Jason Bentley is the music director of KCRW and host of the station’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” program. Before participating in a program on whether popular music can still change American culture, he talked about Michael Jackson and The Who, his fans and what he eats for breakfast in the Zócalo green room.
What does it take to get you onto a dance floor?
Alcohol?
Where do you go to be alone?
I have a studio at home, sort of a music room, and I’m able to surround myself with my record collection and CDs. There’s quite a collection there.
What was the first album you bought?
Probably Michael Jackson, Off the Wall.
What was the format?
Vinyl.
What’s the strangest question your fans ask you?
Just putting a face to a voice—I don’t know if that’s a question—but I guess they’re curious about what I look like.
If you could have a beer with anyone in history, living or dead, who would you choose?
I would say right now it would be Stanley Kubrick. [Did you go to the LACMA exhibit?] Yeah.
When’s the last time you got a traffic ticket?
Would that be parking or moving violation? [Both.] Moving violation is, thankfully, years ago. I’m pretty orderly, so it was probably rolling stop, five years ago. [What about parking?] Oh God, well that’s fairly regular. Six weeks ago. It happens.
What do you eat for breakfast?
Three eggs on toast with sriracha or a salsa and coffee. I’m a bit of a coffee snob, so I sort of grind and pour the cup on my own as opposed to using an automatic coffeemaker.
How much is too much to pay for a good cup of coffee?
Well, I’m going to say $4.
When are you at your most creative?
Probably between nine and noon, weekdays—I hope—during my radio show. That’s really an artistic expression.
Who’s your dream guest?
Probably Pete Townshend of The Who because I grew up just adoring The Who. I love that band. I’ve met him, but I’ve never had him on.