6 P.M.: Alumni revisit the past at Modern Rock 91.5
1999 was a year filled with anxiety, fear and excitement for the new millennium. It also was a year filled with music.
Chris Purrett, alumni of the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, worked for 91.5 WMHW-FM, Central Michigan University’s student-run radio station, when he went to CMU a decade ago.
Purrett and his wife, Misty Purrett, spent Saturday, as the sun went down, putting on the show Overdrive from 6 to 8 p.m.
The show began back in 1997. It would play rock music that was popular at the time, and also showcase a different band that had a record coming out or a concert coming up each week.
“It was really popular when it first started here,” Chris said.
He no longer works in radio but, after graduation, he kept up with Overdrive online. From there, it morphed into a local rock station, and now it is more of a blog.
Usually, when the Purretts do Overdrive at the alumni takeover, they play all local bands from Michigan. This year, they played all music from the year 1999 to honor the 10-year anniversary of the alumni takeover and of their graduation.
“People were worried about Y2K and the world ending. So they put out records,” Chris said.
Chris’s first 30 minutes in the studio were spent pacing around the very small room filled with chairs and equipment.
“I get really nervous for the first 15 minutes of the show,” he said. “I’ll tell you one thing, nothing has changed here. Four clocks in this studio and not one has the right time.”
Misty was not involved in the radio station when she went to school here.
“I come back to be his co-host,” she said. “It’s not my passion, but I enjoy it.” Close this window or return to "24 Hours in Mount Pleasant."
