Rik Johnson w/ Greg Puciato & Liam Wilson (Dillinger Escape Plan)
The Welding Room, a heavy metal specialty radio program established by Rik Johnson, launched on WMCX-FM 88.9 at Monmouth University in 1994. Two years later, Johnson was voted to the X-88.9 Executive Board as Production Director. That same year (1996 – ’97), he was presented the “Staff Member of the Year” award for “outstanding contribution, loyalty and responsibility to WMCX.”
The Welding Room continued to air on X-88.9 until 1999, at which time Rik Johnson was brought in to host overnights in Atlantic City at Digital 102.7 (WJSE-FM 102.7). While the reign at Digital 102.7 did not last all that long, the commercial cross-over impact had been made.
Johnson switched gears, accepting a reduced on-air role but gaining the Assistant Promotions Director position at yet another Jersey Shore rock station, 95.9 The Rat (WRAT-FM 95.9). The Welding Room would remain on the shelf, collecting dust for several years.
Upon receipt of a formal proposal, decision makers at The Rat entertained the idea of a metal show. Johnson’s ability to bend but not break would prove invaluable while his beloved moniker, The Welding Room was nearly erased in favor of a station-wide “name the new metal show” contest. In the end, the great name debate was laid to rest through the assertion “the doctor doesn’t name the baby.” At 10pm on Monday, April 10th, 2006, Slayer‘s poignant anthem South Of Heaven opened The Welding Room debut on WRAT-FM. The program was discontinued by July 18th.
Johnson anchored the Sunday midday position at ’Rock Alternative’ G-106.3/106.5 from 2007 until the controversial format flip in 2009. He began freelancing for the Wall Street Journal This Morning & also joined the Mercury Radio Arts broadcast operations crew for the Glenn Beck Program.
Rik Johnson managed to maintain some semblance of a radio career, however TWR was not so lucky. Until now…
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