Steve West: Eternally Alternative

• San Diego radio vets have been paying tribute to market legend Steve West, known and loved as the market’s “Patriarch of Classic Alternative music,” who died recently after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Since 2014 West had hosted the hugely popular weekend specialty show, Legends of Alternative on Entercom Alternative KBZT (Alt 94.9)/San Diego, and last Sunday morning, during Legends of Alternative, station staffers and friends did a heartfelt “Celebration of the Life of Steve West.” It was during that tribute that it was revealed that West’s name will live in several terrific ways — Legends of Alternative has been rebranded with his name, and the Alt 94/9 air studio will henceforth be named in West’s honor.

RAMP caught up with Alt 94/9 Program Director Jeremy Pritchard, who said, “In memory of San Diego radio legend Steve West, the show that was entirely his, will now forever carry his name as Steve West’s Legends of Alternative. In addition, to honor Steve’s passion for music and radio we’ve renamed the Alt 94/9 studio to the “Steve West Studio” so he’ll always be remembered in the one place he loved to be the most.”

Prichard sent us this conceptual art showing what West’s tribute will look like once installed. He added, “The best part is that the Steve West Studio faces the front lobby of Entercom San Diego, so everyone who comes into our building will be greeted by Steve’s smiling face.”