Martin Streek remembered

by: Liisa Ladouceur

July 08, 2009 11:00 AM

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EYE WEEKLY's Liisa Ladouceur pays tribute to the former 102.1 The Edge radio host — who took his own life on Monday — and speaks to long-time colleagues George Stroumboulopoulos, Alan Cross, Brother Bill and Dave Bookman about the influence he had on a generation of alternative-rock fans in Toronto and beyond.

He was the true spirit of radio. Martin Streek, the longest-running voice of 102.1 the Edge, was found dead on Monday. He took his own life at the age of 45. He’ll be remembered in headlines as a popular on-air personality, host of the Thursday 30 Countdown and live-to-air club nights from the Phoenix. He should also be remembered as an outspoken champion of music the likes of which is rarely heard on commercial radio anymore. Perhaps because Martin started at the station way back in the early ’80s, when it was still called CFNY and was still known for breaking the rules. But until he was dismissed from the station in a staff purge this past May, you could always count on him to represent the alternative nation. He was real — as real as the station logo he had tattooed on his ass.

Martin started out volunteering, as an assistant to DJ Live Earl Jive. After the only job interview he would ever have, he was hired by CFNY’s original program director David Marsden to work the CFNY Video Roadshow, a travelling dance party that brought new wave and punk to high schools in coolness-deprived small-town hamlets like mine: it was at one of those Roadshows where I first met Martin Streek.

I’ve spent the 22 years since admiring his energy and enthusiasm, dancing to his tunes and laughing at those cornball “Martycisms” that would become his trademark when he hit the CFNY airwaves in 1992. (“Beastie Brothers,” anyone?) For 20 years, as DJs came and went and corporate format shifts threatened to kill off everything cool about the place, Martin held down the fort, saying what he really thought about Nickelback and taking all opportunities to push his favourites (Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, Pop Will Eat Itself, Faith No More — even Kyuss, a band the station would never play).

When he counted down his anticipation for Tool gigs to the exact second you could actually see his goosebumps. He supported local indies, too. I’ll never forget him jumping on stage with Nice Cat at The Boat (pictured) to rock some Lord of the Rings passages over one of their new tracks. Just because.

If his sudden departure from the Edge just a few weeks ago came as kick in the gut, news of his suicide — spread quickly Monday night through blogs, Twitter and Facebook — felt like multiple stabs to the heart. That haunting final FB status update (“I guess that’s it…thanks everyone”), the constant stream of RIPs. Then, an outpouring of online postings by thousands of listeners that proved how much he mattered, perhaps more than he knew.

When contacted for comment, several of Martin’s former colleagues still shocked by his death had much to say about the good he did in his life. Dave Bookman called him “The King of Clubs” and praised his recent charity efforts. Neil Morrison (a.k.a. Brother Bill) remembered how “in 30 seconds Martin could turn people’s opinions about the station right around. They’d go from yelling ‘I hate you guys, you’ve sold out!’ to 'Martin, you’re such a cool guy.'" Alan Cross called Martin’s contributions to the station’s playlist “invaluable” and says, “People literally grew up listening to him. How many generations have danced to his beat?” George Stroumboulopoulos put it thusly: “I always looked at Martin like one of the Knights that guard the Holy Grail — he understood what music can represent, that the right song can give you everything. He was one of very few guys who would stand guard to protect that.”

Music gave so much to Martin, and he spread it back to us a thousandfold — with a passion and charm not soon forgotten. He is survived by his mother, Grace, his two brothers, Robbie and Doug (known to most as Lance), and a city of alternative-rock fans who will forever keep his memory locked and cranked.

Memorial services for Martin Streek are pending — we will update this article once information becomes available. On Thursday, July 9, David Marsden will dedicate his radio show to Streek’s memory. Listen at 94.9 FM or globalmarsden.com. Email letters@eyeweekly.com.

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Martin Streek remembered

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