Q 101.1's ALEX QUIGLEY
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 at 10:16PM 
Q101.1 in Chicago is known for bringing the best alternative/rock music to the region. So we at Music Interviews Now figured it would be a great idea to learn about the person behind the microphone. What better person to start with than Alex Quigley. He is on during one of the major blocks (3p.m. – 6p.m.) during the day and is one of the more recognizable names at the station. We learn that he is a die hard Chicago Cubs fan, proud father to his young daughter and still rocks out to Guitar Hero. So without further adieu I give you Mr. Alex Quigley.....
Is your real name Alex Quigley?
Yes.
Where are you from?
Belvidere, IL
Tell us just who "Alex Quigley" is...
A regular guy who just wants to entertain and learn ya something at the same time. Like grammar.
What inspired you to want to get into radio? Where did you attend school...etc?
I was supposed to be a doctor. Started college at Illinois as a pre-med/bioengineering major. My next-door neighbors on Blaisdell 4, Eric Blauert and Chris Anderson, were listening pretty loudly to a pretty awesome radio station. It was playing STP, Weezer, Pumpkins, Soundgarden...stuff that I used to only be able to get from MTV back home. I turned on 107.1 the Planet and didn't turn it off for a few days. Then I heard a recruitment ad for jobs at the Planet. I knew I had to check it out.
What type of music do you like to listen to?
Q101.1 is my music. Although I do have a bit of a soft spot for stuff that my parents listened to when I was younger...Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, the Beatles.
Any hobbies?
Having a 2 1/2 year old daughter takes up most of that time, and in a good way. But if you've ever listened to my show, you know Guitar Hero is up there on the list. Poker, football, Cubs baseball, astronomy...there's a few for you.
Whose cd do you have playing in your car or on your iPod right now?
Right now it's been Foo Fighters' The Colour and the Shape for the past couple weeks.
What's your dream interview?
I guess by now it'd have to be someone outside of music, like President Obama. I really feel like I've hit all my faves; Corgan, Cornell, Grohl, Weiland...Kirk Hammett this week was great. Actually, I'd like to do interviews in non-traditional places more, like paintballing or something. Takes you out of the normal environment and into a different zone.
Ever have an interview totally go sour (if you can, explain)?
Hmm...honestly, I don't think so. Right before my first interview with the Pumpkins back in 2000 I had to wait for another radio station to do theirs...their guy immediately asked Billy and Jimmy for ID sweepers. They clammed up immediately and it ended after about 60 seconds. I watched the whole thing and went "ohmanohmanohmanohman don't do that Alex". But it went fine...probably my closest call.
Do you still get any pre interview jitters?
Nope...that was actually the last time I ever did.
What's your favorite place to eat at in Chicago?
Raw Bar. As much for the ambience and neighborhood and the martinis and the food. Plus it's my fiancé's favorite place, and I'm pretty sure the owners have a crush on her.
Can you tell us one thing about you that your listeners might not know about you?
Man, it's all pretty much put out there on a daily basis...my IQ's over 155. How about that?
What is it like doing radio in Chicago?
It's gotta be the best radio gig there is. There's a reason why people keep coming back here after they leave...it's the best major city in America.
Can you give us a run down of your daily routine? Start to finish...examples would be any prep work before you go on air...research, etc.
Either wake up Samantha or get woken up with a furtive giggle by Samantha. Then hit the Metra and read the paper, jot notes for show bits, etc. Get to the Mart before 1pm, produce Loveline segments (we air the previous night's show on delay), and chat with Marc Young. Then around 2:45 I walk into the studio, chat with Electra for a bit and cross-over about 2:55. Then try to do the best three hours of rock, info, and fun that I can that day.
TAKEN FROM YOUR Q101 BIO...
What's your favorite show on the discovery channel?
It's MythBusters by a mile. I love my job, but THEY truly might have the best job in the world.
What's your highest score on Guitar Hero and what's the toughest song for you?
See, you gotta specify what game, what difficulty level...c'mon. Okay...I know that for a while I had a top-5 score on "More Than A Feeling". In the world. After Sam's birth in August 2006, I don't exactly have the time to focus on things like 100%-ing songs with the best possible SP paths. But I can generally 5-star every song on expert. Not Dragonforce, though. That's just nuts.
How bout them Cubbies? (Scott) How bout them Sox? (Randy) lol
To Scott: I'm hopeful, but I don't know if I'll ever be able to throw myself into a baseball team like I did last year. I was there in the bleachers for Clinch Day and I really thought there was something special about that ballclub. The Curse of The Curse clearly got in their heads in the postseason, and I don't know if it'll ever be overcome. It certainly could, and I'm going to remain hopeful. I like the story behind the new owners, I like most of the off-season moves, I like that Soriano is not going to be leading off anymore...I'm just going to be a bit more low-key.
To Randy: Who?
