Peter Griffin Interview

January 24, 2008 @ 10:30

Peter Griffin is considered a pioneer of Toronto radio.

He was the first morning man at CHUM-FM when it became rock, and it was Peter who first put David Haydu on the air in the mid 70's to create the Pete and Geets Show, which was the first FM morning show of its kind in Canada and set the tone for the rest of us.

Pete and Geets came to CFNY in 1980 and the show ended in 1987.

Category: Interviews

28 Responses to "Peter Griffin Interview"

Jason | GetYourOJ.com
January 24, 2008 / 11:36

How nice. The opportunity to hear more about the good guys of radio.. I of course am of the H&F generation but love what people like Pete and Geets and David Marsden got to do at CFNY. Personalities and free form is the key, and it's on the web in droves. Maybe terrestrial radio can catch up.

Thanks to ya both for making this update happen many many people out there will love hearing this

Keene
January 24, 2008 / 11:59

Thanks a million Fred. It was great hearing Pete again. I was going to U of Guelph when a buddy introduced me to CFNY back in 78 (?).
I didn't realize it until now but that was truly the start of "the sprit of radio". I do remember hearing classical music overnight on that station until the morning crew came in!!!
I loved punk / new wave music & I loved listening to Pete & Geets! I gave up on CFNY after you left there as well as all Toronto music stations as I didn’t like what they played. I went to talk radio (following you to MOJO amongst other talk stations) but now with Satellite radio I can find “new” music I love. I’m not stuck in the 80’s like some of my friends. The Killers, Modest Mouse, The White Stripes, etc. all great & current!
I do wish 640 had picked you to host the Watters Show. You were good & would done a much better job. Though I have to admit it would have gotten boring for you, listening to "trade Sundin for Crosby" from moron callers, etc.
Thanks again & I look forward to your next interview!

James Edgar
January 24, 2008 / 12:19

Thanks Fred Great to Hera Pete again. Makes me sad though. CFNY until the late 80's was really something special.

Ivar Hamilton
January 24, 2008 / 12:30

Loved the interview Fred.
Great to hear what Pete has been up to.

You should interview Jai next!

bob noxious
January 24, 2008 / 13:01

Thanks for doing this fred! Some great memories. I'll certainly never forget the Rafting weekend....Peter spent the whole trip home laying across 2 seats in that school bus. Cheers.

Fred Ball
January 24, 2008 / 13:08

You did good Freddie... hearing Peter's voice was wonderful, the man sounds exactly the same.

As one of the few who was lucky enough to be a part of the people at CFNY during the Pete & Geets hayday, this interview brought up hundreds of great memories. From all of the Wankee trips to concerts and as mentioned the White Water Rafting.

I recall a time staying at the Continental Hotel in Barrie (now it's a car dealer I think) and there was about 6 of us in Pete's room when the manager came to the door at 2:00am saying we were laughing too loud. Naturally that caused Pete to laugh louder and that was contagious as always and made matters worse.

Other great memories were the Wankee baseball games... the road trips across the border to the Stone Jug Tavern and The Library were incredible.
I recall Peter's response to the scrutiny of Canada Customs returning back... I am a Canadian, I have not been anywhere, I don't have anything, now let me back into my fucking country... they almost took me away because I was laughing so hard.

If you check this out Pete it was great to hear you, say hi to the family.

Besides Pete, all those great times included the other regulars... you Freddie, Darren, Kevin, Ivar, Doug, Earl, they were great days.

Now you should talk to Marsden Freddie... and maybe Live Earl Jive.

Lemmon Sister
January 24, 2008 / 15:44

Great Fred, ever think of putting some I Love Lucy rerunds up?

Stafford
January 24, 2008 / 15:56

Ignoring the post from the illiterate 16 year old above, great interview Fred.

Buk
January 24, 2008 / 17:18

So great to hear Pete again- I'd know that voice anywhere!
Would be great to hear a podcast on Spirit of Radio website... Interview Earl Jive next! Thanx again...

Phil Evans
January 24, 2008 / 19:26

Pete says of current radio "he doesn't hear anything." He's right in a sense. Radio programming now is purely linear - jump to the next thing and the next thing and the next.

Pete and Geets had a show - it had a life of its own.

While they were on, it was a show - like Letterman.

Unique, and sorely missed.

cragar77
January 24, 2008 / 22:28

Great interview Fred. CFNY was a 1 of a kind station. There hasn't been a morning show like Pete and Geets since '87. Dave Marsden was a great program director.

