I enjoyed both of their shows and Steve was actually a breath of fresh air on Pick Of The Pops
but weekday afternoons was where he shone.
Yes, he came in early to work, and prepared well, but I still maintain he was coasting. His 'zoo' format had been left to grow tired. That faux Cockney producer churned out tiresome comments every day. The awful Janey Lee Grace was allowed to keep doing her ridiculous New Age babble. 'Ask Elvis' became increasingly tiresome. And the celeb interviews were just PR pap. So, yes, he did a very professional job, but my point is the old invention, the old energy. had long gone missing. He was still a legend, but the number of people I've heard sing his praises who stopped actually listening to the show ages ago - it's telling.
I'm with Rick on this I'm afraid and just because someone dies doesn't mean a fair and balanced view must be censored. I'm one of those who stopped listening to Steve. If I caught a few minutes of his Sunday Love Songs before more interesting Radio Two shows, I was disappointed by how formatted and boring they were.
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