No, I don’t have a myspace!  I’m not completely out of touch, however (at least, I like to think I’m not) as I do have a Facebook.  Look up Gustav Deckard (that’s me).  No, “Deckard” is not my real last name, but rather a “Blade Runner” reference.  Facebook insists that you have a last name, so after a long 7 seconds of contemplation, I chose that one.  I’m also now on Twitter under “radiogustav” if you want to follow. 

I thought it might be a cool idea to have a brief faq about myself.  These are some questions that I’ve gotten over the years.  If you have some yourself, feel free to ask, and I might just blog about them here!

Q.  Is “Gustav” your real name?

A.  It’s actually my middle name, but it’s been the only name that I’ve gone by for over 20 years.  The name itself has been in the German side of my family for several generations (I’m Gustav the 4th, if you can believe that).

Q.  When did you start speaking German?

A.  My Mom started teaching me expressions when I was about 9 years old.  I decided to take the language in Junior High, and all the way through the end of college.

Q.  Why Radio?

A.  Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to watch a whole lot of TV, so I read a lot of books, and wrote short stories instead, as well as listened to the radio.  By the time I was in High School, I was taking more than just a passing interest in it as a career.

Q.  Who has been your favorite interview?

A.  That would have to be a tie between Moby, Perry Farrell, Dave Gahan, and Billy Corgan.  Oh, and Paul Oakenfold was super cool, too.  I brought like 15 records in to the studio for him to sign.  I was such a dork.

Q.   Least favorite interview?

A.  Well, I don’t like to say specifically who my LEAST favorite is, but there have been several that are definitely up there!  One time, I was interviewing a band, and one of the members excused themselves to go and pee behind a bush.  Another time, the drummer of one band started pounding on the microphone with a drumstick while we were on the air.  That hurt.

Q.  I heard your favorite band is Depeche Mode.  Those guys are pansies!  Why do you like THEM?

A.  Ever since hearing Kraftwerk in the late ’70s, I was hooked on electronic music.  When I discovered Depeche Mode’s 12″ imports in 1983 or so, I was hooked.  You know when a band just “speaks” to you?  That was these guys for me.  I like to think that their music has served to influence a lot of other bands.

Q.  Do you play any instruments?

A.  I was in band and marching band in High School and played the clarinet.  Yeah, I’m sort of glad those days are over.  Have you ever worn the equivalent of a polyester pantsuit in the hot California sun?  It sucks.  Oh, and we had these plastic pseudo-cowboy hats that were covered in red felt with plumes that you put in them.  It was positively garish.  I got in trouble for switching out my red white and black plumes (our school colors) for 3 black plumes instead.  The band director didn’t think that was so funny.  Currently, I mess around with some of my own electronic stuff, and remixing, but don’t have nearly the time for it that I want to.

Q.  What’s your favorite book?

A.  This will sound sort of trite and predictable, but “High Fidelity” by Nick Hornby is fantastic.  It speaks so well to any fan of music and how its played a role in relationships.

Q.  I heard you are a gamer geek.  Is that true?

A.  I’m afraid that is true.  I started with the usual “gateway drug” of “Dungeons and Dragons” and then went on to “Champions”, “Shadowrun” and a host of other RPGs here and there.  Computer gaming is a big part of my life now, and I spend some time on the XBox 360, as well as games on my Mac, including “World of Warcraft” which I’m hopelessly addicted to.

Q.  Really?  What realm on “WoW”?

A.  Cenarius.

Q.  Would you ever drive a car that wasn’t black or German?

A.  No.