Milwaukee Talks: Marilynn Mee, 2002

Marilynn Mee is, and has been, one of Milwaukee's most popular voices on FM radio for almost 15 years. As music director at Lazer 103, she's built a name for herself in the industry as a hard-working, dedicated and local music-loving professional. Marilynn describes herself as a pretty emotional person with a passion for saving dogs at the Wisconsin Humane Society. We just describe her as pretty cool. We took a moment to catch up with Marilynn, to learn her story and to get insight into what makes the Queen of Milwaukee radio tick.

OMC: How did you get involved in radio?

MM: Well, I still think of the start of my career really began at Lazer, and that was in '87. When the station signed on I was one of the original group of jocks hired. I was originally hired to do 7 p.m.-midnight. But I was doing radio a long time before that. Everybody in Milwaukee radio paid their dues at QFM, at least for a short time. Everybody had to use their powers for evil at one point in time. So I was for a short time doing mornings. But I did a lot of background stuff in radio for several years. I was a promotion assistant. I did traffic and continuity and production and commercials, which is good because I had no idea what I wanted to do. But the day I walked into the radio station for the first day of my part-time job, I knew that's where I wanted to be. Up until that point I had no clue what I wanted to be when I grew up at all.

OMC: So you sort of fell into it?

MM: Just totally fell into it. Walked into the radio station and knew that's what I wanted to do. It's like explosions went off and the skies opened up! This is it! These are the people that I want to be working with. I never really wanted to be an on-air person just because I never saw that as a job with very much stability, which is so funny now because I've been at Lazer for 14 and a half years. But, generally speaking, in radio you stay at a radio station for a few years and then you're either on to another radio station or the radio station flips formats and everybody's out or whatever. I was around all these really good people. Nobody ever taught me, 'This is how you be a disc jockey.' Nobody ever said, 'Now always say this and always do that.' I just listened to all these really great people.

OMC: What was Lazer like then versus what it's like now?

MM: Oh, God! I was playing some of the music off of vinyl and some off of CD. It was so cool being Lazer 103 and playing all the music that we could off of compact laser disc. It was kind of a big deal. I've been a radio listener for a long enough time that I sort of knew in my heart what we were doing there wasn't going to work. I knew that you couldn't do supersets of .38 Special and supersets of the Psychedelic Furs. It was fun playing this huge variety of rock, but I also knew deep down that it wasn't going to work.

OMC: So how long did you do the morning stint with Bob and Brian?

MM: Up until I became music director, which was like four years ago.

OMC: Do you still hang out with Bob and Brian?

MM: Honestly, if we had more time we probably would. Actually I just took Bob's daughter to see Snoop Dogg a couple of weeks ago.

OMC: So tell me about the music director position. What's that all about?

MM: Well, a music director works with the program director primarily with all the new music, all the current product that's coming in. I'm sort of like the clearing house. I also am the liaison between the radio station and all the record promoters, which there are a lot of.

OMC: This is the kind of music that you like? Is this what you listen to when you're not being a DJ?

MM: Yeah. I would say when I'm not being a DJ my taste is probably a little bit wider. I mean I tell people, 'It wouldn't be unusual if you opened up my CD changer and found Limp Bizkit, Stone Temple Pilots, an old Pretenders CD, the soundtrack from CATS, or whatever is the new CD from Madonna.'

OMC: You also work with local music, right?

MM: Yeah. I have my local music Sunday night show. That's like my baby. I know that sounds kind of cheesy, but I've been doing it for so long and I've been going out to see bands since I was 18. I've watched the scene grow and change and clubs come and go and local music promoters come and go. It's fun to do that. That's that one hour on the air when I've got complete control. It's almost like an hour of public service time. I can help bands promote their gigs and so and so just lost their bass player and they're looking for a new one. I've seen some of these guys and this is like their eighth amalgamation of whatever band they've been in. I think that it's great that our station has had a commitment this many years to do a local music show. We've been doing this since '89.

OMC: You have to be one of the more well-known DJs in Milwaukee. So when people see you out, they have to know who you are, to a certain extent. What's that like?

MM: You always have to tell yourself -- this sounds like a cop out answer -- but you are so lucky to have people know who you are. When they stop knowing or when they just stop and laugh and point, that's when you've got to worry. I once called a funeral home to get directions because my aunt had passed away and the guy at the funeral home was like, 'Wow, you're Marilynn Mee! You rule! I listen to you all the time.' I was like, 'OK, this isn't good. My aunt has just passed away and ....' Or on a Saturday morning at Home Depot with no makeup on and overalls with paint all over them and last night's mascara still smeared under your eyes and a baseball cap and like the nightmare is, 'Oh, are you Marilynn Mee?'

OMC: It's kind of cool though, don't you think?

MM: Sure. I was standing in line Christmas shopping once, and somebody said, 'You mean you have to wait in a line like this like everybody?' Yeah!

OMC: Some people listen to you five days a week. It's like they know you, but they don't.

