Alternative Music Hall of Fame CLASS OF 2024

Richard Blade is the best-selling author of World In My Eyes, his autobiography and amazing history of New Wave subgenre of alternative music. Richard is without question one of the most popular and best-known DJs in America. Richard  hosts a daily radio show on SiriusXM 1st Wave. Richard was born in England, educated at Oxford, and came to the United States in 1976. In the 1980s he was the top-rated morning drive DJ on KROQ, Los Angeles, and hosted and directed numerous TV shows including Video One, MV3 and VideoBeat. Richard played so many UK bands first both on the radio at KROQ in Los Angeles and music videos on his various music video shows back in the 1980s..He has won numerous awards including the Golden Microphone, California's Best DJ, and the American DJ Association's Lifetime Achievement Award. 

His impact on the New Wave subgenre is massive. Just ask his personal long time friends and the legends of New Wave music who provide reviews of his book...

John Taylor - King Richard - the voice of the second British Invasion. He came, he saw, and now he has written about it...on first name terms with all the players of the era. Richard Blade's book is revealing and insightful.

Martin Gore - Richard has been with Depeche Mode since our earliest days in America and Depeche Mode would not be anywhere near as big as they are in America without the longtime support of Richard Blade, and now he has written a book with all the stories of our time together.

Billy Idol - Richard was the British blade that cut through the state of US radio and TV in the 80s. He personally supported me when many others didn't believe or couldn't accept the new sounds and styles of fashion and music pouring out from the bruised and battered psyche of young people in those days. Richard has gone on to a varied and long lasting career that still evokes the era we all came from,; all power to him and long may he rock on."

Simon LeBon - I just want to say thank you, Richard Blade, you have been with us since the beginning and since those magic moments in the Magic Castle. You're a face I always look forward to seeing when I come to America. Can't wait to read about Duran Duran in your book, and I hope you are with us a lot longer.

Terri Nunn - If you're interested in 80's music and the people who made it, you won't find anyone who knows more than Richard Blade. He's the Dick Clark of the 80s. God, he knows more about my music and my band, Berlin, than I do! Richard's taste shaped the American music scene and his passion fueled ours listening to him. I applaud him for his heart, wit, humor and class through it all. And having read his book, all I can say is, Wow, What A Story! And amazingly, it's all true.

Adam Ant - It's very rare to find a music pioneer from the UK who went over there to the USA and made his mark in music, and I think Richard Blade is somebody who is not only a close friend but also has been supportive since Day One. And the thing about Richard is that he loves the music and makes you want to love the music too. That's why he has stood the test of time and with all his great stories this book is well worth reading - so get stuck in!

Jimmy Kimmel - If you ever painted your face white and wore your clothes black, you will devour Richard Blade's every word. He is important to New wave music as Benjamin Franklin was to kites. Jimmy was at KROQ Los Angeles with Richard many moons ago.