I thought I would throw this up on the site because 4th of July is just around the corner…
Things were a little different 31 years ago. We were in the middle of the Cold War with the USSR and the USA was the worlds’ most powerful country and had its hands in many places all over the world. Revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini called the USA “The Great Satan”.
The Iran hostage crisis was a diplomatic crisis between Iran and the United States. 52 Americans were held hostage for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981, after a group of Islamist students and militants took over the American Embassy in support of the Iranian Revolution. (Wikipedia)
In the USA, the hostage-taking created a huge surge of patriotism that had not been seen since early in the Vietnam war and a severe backlash against Iranians developed in the United States.
In response, Steve Dahl took to the airwaves to get the Hostages released. First, by making prank calls to Iran. Then, SD gave the phone numbers out over the air and encouraged every listener to do their duty and make a call themselves. He also made the parody song “Ayatolla“.
At first, the calls were randon numbers. Then SD got the number to Islamic Fried Chicken.
Steve Dahl and WLUP were reprimanded by the State Department and told to stop because it may escalate the situation.
I am posting three airchecks.
The first is a series of 3 calls made by Steve and Garry during that time.
Prank calls to Iran
The second is 36 minutes of a Steve & Garry Show on WLUP-FM from July 3, 1980. This show includes a call to Iran (in Part 2).
Steve & Garry, July 3, 1980 (1/2)
Highlights of this aircheck include an attempt to call to Jimmy Piersol to talk about Disco Demolition that took place one year earlier. Also, News with Buzz and a failed EBS test.
Steve & Garry, July 3, 1980 (2/2)
Highlights include the EBS test/FCC talk (Steve cheated on his FCC license test). A phone call with Janet where Garry says he had “one of those dreams” about Janet the previous night. And finally, a call to Islamic Fried Chicken in Iran.
Another call to Iran that was previously posted on this site can be heard here.
You can also listen to Steve & Garry do the 10 year anniversary of their prank calls to Iran at The Original Shock Jock site on YouTube. Here.
Have a great July 4th weekend!!!
