Steve Dahl stands out among Chicago's most outrageous disc jockeys while matching that profile with equal success as a vocalist and songwriter. Through his group Teenage Radiation, he applied a keen wit to convert parodies such as "RTA" and "Do You Think I'm Disco" into nationwide hits. In August 1979, "Do You Think I'm Disco" climbed to the top spot on a "novelty records top ten" list assembled by Dr. Demento. Dahl later joined forces with Brian Wilson and producer/keyboard player Joe Thomas to compose the title track for Wilson's 1998 album, Imagination.
Dahl began his disc jockey path in southern California before relocating to Chicago during the mid-'70s, where he took the morning slot on WLUP. There he encountered overnight DJ Garry Meier in 1978 and recognized a kindred spirit for collaboration. Their partnership quickly produced one of broadcasting's most polarizing pairings. Among their earliest provocations was the "Disco Demolition" night staged at Comiskey Park in 1979. The pair lost their positions in 1981 after being accused of "violating community language standards" and shifted to the afternoon drive on WLS-FM.
Opposition persisted even after the move. Reassigned to WLS-AM in 1984, Dahl and Meier skipped numerous broadcasts. Only after court action and a suspension did they consent to complete their agreement. They rejoined WLUP-FM in 1986.
Though Dahl stayed involved with radio, the '90s marked a career nadir. After a short period on a sports radio outlet, he regained momentum by hosting a popular talk program that has continued since 1996. Steve Dahl and Teenage Radiation delivered their final concert on June 8, 1997.
