Zane Lowe is one of the most recognisable figures in the British music industry. Over the past 12-years at the helm of his evening show on Radio 1, he has left a unique and distinctive mark both on the station itself and its listeners. However, all good things must come to an end, and earlier this week the station’s resident larger than life Kiwi announced that he would rock the airwaves no more, leaving a gaping hole in the station’s new music output.
The fact is that Lowe’s shows were inimitably his. In fact, they were never worthy of any description below ‘tour-de-force’. His relentlessly fast and furious presentation was explosive and gave listeners the impression that were it not for the 2 hour time limit, he would have gone on all night. From the word go, he had everybody ‘on board.’
An infectious enthusiasm for new music paired with an ardent appreciation for the classics have made Zane Lowe arguably one of the most musically passionate presenters that the station has nurtured since the late great John Peel. His ‘Masterpieces’ feature saw him celebrate some of the greatest albums of all time, playing them out live on air in their entirety and without interruption. In doing so, Lowe introduced the likes of Led Zeppelin, The Smashing Pumpkins and Fatboy Slim to a whole new generation.
Not only this, but his show has provided a platform for new and emerging artists. His ‘Hottest Record in the World’ has proved the starting point for countless bands hoping to break into the industry. Countless under-the-radar acts have been propelled into both the limelight and the consciousness of thousands around the world after achieving this accolade.
As for his live sessions, ‘eclectic’ is perhaps the best word to describe the list of guests he played host to. Anyone and everyone came through the doors of the legendary Maida Vale Studios to perform on his show; Ellie Goulding, Odd Future, Arctic Monkeys, The Streets, Rudimental, Lana Del Rey and rock gods Foo Fighters are just a few. Dubstep trio Nero even performed with the BBC’s Philarmonic Orchestra on an orchestral dubstep collaboration with stunning results.
The Lowe he has achieved over his Radio 1 career has gained him exclusive access to some of the most iconic acts in the world today, allowing him to rub shoulders with the likes of Jay-Z, producer Rick Rubin and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin. Of course, in between all of that, his on-air DJ battles with Chris Moyles are now the stuff of Radio 1 legend.
Still, as the old cliché goes, as one door closes, another opens. Zane Lowe will be missed, but fear not – we can be safe in the knowledge that his legacy is to be inherited by the great Annie Mac when she takes over on March 5th. Like Zane Lowe, her reputation as a competent and passionate broadcaster precedes her and she ticks all the right boxes to take his place. It promises to be a new chapter for the station, but in the meantime, let’s take a moment to appreciate the great man while we still can.
Words by Thomas Johnston