Donny P.
January 25, 2008 / 09:20

Fred, that was awesome! I loved to here Pete's voice again and his laugh. As you know, I listened to Pete and Geets for years at CHUM-FM and CFNY and this brought back a lot of memories. Thanks for using this new feature on your website in such a meaningful way.

James Edgar
January 25, 2008 / 10:10

Yes Fred Marsden next!!

Adrian Bell
January 26, 2008 / 08:54

Freddie - nicely done. Really a great thing hearing Pete again. He'll never remember me
('cos he'd old! LOL) but when I was just starting out in Radio, I was invited into 'NY
at Kennedy Road to interview Pete 'n Geets. They were doing a busy morning show, and yet between songs they allowed me to chat away. Superb people - you were there too Fred, so was Stafford and Bob Lehman that day, gave me a great lesson in production. I still have that tape somewhere...But I remember one thing Pete said which has rang true for years and years...he said "Toronto is the dumbest radio town in the country!" ha haaaa!

Great interview Frederick.

Adrian Bell

Too Long Ago
January 30, 2008 / 22:24

Wanted to leave a pic of the days when Peter looked a little younger (as did we all), schmoozing with Journey at Exhibition Stadium.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=212092&id=662970798

I'll never forget a wine-soaked dinner at an Italian restaurant with Pete, Geets, David Pritchard and others of the mid-70's CHUM FM days. Somewhere there exists a tape of that melee. Would love to get my hands on it!

Barry Donnelly
March 4, 2008 / 12:56

Fred; Thank you for bringing Pete back to the public and letting me know that he and his wife are still around!
During his days on Chum FM, I had the honour of spending time with Pete and his family!
What a time that was enjoying the kitchen they had which was smaller than what his wife is asking him to reno I'm sure, but it was a place of interesting times! It would be nice to hear from Pete and his family! As the morning man on Chum FM no one matched him for his ability to adlib with Dave under the format that Chum had put together! At CFNY was a time of mirth I'm sure for him! The ability to discuss "veritable fortoons" with him and his wife made my life that of a treasure to remember! Would really like to hear from them!

Paul
April 23, 2008 / 22:05

Just caught up with your interview with Pete - and frankly - there's a guy you should talk into doing a weekly audio blog - if for no other reason that just to keep all his addicts sated. Get out of the garden Pete - and back onto the Empire of the Air. Well done Fred

Chris
October 25, 2008 / 20:45

Great to listen to the interview with Pete Griffin again... Fred that was a great idea to invite Pete!

Keep up the great work!

taignirlnak
November 18, 2008 / 02:46

Actions speak louder than words :)

Uttestskerb
November 21, 2008 / 14:33

China has a population of a billion people. One billion. That means even if you’re a one in a million kind of guy, there are still a thousand others exactly like you. (A. Whitney Brown) ;)

Uttestskerb
November 21, 2008 / 14:33

China has a population of a billion people. One billion. That means even if you’re a one in a million kind of guy, there are still a thousand others exactly like you. (A. Whitney Brown) ;)

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UFC betting
March 31, 2009 / 14:05

Interesting blog, nice design, i have bookmarked it for the future referrence

Spiritliveson
November 7, 2009 / 16:16

Thanks for that read as the link apears to be dead now!

I first listened to Pete & Geets on the Romo Report Chum-fm & I would like to THANK Peter Griffith for introducing me to Kraftwerk - Autobahn He played the entirty 22+mins long!
That was what radio should be all about! Bout time perhaps to introduce a Toronto Radio Station to just air the extended mixes & the "B" side tracks.....CFNY offered the entire look into the highs & lows of the bands & gave the listener the opertunity to listen.....
Animals Have More Fun!

HEEL LIFTS
January 5, 2010 / 04:19

Hi there, cheers for a excellent post, a really great beginning for the 2010, keep up the great work, Brenda.

Peter T
January 5, 2010 / 18:49

I remember Peter when Chum FM changed from Classical (broke my parents hearts) to R&R. I knew people with connections and had direct line to DJ phone #.... I became quite friendly with Peter because i'd phone up and ask for something that was out there, I remember him playing the whole first Soft Machine album... guess he got half an hour off for a smoke on the roof cause he used my real name after it was over, which i'd asked him not to... also, I was at the Moody Blues/Humble Pie gig doing sound and dragged Jerry Shirley and Frampton up to 1331 for an interview, we got back to Massey Hall before the end of the Moody's and nobody noticed I was "out of position" bad me!

Malcolm Sarzynski
January 13, 2010 / 20:38

We just couldnt leave your website before saying that we really enjoyed the quality information you offer to your visitors... Will be back often to check up on new stuff you post!

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