LUNATIC ARTICLES - 91.1 KMTL

Friday night and the sun begins to set. At an undisclose location, among the residential areas of Weslaco Texas stand 3 caballeros next to a tall erection. Being more precise - this erection is a tall antenna that far exceeds the FCC's rule and regulations of self broadcasting. Why would this matter to them, would you ask?

Well, shortly before 6pm , the trio were quick to stop at the local "Pop A Top" convience store to get the fuel that drove the motivation of these self made DJs. Cause at 7pm - breaking through all the conformitities of local radio - 91.1 FM, known as K-METAL to the local folks; would go on the air in all its pirate radio glory!!!!!

The idea was quite simple. In 1992 - metal is no where to be heard on local radio. With that in mind - a young lad that we'll call, hmmmm, whats a common name? Ok, we'll say his name is "Joe" for story purposes = finds a low wattage FM transmitter that he is able to "Mexican rig" into "higher watts." Now this lads mind begins to wander. If he can just find a tall enough antenna to hook it up to, he might be able to cover just all of Weslaco. Here enters another young lad, that we'll call - hmmmmmmm, what shall we call him? Since I had McDonalds for lunch today, we'll call him "Ronald" for story purposes. Well "Ronald" seems to be a hand radio operator and tells "Joe", that he knows where to find a 100 foot antenna that would be perfect for a "pirate radio" kind of thing. Within weeks of conception; the idea became a reality with a broadcasting board, mics, and audio equipment to go along with the attenna and fm transmitter they needed.

The pair soon enlisted the help of several friends to include, Netz, Marcaine, El Guapo and yours truly, Alex Lunatic. With the full force of metalheads to back the project; KMTL 91.1 Fm began to broadcast, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 12am, to the loyal underground of the Weslaco community. Soon - the coverage of area was expanded and at a clear night, one could tune in to the station from a distance of 23rd st and Expressway in Mcallen. A rough estimate was a 20 to 25 mile square radius from around the "KMTL hidden headquaters."

The station ran many of there own jingles and commercials with an occassional holiday special or two. The station also had their share of characters that would help in the broadcast by making crank calls, or dissing people here and there. Some characters noted : Paul Knickerson "the MetalHead Farmer", the infamous "Nigga Watch" and "Wetback Watch" which would inform us of the time and weather, Juan and Pancho, "the illegal aliens that hosted the Christmas Special", were just to name a few. The station would play the heaviest of metal with bands like, Dark Angel, Death, Deicide, Devestation, along the side of the more popular bands Ratt, White Snake, and Motley Crue.

The radio station went on to broadcast for a couple of years, (1992-1994) until a few incidents involving possible civil suits, brought the demise of the station in late 1994.

This page is dedicated to the heroism and patriotism displayed by the only radio station that dared to risk it all for the simple "love of metal"; 91.1 FM - KMTL (R.I.P. 92-94).