BOSTON — For rock fans across New England, losing one of Boston’s most iconic rock music stations to Christian music comes as a real shock.
Millions of people for over half a century grew up listening to rock on WAAF, raising generation after generation on the sound of rebellion.
Loud guitar bands and music styles have changed throughout the years, but WAAF was always there, following through both old and new trends and bringing new sounds to listeners across the area.
As of Saturday, however, all of that will change.
Thanks to an ownership change, airwaves that once transmitted rock music will change to Christian music.
“It’s honestly disappointing,” said Matt Stockburger, the Valet Manager for the rock-themed Verb Hotel in Fenway. “It kind of feels like a shot to the heart.”
The Verb is a tribute to Boston’s rich rock history, something WAAF helped shape.
“When you first got your car, you’d put your windows down, you’d crank WAAF, it was kind of what you did,” said Rob Taylor, of Boston.
WAAF is just the latest Boston rock staple to go away. Before WAAF, WBCN, the rock music giant credited with breaking multiple bands, most notably U2, stopped broadcasting rock as of 2009. The demise of WAAF is a sign of the times.
“I think that music trends are shifting, people are listening to more pop music and maybe the demand is not as high,” said Dan Rogers, of Framingham.
While many say they saw it coming, the fall of WAAF is coming as a shock to some. WZLX’s Chuck Nowlin took to Instagram to say, “Hard to believe 50 years of rock comes to an end this Friday.”
At the State House on Wednesday, Governor Baker said he will miss WAAF.
“If you grew up as a fan of rock and roll music here in the Commonwealth, the fact that there’s not going to be a WAAF anymore is a big disappointment, but its one more lesson in the fact that culture, time, music...it all moves on,” said Baker.
However, rock music in Boston isn’t dead. Other local stations, both new and established, will continue to play rock. Yet, as rock fans know, the times they are a-changing and so are the places to find your favorite music.