B
rian Haddad and Justin Nettlebeck have been doing mornings at Q-101 for the last four years , but there have been a few changes in the last few months .
First , long-time co-host Ali Mattacola left the show in November . As of this writing , they are still looking for the right person to fill that slot . But then , in December , there was an even bigger change . Brian became a dad for the first time . ( Although , as he pointed out to me : “ Haven ’ t been tested yet , officially , Rick .”)
But clearly , it has had an impact . I know it for a fact because it took me a few weeks to corral him on the phone . He ’ s still making the adjustment . “ I really thought it would change a lot as far as prepping the show ,” he says , “ But as far as coming in and getting out of here in time , I ’ m doing what I always do . The time I ’ m with her at home , though , has changed a lot . That ’ s where the biggest change has happened . It ’ s changed my perspective on life , that time is the most important thing ever . You have to remember that I was a bachelor my whole life — just got married five years ago , became a dad later in life , so I have to change my ways , but to be totally honest , I haven ’ t quite gotten there yet .”
Brian and Justin are enjoying their time on the air , which is obvious when you tune in to the show . The show is on the cusp of their big yearly anniversary event , “ Ahoy ! With Brian and Justin ”. In past years they ’ ve drawn names like Weezer and The Black Keys , and this year is no different . “ The bands are Bush and Silversun Pickups ,” Brian says , “ and it sold out quickly , so we ’ re really stoked about that . It ’ s at the new venue , the Salt Shed , but this one sold out even faster .”
But for all their popularity with the station ’ s core listenership , Brian and Justin have flown a bit below the radar in Chicago . I asked Justin to explain the mission statement of the morning show to people who don ’ t usually tune in . “ We believe in funny first . Funny . Real . Chicago . In that order . That ’ s what we ’ re striving for every day .”
Their roles are pretty well defined . “ I ’ m the generator ,” Brian explains , “ and Justin is a professional reactor .” Justin agreed with that assessment but added , “ I ’ m the executive producer of the show , so a lot of the content begins with me , but we are always looking for content from each other , and we sell it like they sell an SNL bit . Brian or I might think we have something , but it ’ s not until the other one says , yes , that ’ s it , that we go with it .”
Brian has been part of the Chicago landscape for many years . If his name doesn ’ t sound familiar to you , that ’ s because he was known as something else during those previous runs . “ I started out doing nights at 103.5 FM , back in the days of
By Rick Kaempfer
WAKING UP WITH BRIAN & JUSTIN
Mancow . Then I did afternoons for about six and half years at Q-101 . I was known as Sludge then .”
I ’ ve always wondered where that name came from . “ I wish there was a great story ,” Brian says , “ but there really isn ’ t . I was joining a station with names like Mancow , Turd , Freak , and Al Roker Jr . The name Sludge just kind of came out . The first time I went on the air , I said Sludge instead of Sausage King of Chicago , and that ’ s it . I had no idea that name was going to follow me for 20 years , but it did .”
Brian and Justin didn ’ t know each other at all before they started doing the show together . “ I
Q101 ’ S Brian & Justin
was with the Free Beer boys ( Free Beer & Hot Wings in Grand Rapids , Michigan ) for a couple of years ,” Justin explains , “ and Chicago called , asking if I wanted to come here to start up a show with a bunch of strangers . I said yes , and I ’ ve been here ever since . I was the very first one here . Brian showed up the day before we went on the air .” “ I had been working another job ,” Brian adds . “ And didn ’ t quit until right before we started . A little gap time would have been nice , but I jumped right in .”
And there have been a few memorable highlights in the four years since . “ The first thing that comes to mind is Smashing Pumpkins at the Metro ,” Justin says . “ The only way to get in was to win tickets through us . We gave out tickets every thirty minutes on Q-101 , and it was phenomenal . We also did a 36-hour radiothon that raised close to $ 40 thousand [ dollars ].”
As the interview was ending , Justin asked me if it was OK to turn the tables and ask me a few questions . Of course , I said yes . I figured he wanted to mine my many years of experience to get career advice and insight . Not exactly . His questions were as follows … “ Do you think you could pick out your nipples in a lineup ?” “ Which animal would be the best kisser ?” “ Are you more likely to go to the hospital for something getting stuck up there , or are you more likely to go to prison for lighting fires to cemeteries ?” My answers were No , Dog , Hospital . I wouldn ’ t do well in prison .
Brian and Justin can be heard every morning on Q- 101 FM . february 2023 illinoisentertainer . com 19