John Hell (Michael Rosenberg)

Mr. Hell, known for his devilish wit and fashion sense, enjoys tormenting sinners in public places. One of his most outstanding projects is S.F.’s free-form radio station, Radio Valencia (RadioValencia.FM). When Ask Dr. Hal! is not live, it’s on radio, Friday nights from 10 PM to 1:00 AM the next day, streaming and/or podcast. Use search words, go there, download, enjoy. Mr. Hell is also known for his legendary color commentary for the famed Power Tool Drag Races, also with Dr. Hal. Check out his fiery Radio Valencia show, “A Season in Hell.”

Dr. Hal (Harry S. Robins)

From Tentacle Session #1 2/21/99

“Hal Robins is a renowned underground comic artist, and his work has appeared in Last Gasp’s Weirdo, Salon’s Dark Hotel and many other publications. For over a decade he has been the co-host of KPFA’s bizarre radio show, “Puzzling Evidence.” Reverend Hal is the Master of Church Secrets for the Church of the SubGenius. As Dr. Howland Owll, he has served as MC for many unique San Francisco events including Chicken John’s “You Asked For It!” game shows. For some, Hal is primarily his unique vocal presence in the various versions of the award-winning interactive game Half-Life.”

Original Host: Chicken John (John Rinaldi)

From  SF Weekly 10/15/03

“[ADH Founder Chicken John] is much maligned, and often misunderstood, but his influence as a facilitator of outsider art and instigator of insider lunacy cannot be underestimated or ignored. Over the course of his career, Chicken John has donned the unsavory mantle of game show host, used car salesman, punk rock ringmaster, grafter, grifter, and sower of discord for the benefit and bemusement of his audience and artists alike. He has created, among other things, one of the country’s first traveling punk rock circuses, the city’s only live-action game show series, and a nefarious vortex once known as the Odeon Bar where Hawaiian yodelers and contortionists were pitted against human beatboxes, sock puppets, and Theremin players according to some unnatural rhythm and whim. You may not always agree with his booking, billing, or bullying, but, as Chicken John says, artists need enemies and somebody’s gotta do it.”

KROB (Robert Cole)

From the SF Weekly 5/11/05 San Francisco has one of the highest DJ-per-square-inch ratios in the country: We’re famous for it. Many DJs are insincere victims of a trend (we may be famous for this as well). But Rob Cole, aka KROB, is a man following his vision so tenaciously that San Francisco ought to be famous for housing him. In fact, it may not be accurate to call him a DJ; he runs two, sometimes three radio shows and provides mixed sounds for a variety of events… His talent even extends to video manipulation and other entertainments. Cole himself uses purposely vague language to describe his work: “I’m doing a multithingy after the St. Stupid’s Day Parade,” he’ll say, or, “I’m going to play noise and shit in a band and do video DJing, too.” Then there’s his video work with Loop! Station, a tech-heavy act fronted by Robin Coomer, aka Ruby Iron. Cole’s making videos and working on a DVD for the duo, and sometimes does projections during performances. Heavily influenced by the oddball pseudo-religion the Church of the SubGenius, Cole reflects, through his incessant antics, the group’s love of free-form creativity; as for the sacred imperative to “slack,” however, he’s not exactly with the program. He’s too busy.

Sherilyn Connelly

Sherilyn is our I.T. go-getter– she took over the seat formerly occupied by David Capurro, Yo-yo King, bon vivant and man-about-town. From the online world her dextrous digits send pictorial flashes to throw whatever is mentioned during the course of the show into vivid relief. On Sunday nights, she hosts Bad Movie Night at The Dark Room.

Pete Goldie

Pete  is a tiling craftsman, lead engineer on the construction of the Cassini Orbiter (paper version), tropical disease researcher, frequent purchaser of fine gorilla suits, loving husband, philosopher and our very own NASA correspondent. He gives us the lowdown on recent developments in astronomy at the beginning of each show.