MM: Sometimes you don't think about that thought until somebody comes up to you and starts spewing off something about your personal life and you're first thought is, 'Oh, God!' And then you realize, 'Oh, man. I talk about that all the time. Of course they would know about that.' I was once putting in luggage in the overhead compartment on a plane and some guy behind me was like, 'Oh, yeah, that's your tattoo. Yeah, that's your cat's paw print.' I've got that on my Web site Sure somebody would know that. But there are moments when it's a pain, like when you're picking up a prescription at Walgreens. 'Prescription's ready for Mee.' Now it's like so everybody in Walgreens is now wondering Mee? 'Marilynn Mee? What's wrong with her?' I use my real name.

OMC: Marilynn Mee is your real name?

MM: Yep.

OMC: That's a good radio name, though.

MM: I was teased about it so much when I was little.

OMC: How many times do people ask if that's your real name?

MM: A lot, but I couldn't have thought of anything that good.

OMC: You're from Milwaukee?

MM: Yes. Born and raised. I'm a Tosa girl. Carrie (Wendt) is a Tosa West Trojan. I'm a Tosa East Raider, which is way better! I was born, raised and do radio here. It's highly unusual. And then to stay here for this long... It's really unusual. I've only almost left twice.

OMC: What kept you here?

MM: The first time was right before I got hired at Lazer and I was on the beach. I mean I wasn't working. I was out a job. I knew that Lazer was going to be coming on the air, but I didn't know the time frame yet, and obviously I had no idea if I could get hired there. I was offered a job at a rock station in Miami/Fort Lauderdale. But I just had a bad vibe down there My gut was telling me, 'This isn't going to work out good. This isn't going to be good gig.' It was a top-ten market in the country. Most people would tell you I was insane. But I just had a bad vibe about that place and heard some not good things from people who had worked there. So I didn't take that. While I was at Lazer I got a call to go to a Chicago radio station and was like, 'Oh, yeah! This I think I want to do.' It started out with a bunch of people in the running, got narrowed down to two, and the other girl got the job. {INSERT_RELATED}

OMC: We're glad you stayed. Who's Jackpot Girl?

MM: I have no idea what you're talking about.

OMC: I've heard talk that you are her.

MM: Please! I'm a little smarter than that (smiling).

OMC: Do you think Milwaukee is changing?

MM: Oh, absolutely. I think that that's a natural evolution for any major metropolitan area. I feel like these last couple of years we've caught up a lot more than we had in the past. Things stayed the same for a long time. My personal opinion is a lot of younger people are bringing in ideas as far as business. I'm not saying this to suck up, but a group like you guys -- young guys, pretty hip, pretty cool, now you're part of the business community. Some of the club owners in town are really young guys. I think that that makes a real big difference. Those kids who were into experimenting with music and experimenting with food and pastimes are now like the grownups here. Milwaukee is a great place. A lot of people do end up staying here. A lot of those people are now people starting businesses and have some great innovative ideas. Isn't it funny that a few years ago there was like one place to go for sushi. Now there's a bunch.

OMC: What's your favorite restaurant?

MM: Overall, Three Brothers in Bay View. I am part Hungarian. They make Chicken Paprikash at Three Brothers, and my German Hungarian grandmother always made that for me when I was little. Elsa's... I know there's a lot of people who still think of Elsa's as just kind of an uppity hang out. But I'm telling you, I bring record people into Elsa's who will tell me that is one of the best burgers for under $7 that they've ever had in their life. You can't go wrong. There's no better steak than Coerper's Five O'Clock Club. Record guys from all over the country will tell you that, too. So that's one of my favorites. The Knick for just like an overall good dinner. Great vibe there. The staff is really cool. I like to go to The Globe. I like to go to the BBC. I've been to Vic's Clique in Cudahy.

OMC: You loves movies, correct. What's your favorite?

MM: Of all time? The five movies I would take with me to a desert island are "Dr. Zhivago," "The Nine Lives of Thomasina." That's a lesser known Disney movie. "Good Will Hunting," "Goodfellas" and "The Godfather." I love anything mob-related. My favorite TV show is "The Sopranos" and second is "Sex in the City." Anything New York and anything mob.

OMC: What else do you do for fun?

MM: I own a house so I am always in the thick of some project. It is like I suddenly decide I'm going to re-do a room. I'm also in the process of re-doing the upstairs of my house. I just ordered new carpeting. Unless I can find listeners who will give me a really good deal ...

OMC: Maybe you can recruit on air.

MM: Oh, I do sometimes. Yeah, if I have a question about a home thing, I'll say, 'I know there's a drywall guy listening. Could somebody please call me? I have a question.'

OMC: Now that's power.

MM: That's awesome. I'll trade a couple of CDs for somebody to give me their expertise on painting a wall. 'It's just plaster. Do I need to prime it first?' The listeners are great. They always help.

OMC: Are you happy with your life?

MM: Yeah, but some of my friends and family would tell you that I function better with at least a slight amount of chaos and tragedy in my life So sometimes when things are really going great, I'm the first one to go, 'OK, what's going to happen? The other shoe's going to drop.' I got a great job. I've got co-workers who I adore. If Carrie called me right now and said, 'Stop this interview. Tell him you can't do it because I need help with something.' You know what? I'd blow off the interview.

OMC: You sound like you can be an emotional person.

MM: I'm a big crier. I get upset about something, and I cry. I wear my heart on my sleeve.

OMC: Did you ever cry on the air?

MM: No, but I've been very, very close If I'm having some kind of a personal issue and I'm upset, I can cover that up on the air. Somebody who's listened to me for a long time or who knows me really well could maybe listen and go, 'Yeah, I could tell you were on the edge on a couple of breaks.' But I think that I'm really good. I can get choked up over stuff though -- over nice things that happen.

OMC: So what else should we know about you?

MM: I'm really surprised that you're not asking more questions about my love life.

OMC: OK. Aren't you dating a musician?

MM: Yeah, he plays in Pet Engine and Bigger Than You -- two totally different bands.

OMC: Have you been married?

MM: No. Engaged once.

OMC: What changed your mind?

MM: He changed his mind first and it was one of the best and luckiest things that ever happened to me. But I've got an awesome boyfriend. He's my best friend. We both lead such selfish lifestyles. I don't mean self-indulgent. I mean we sink so much time into our careers and into our jobs and interests Do we need to be married? Maybe my mission in life is to be a good auntie and take care of the animals.

OMC: Is that your charity?

MM: I just became a volunteer at the Wisconsin Humane Society. Norman, my bassett, just passed his Canine Good Citizen, which is a very big deal. In dog world, passing Canine Good Citizen opens up the doors for you. So now Norman and I can be a part of the Companion Program at the Humane Society. We'll be assigned to a facility and once or twice a month we'll go and visit an old age home. We'll go and visit once or twice and month and shake paws and hang out. That's cool because that's not a Marilynn Mee thing. That's not 'Marilynn Mee from Lazer is coming here.'

OMC: The dog doesn't care.

MM: You know what? Chances are the people we visit aren't going to care. But it's just a matter of giving them the opportunity to interact with a nice animal. My other thing now is I do dog shine at the Humane Society. Do you know what that is?

OMC: No.

MM: Two hours a week I go in and I wash dogs and get them ready to either be adopted or go into the adoption area of the Humane Society. When the dogs come in there is sort of a dog hotel/dorm, if you will, for dogs that might need some medical attention. They might be suffering from upper respiratory. They might need to be fixed -- spayed or neutered. They don't want to put those dogs out where people can view them for adoption until everything is all set and done and any health issues have been taken care of. These are dogs that have been deemed "can be adopted" because they're nice dogs. So part of getting them ready to go into adoption is to give them baths. I love it. It's so awesome because it's one on one with the dog. It's so much fun to talk to them. For some of these dogs, they probably never had anybody talk to them and sing to them while they get a bath. It's so much fun. They have such an excellent facility.

OMC: You want any more hard-hitting questions?

MM: I don't care. I can do this forever. I'm a bottomless pit. Talking and eating. I can do those forever.

OMC: OK. You hang out with rock stars. You do the booking and promotional stuff. You get them on the air. There must have been some experiences in your time in radio when these rock stars come here and put the moves on you and stuff.

MM: You know, a lot less seldom than I would like to think. It would be so cool to go, 'Oh, yeah, he was always hitting on me.' You know what? Guys who are in bands by nature flirt. But I have never honestly found myself in an uncomfortable situation. That's the way I want it. I'm the music director of the radio station If I want to sleep with rock stars, could I make a career of doing that? Well, I'm sure I could. But risking my credibility as a good interviewer, as the music director at a great radio station, not in a million years. I hear little whispers and talks from people at other stations or whatever because I'm with band guys a lot.

OMC: It would be a much better story if you could say some coked up Scott Weiland type came up to you and propositioned you?

MM: Oh, yeah -- like locked me in his dressing room or something! You know what? You have to set the tone. The tone is, 'Yeah, I love your music and it's cool to hang with you, but I'm the music director of this radio station and my professional reputation...' Even if I didn't have a boyfriend, I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that would be my attitude because it's difficult enough for women to gain credibility and keep it and get respect in the rock music industry, especially if you're blonde and single.

OMC: As a Milwaukee personality and celebrity, are you star struck when you talk to the big stars?

MM: Oh, sometimes, yeah. This goes back to like doing mornings with Bob and Brian, and they said, 'OK, don't be a chick.' You ought to try to maintain professionalism. I did a phone interview a few weeks ago with Ozzy Osbourne, and an hour before that I did a phone interview with Scott Stapp, the lead singer of Creed. With Scott there was just so much to talk about. I didn't have time to be nervous or star struck because there's just so much going on with the new record.

OMC: But Ozzy...

MM: But Ozzy... I've never actually talked to Ozzy before and I kept trying to talk about music and Ozzy wanted to talk about dogs. It was a good way to start the interview, talking about the fact that we both love dogs. So I got so caught up in this interview and trying to decipher and translate what he was saying because it was that mumbly British voice. When I got off the phone it was like, 'I just talked to Ozzy Osbourne!' I still definitely have moments like that. If I met the cast from "The Sopranos" I would be so star struck. I'd go nuts. I don't know what I'd do. I'd make a total fool of myself.