Chicago radio icon Steve Dahl reveals prostate cancer diagnosis
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Steve Dahl poses on the red carpet at the House Of Blues for Michigan Avenue Magazine's 2nd Anniversary Bash in 2010. Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Steve Dahl, the award-winning Chicago radio personality, announced he has prostate cancer.
What they're saying: The 70-year-old broadcaster said on social media channels over the weekend that his doctors recommended starting with radiation therapy after an MRI and biopsy detected the cancer.
- "It's not a beach party, but it's not as scary and painful as it sounds or as one might imagine," Dahl told Axios.
The big picture: Dahl is arguably the most successful radio personality in Chicago history. He began his career as a 23-year-old music disc jockey at WDAI in 1978. After being fired during a format change, Dahl jumped to WLUP-FM.
- Dahl was a pioneer of the "shock jock" format, cemented by his "Disco Demolition Night" promotional event at Comiskey Park in 1979.
- That night, fans were encouraged to bring a disco record to the stadium for Dahl to blow up between games of a July 12 doubleheader. The sold-out crowd enjoyed it so much, they charged the field creating chaos and forcing the Sox to forfeit the next game.
- "Disco Demolition" is considered one of the most notorious events in baseball and Chicago history.
Zoom out: Dahl went on to host talk shows, including "The Steve & Garry Show," which dominated the ratings until the two split acrimoniously in 1993.
- Dahl continued his radio success hosting solo shows at WCKG-FM and WLS-AM until leaving radio in 2018.
The bottom line: Dahl has never been shy about sharing his personal life with his listeners, something he says he will do on his daily "The Steve Dahl Podcast," even offering up a new promo deal for paid subscribers.
- "If I can encourage men to keep an eye on their own PSA and take some of the mystery and macho shame out of it by sharing my odyssey, then I am happy to do it," Dahl tells Axios.
- "I might see about getting a groovy pillow to sit on while yapping, however."