30th Anniversary Show Over 4th of July Weekend Features Interview Archive Highlights Including Ozzy Osbourne, Metallica, Linkin Park, Disturbed, Slipknot, KoRn, and Five Finger Death Punch
The “HardDrive Radio: 30 Songs from 30 Years” List Takes One Tune from Each Year of the Show’s Existence for an Incredible Sample of Its Three Decades of Hard Rock
BruteHawke Industries, the media company formed by Rock Radio stalwarts Lou Brutus and Randy Hawke to produce the long running HardDrive Radio brand, have announced an incredible show to celebrate the program’s 30th anniversary. The programming is distributed by their long-standing partners, United Stations Media Networks/Gemini XIII.
Marking thirty-years since first signing on across the country during the 4th of July weekend in 1996, HardDrive Radio will this year pause its usual programming of the best in new rock to revisit conversations and music from its archives. Guests will include Ozzy Osbourne, Lars Ulrich of Metallica, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, David Draiman of Disturbed, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Jonathan Davis of KoRn, and Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch.
“It’s kinda hard to wrap my head around the fact I’ve been lucky enough to do this for so long,” said Lou Brutus, host of the HardDrive Radio properties since their inception. “Someone crunched the numbers and between the weekend HardDrive Radio show, as well as the weeknight HardDrive XL version, I’ve hosted over 27,000 hours of programming with about 309,000 songs. It’s no wonder my hearing is shot.”
As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, the show has published its “HardDrive Radio: 30 Songs from 30 Years” list. It features one song for each year of the program’s existence. “We have combed through three decades of our own programming and listener requests, as well as sales and steaming numbers, to do our best to find the finest representative tune for each year,” said Randy Hawke, Programming and Content Director for BruteHawke. “No doubt we will be crucified by the internet for our sincere and heartfelt efforts.” The list is included below. It can also be found on the HardDrive Radio socials and the show’s website.
HARDDRIVE RADIO: 30 SONGS FROM 30 YEARS
The top song for each year since HardDrive Radio with Lou Brutus signed on in 1996
1996 Until It Sleeps – Metallica
1997 Everlong – Foo Fighters
1998 Freak on a Leash – KoRn
1999 Wait and Bleed – Slipknot
2000 Last Resort – Papa Roach
2001 In the End – Linkin Park
2002 I Stand Alone – Godsmack
2003 Bring Me to Life – Evanescence
2004 American Idiot – Green Day
2005 BYOB – System of a Down
2006 The Diary of Jane – Breaking Benjamin
2007 What I’ve Done – Linkin Park
2008 Indestructible – Disturbed
2009 I Get Off – Halestorm
2010 Nightmare – Avenged Sevenfold
2011 Under and Over It – Five Finger Death Punch
2012 Still Counting – Volbeat
2013 Hail to the King – Avenged Sevenfold
2014 The Devil in I – Slipknot
2015 Cut the Cord – Shinedown
2016 The Sound of Silence – Disturbed
2017 Square Hammer – Ghost
2018 Bulletproof – Godsmack
2019 Blue on Black – Five Finger Death Punch
2020 Popular Monster – Falling in Reverse
2021 Teardrops – Bring Me the Horizon
2022 Planet Zero – Shinedown
2023 Just Pretend – Bad Omens
2024 Suffocate City – The Funeral Portrait
2025 Mayday – Three Days Grace
Next up for the HardDrive Radio crew will be specials-based on Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin, as Lou Brutus returns as stage host for this legendary destination event from July 15 thru July 18. The HardDrive Radio programs will feature interviews with many of the artists playing this year including The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, Gojira, The Pretty Reckless, Halestorm, I Prevail, Chad Gray, Hollywood Undead, Machine Head, Set It Off, Magnolia Park, Lacuna Coil, DED, and Story of the Year, among many others.
“HardDrive Radio and Rock Fest have been joined at the hip for over a decade,” said Lou Brutus.
“I would march upon a road of bones to reach those hallowed fields of music. This year’s lineup is insane, and I look forward to destroying what little hearing I still have left.”
About HardDrive Radio:
HardDrive Radio, including its HardDrive and Harddrive XL brands, have been staples of the music industry for thirty years. It was the first to introduce North America to such illustrious artists as Slipknot, Disturbed, Five Finger Death Punch, Halestorm, Breaking Benjamin, Avenged Sevenfold, and Godsmack, as well as countless others. Known for its cutting-edge content and loyal following, the shows continue as leaders in rock radio programming. HardDrive Radio and its host were inducted into the Rock Radio Hall of Fame in 2017.
About Lou Brutus: Lou Brutus (a.k.a. The Sonic Warrior) is an award-winning music media content creator, music programmer, and host. He has been behind the microphone for HardDrive Radio since its launch in 1996. His career includes such legendary outlets as WMMR/Philadelphia, WRCX/Chicago, WHFS/Washington DC, WHJY/Providence, and SiriusXM. Lou has hosted countless national radio interview specials for a variety of A-list artists. He is also a bestselling author and a published photographer who simply describes himself as a “professional music fan.”
About Randy Hawke: Randy Hawke began his journey to the airwaves at the age of nine. Armed with only a GI Joe turntable and the KISS records he bought with his lawn mowing and paper route money, Randy honed his DJ skills on his bedroom floor then moved on to WRKT, WAPL, WLUM and WJJO. He is currently the Chief Content Officer for Mid-West Family (MWF) and has been programming HardDrive for over two decades.
About BruteHawke Industries:
Formed by long time Rock Radio veterans Lou Brutus and Randy Hawke, BruteHawke Industries is dedicated to continuing the legacy of Harddrive Radio while exploring new opportunities for content expansion and distribution.
About United Stations Media Networks/Gemini XIII:
USRN/Gemini XIII is a premier distributor in the radio industry, known for its innovative approach and extensive network of affiliates.
For affiliate information, please contact:
Andy Denemark HardDrive Radio andydenemark@gmail.com 347-322-2208
For further information, please contact:
Randy Hawke HardDrive Radio randy.hawke@wjjo.com 608-438-1233
