WLIR through the years

WLIR had a van called The Vinyl Van that went to concerts and clubs and gave away shirts and prizes. Here, DJ Bob Waugh stands next to the van in the early 1980s.

They Might Be Giants played in the front window of Speakerkits Plus Records in North Bellerose around 1987. From left, Bob Wilson (owner of Speakerkits), John Linnell of They Might Be Giants,WLIR  DJ Donna Donna and They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh. The station had a big audience in Queens because its transmitter was on the North Shore Towers in Little Neck.

DJ Larry "The Duck" Dunn, Elvis Costello, DJ Donna Donna and program director Denis McNamara in the WLIR studios in Hempstead.

DJ Donna Donna and Talking Heads' David Byrne at the WLIR studios on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, around 1982 or 1983.

DJ Malibu Sue interviews The Smiths' Morrissey at the WLIR studios in Hempstead in the early 1980s. 

DJ Donna Donna (who was born Donna Leminski) at the WLIR studios in Hempstead in the 1980s. 

Taken in 1982 on the roof the WLIR's studios at 175 Fulton Ave. in Hempstead, from lower left, clockwise: DJ John DeBella, Rich Shaw (of A&M Records), WLIR intern Billy Crosby, Chris Difford of the British band Squeeze, an unidentified WLIR employee, an unidentified WLIR intern (in stripes), DJ Larry "The Duck" Dunn, Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze, DJ Mark Drucker and WLIR music director Ray White.

DJ Larry the Duck, left, and DJ Matt Cord interview Sting at the WLIR studios in 1980s.

The WLIR Screamer of the Week was a song that DJ John DeBella informally called "the song that would get me fired." It developed into playing five songs chosen by each DJ each week, and then the listeners would call in and vote at WLIR.

Joey Ramone, "Malibu" Sue McCann and Max "The Mighty Maxx" Leinwand at the WLIR studios in the mid-1980s.

DJs Max "The Mighty Maxx" Leinwand, left, DJ Byrd (Scott Peacock), "Malibu" Sue McCann, Ministry's Al Jourgensen and program director Denis McNamara inside the record room at the WLIR studios on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead, mid-1980s. 

The mixer at WLIR studios in the 1980s.

DJs Max "The Mighty Maxx" Leinwand and Steve Kass at Malibu Beach Club in Lido Beach around 1983. WLIR used to broadcast live every Saturday night from the Malibu.

DJs Denis McNamara, left, and Ray White at the WLIR studios on Fulton Avenue in Hempstead on Aug. 9, 1982. White is playing a cut off U2's "October" album.

A flyer from 1985 for WLIR's Non-Conformal Ball at The Ritz in Manhattan.

A composite of all the different logos of WLIR over the years. The station was called WDRE between 1988-1996.

WLIR staff reunion at the Garden City Hotel in 2006: Jonathan Lobdell, left, Jeff Carlson Beck, Larry "The Duck" Dunn, Maria Chambers, Denis McNamara, Dave Plotkin (rear), Barry Ravioli Corrolo, Nancy Abramson, Max Leinwand (back). Steve Jones, Malibu Sue McCann, Carol Silva, Rob Rush (rear), John Daniels (rear), Erica Pierson, Bill Plax, Bob Kranz, Bob Waugh (rear). All were once staffers between 1979-2004.