'I have always enjoyed the concept of radio," says Barney Simon. "When I was a kid television was banned, so we only had radio. I remember listening to the first man walking on the moon. It was such an amazing concept. I grew up on programmes like Jet Jungle, David Gresham, So Maak 'n Mens, Squad Cars. When I was about nine, I started recording myself commentating on rugby games."
Barney's first popular radio show was The Terrible Twins on 5fm (then known as Radio 5), with Keith Lindsay, in the 1980s. Here he introduced a bored youth to an alternative culture. (Hard to believe that U2 was considered alternative and that the only DJ who had the guts to play the-then revolutionary new band was Barney Simon.)
"I actually began as a sound engineer," explains Barney. "I started at the SABC after the army. In those days it was easy to get a job if you were a white male Afrikaner," he smiles.
"The shows were all pre-recorded and sometimes they were recorded five minutes short, so I would stick in the Sex Pistols or something similar on the end. It was strange hearing the conservative shows with sweet tannies and then suddenly this screaming punk!"
Barney was always into alternative music.
"The first record I bought was Black Sabbath's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. I was also in a punk band at school.
"David Gresham was the first person to put me on air. Malcolm Russell gave good advice. He said if you want to succeed, you must stand out. But I really learnt so much from the greats like Chris Prior, Rafe Levine, Kevin Savage, Martin Bailey.
"People like Roddy Quinn (Real Concerts) and Benjy Mudie (founder and owner of Fresh Music and well-known A&R personality) also inspired me because they were so passionate about SA music.
"I believe a lot of people today don't have that passion. Benjy would phone me up all excited saying: 'Hey Barney, who was that band you just played? How can I get hold of them?' Nowadays you never even see record reps at gigs.
"I remember seeing great potential in Michelle Constant. She is the only female DJ in this country with guts. Years back she played kwaito on her show. That had never been done before. Now on her show on SAfm (Saturday Wired, 9pm to midnight), she plays everything from Matthew van der Want to the African Dope releases. And she really knows her music.
"But I stick with what I know, which is rock."
And rock he knows. It even extended to him wearing Metallica T-shirts when he co-hosted Ziyaduma, an African music show, which ran for five years on TV!
Throughout the years Barney has been at the cutting edge in rock, being the first DJ to discover Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit and Korn. But he is best known for discovering and promoting SA rock.
"I think it's important to play SA music. It inspires musicians to do more with their music and their careers."
* sasounds.com and Tonight are presenting Barney Simon with The Half Time Achievement Award to honour his dedication to SA music. This is the first time the award has been given, and it is set to become an annual event. The ceremony takes place at Carfax on December 11. Bands performing include Rob McClennan, Sugardrive, Pestroy, Diesel Whores, Battery 9. Tickets are limited. To book go to www.sasounds.com. Proceeds go to Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals.