Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio

Biography

Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio is the collective name associated with American radio host, producer, and parody songwriter Bob Rivers and the comedy-music team that developed around his long‑running Seattle morning show, “Bob Rivers Twisted Radio.” Born July 7, 1956, in Branford, Connecticut, Rivers became obsessed with radio as a child, building bootleg basement broadcasts in his teens and entering professional radio in New England in the 1970s.[1][5] After early programming and on‑air roles in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, he began crafting topical parody and novelty songs at Worcester rock station WAAF, where his “Twisted Tunes” segments on The Bob & Zip Show gained traction regionally and through the American Comedy Network syndication service.[1][5] His Christmas parodies—especially the 1987 album Twisted Christmas, featuring “The Twelve Pains of Christmas”—brought him national attention and a gold certification from the RIAA, establishing the Twisted brand that would later be attached to his Seattle show and band of regular collaborators.[1][3][4]

In 1987 Rivers moved to WIYY “98 Rock” in Baltimore, where he mixed high‑energy morning‑show antics with an ambitious schedule of parody production, famously staying on the air for 11 days during a Baltimore Orioles losing streak—a stunt that won Billboard’s Radio Promotion of the Year and cemented his reputation for immersive radio theater.[1][3][4][5] In 1989 he relocated to Seattle’s KISW, launching Bob Rivers Twisted Radio, a fast‑paced ensemble morning show blending rock, sketch comedy, listener calls, and professionally recorded parody songs, and later continued similar formats at KZOK and KJR for a 25‑year Seattle run.[1][4][5] Musically, Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio specialized in style‑perfect parody, re‑creating rock, pop, and Christmas genres with meticulous studio arrangements while twisting the lyrics into sharp topical or seasonal satire; notable songs include “The Twelve Pains of Christmas,” “I Am Santa Claus,” and “What If God Smoked Cannabis.”[1][3][4] After retiring from daily radio in 2014, Rivers continued performing keyboards with Spike & The Impalers and Heart by Heart, pursued hobbies like beekeeping and maple‑syrup making in New England, and recorded a final Twisted Tune after a 2022 cancer diagnosis before his death on March 11, 2025, leaving a legacy as one of U.S. radio’s most prolific and polished musical parodists.[1][3][4]

Within the broader comedy‑music landscape, Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio bridged classic radio novelty traditions and modern rock‑oriented parody, using a full band, strong vocalists, and studio‑grade production to create songs that stood alone outside their broadcast context.[3][4][5] His work influenced the sound of late‑20th‑century American rock morning shows by demonstrating that local radio comedy could be produced with album‑quality musicianship and then syndicated nationally, and his Twisted Christmas catalog in particular became a seasonal staple on rock and classic‑hits stations across North America.[1][3][4][6] Though built around Rivers’ on‑air persona, Twisted Radio functioned as a collaborative troupe of writers, musicians, and comedians whose recurring characters, sketches, and musical parodies helped define Seattle’s radio identity for over two decades.

Fun Facts

• In 1988, Rivers stayed on the air at Baltimore’s WIYY for 11 straight days—sleeping only during songs—until the Baltimore Orioles finally ended a 21‑game losing streak, a promotion that won Billboard’s Radio Promotion of the Year and made him a folk hero to Orioles fans.[1][3][4][5]
• His parody “Breaking Up Is Hard on You,” about the breakup of AT&T’s Bell System, was one of his first major Twisted Tunes and became widely known through radio syndication, helping launch his national reputation before Twisted Christmas.[1][5]
• Rivers’ signature holiday album Twisted Christmas, driven by the hit “The Twelve Pains of Christmas,” was certified gold by the RIAA and turned his offbeat Christmas songs into annual staples on rock stations.[1][3][4]
• After retiring from radio, Rivers pursued beekeeping, maple‑syrup production, and even conquered a fear of flying by becoming a pilot in New England, all while occasionally returning to the studio to record one last Twisted Tune following his cancer diagnosis.[3]

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Dick Ferguson - Owner/manager at WAAF whose leadership and marketing approach shaped Rivers’ understanding of team‑based, promotion‑driven rock radio during the formative years when Twisted Tunes were born.[2] (Development and promotion of early Twisted Tunes segments and related WAAF parody releases) [early–mid 1980s]
• Steve Marx - WAAF executive whose guidance in branding and station strategy helped Rivers refine his niche in high‑concept, personality‑driven morning radio.[2] (Strategic support around The Bob & Zip Show and the Twisted Tunes brand) [early–mid 1980s]
• David Bernstein, Rob Barnett, Steve Stockman - Programmers at WAAF described by Rivers as “brilliant leadership,” who taught him to focus on what he could do better than anyone else—leading directly to the systematic development of Twisted Tunes.[2] (Programming framework and coaching around The Bob & Zip Show and parody production workflow) [early–mid 1980s]

Key Collaborators

• Peter “Zip” Zipfel - Co‑host of The Bob & Zip Show at WAAF; on‑air partner during the period when Rivers first developed and popularized Twisted Tunes.[1][3][4] (The Bob & Zip Show; early Twisted Tunes including “Breaking Up Is Hard on You!” and “I Am Santa Claus” sessions) [early–mid 1980s]
• Sean Donahue - Co‑host with Rivers on KISW’s Bob Rivers Twisted Radio morning show after Rivers moved from Baltimore to Seattle.[1][5] (Bob Rivers Twisted Radio on KISW) [from 1989 (late 1980s–early 1990s)]
• Mike “Spike” O’Neill - Brought from Baltimore to Seattle as sportscaster, writer, impressionist, and later bandmate; core member of the Twisted Radio creative and musical team.[1][3][5] (Bob Rivers Twisted Radio; Spike & The Impalers; numerous Twisted Tunes vocal performances and sketches) [late 1980s–2010s]
• Spike & The Impalers - House rock band associated with Rivers’ show, featuring Rivers on keyboards and providing the live and studio backing for many Twisted Tunes and live performances.[3] (Live parody performances; club and event shows; backing for Twisted Radio–related material) [2000s–2010s]
• Heart by Heart - Band featuring original Heart members with whom Rivers performed keyboards, extending his role beyond parody into classic‑rock performance.[3] (Regional live shows playing the Heart catalog and classic rock repertoire) [post‑2014 (after radio retirement)]
• Sheffield Recording Studios (Baltimore) - Studio that partnered with WIYY and Rivers to record and polish his Twisted Tunes during the 98 Rock era, giving his parodies a professional, band‑like sound.[4][5] (Baltimore‑period Twisted Tunes sessions, including material released on Twisted Christmas follow‑ups) [late 1980s]
• American Comedy Network (KATZ/Newcity) - Syndication service that distributed Rivers’ parodies to U.S. and Canadian stations, effectively making his Twisted Tunes a national feature.[1][5] (Syndicated parody cuts such as “Breaking Up Is Hard on You” and other early Twisted Tunes) [early–mid 1980s]

Artists Influenced

• Regional and national rock morning shows (Seattle and U.S. market) - Rivers’ success with Twisted Radio demonstrated that locally produced parody songs could be recorded with studio‑level musicianship and syndicated widely, influencing how rock stations integrated original comedy and music into their morning formats.[1][3][4][5] (Twisted Christmas series; ongoing Twisted Tunes catalog aired on KISW, KZOK, KJR and via syndication) [late 1980s–2010s]
• Younger Seattle radio talent and show staff - Colleagues and successors at KISW, KZOK, and KJR have credited Rivers as a mentor whose collaborative show model and work ethic shaped their approach to ensemble‑based, content‑heavy morning radio.[3][7] (Bob Rivers Twisted Radio; The Bob Rivers Show; Bob, Spike & Joe) [1990s–2010s]

Discography

Top Tracks

1. Didn't I Get This Last Year? (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
2. There's Another Santa Claus (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
3. Jingle Hells Bells (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
4. You've Got a Brand New Pair of Figure Skates (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
5. G'Bye Ding a Ling (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
6. O Little Town of Bethlehem (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
7. Teddy the Red-Nosed Senator (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
8. Grahbe Yahbalz (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
9. I Came Upon a Roadkill Deer (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)
10. White Ford Bronco (Bob Rivers & Twisted Radio - Twisted Christmas Boxed Set)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia