Welcome to my corner of q101.com. I’m Alex Quigley, and
I’m probably the only DJ ever to be hired here on three
different occasions. 2000, 2004, 2008…I’m the Summer
Olympics of Q101 weekend DJs. Instead of medals, I get awarded
with concert tickets and free food in our station’s kitchen.
Fair deal!
I was born in Kankakee. I lived in Elgin until I was 7. Then
I grew up just on the edge of Q101’s signal range in Belvidere,
Illinois. If you’re iffy on local geography, it’s
that small town way out west on I-90 with the oasis and the
Chrysler plant. Fine, let’s just call it Rockford.
I started working in radio while still in college down in Champaign,
and got lucky enough to get the dream job here at Q at an early
age. I left for a couple years to pursue a dream of starting
up a new rock station from scratch. (Bakersfield, California
is NOT the California you stereotypically dream of, trust me.)
After that building burned down, I came back to Q for a couple
of years. Then I got laid off for six weeks. Now I’m back
again. And there’s my quick career overview!
You’ll hear my voice often every weekend, plus from time-to-time
when the weekday jocks go on vacation or get sick. I live waaaay
up north in Round Lake Beach at a point that’s virtually
equidistant from downtown Milwaukee and the Q101 studios. Hell
of a commute, but my fiancé and baby daughter are happy
with it. (That’s right, I’m taken. We part-time
deejays got GAME, y’all.)
I love talking with our listeners on the request lines. When
someone calls up and whips out a reference to some random crazy
contest Q101 did in 2002 or remembers an awesome Twisted show
from the late 90s, it makes us feel awesome. You should do that
next time you hear me on the air.
If that wasn’t enough about me, here’s more. The
following statements are true:
I love Guitar Hero and am far too good at it for my own good.
I’m so good at it that people ask me to play it for them
just so they can make fun of me. Those people are jerks.
I am not related to the people that own either of the Quigley’s
Irish Pubs in Mt. Greenwood or Naperville, but I sure would
enjoy free beer from them regardless.
I am not related to Cook County 10th District Commissioner Mike
Quigley, but I sure would enjoy free political favors from him
regardless.
I am not related to DePaul’s 5’10” basketball
star guard Allie Quigley, but I sure would enjoy free basketballs.
I am not related to fictional character Matthew Quigley from
Tom Selleck’s 1990 western classic Quigley Down Under,
but I am related to Doc Holliday.
I subscribe to Sky and Telescope. I can name all 88 constellations
in the night sky and believe that dark skies are a natural resource.
I’m a huge Cubs and Bears fan. I used to be a Bulls fan
but just can’t seem to care about the NBA anymore. I don’t
hate the White Sox, which just makes Sox fans hate me more,
I’m sure.
I own a convertible that bears many scars from the brutal parking
battles of Chicago. They’re like badges of honor. Too-expensive
-to-bother-to-fix badges of honor.
Q101 has the best DJs on the radio in Chicago.
I believe the biggest division in our society is not between
rich and poor, black and white, straight or gay, liberal or
conservative…it’s between people with kids and people
without kids. Everything about life fundamentally changes when
you’re a parent.
I own a Wii and am more entertained by the old-school games
than the new ones. Ninja Gaiden is totally unfair.
The best times I’ve ever had at bars have been in dirty
dives with regular people, not at hotspots with the beautiful
people.
When the Cubs finally do win a World Series title, more grown
men will cry at once than any other moment in Chicago history.
Do three things to win at life: take pride in your work, respect
your fellow men and women regardless of their station in life,
and have a sense of humor about yourself. My dad said that and
it’s probably the smartest thing ever.
My dad also shot Roman candles through our neighbors’
front screen door on the Fourth of July, 1987.
I think Tom Skilling is underpaid.
I think The Soup’s Joel McHale should take over for Conan
O’Brien, and that I should take over for Joel McHale.
I think this list of statements is starting to remind me of
Baz Luhrmann’s “Everybody’s Free (To Wear
Sunscreen)”. Okay, really it’s Mary Schmich’s
words, and if you don’t know who that is you should look
her up.
I think football kickers and punters are underappreciated.
I am not allowed to play blackjack at most casinos for more
than a couple of hands. Thanks, Griffin Investigators.
On a warm summer day Lake Shore Drive is just as awesome as
A1A, PCH, or Kalakaua.
I think something is funny the first time, funnier the second
time, even funnier the third time, then less funny each time
after that until the tenth time. Then it gets really funny again.
I really want to get on a prime-time TV trivia game show, because
no one wants to play me for money in Trivial Pursuit anymore.
I can’t believe you read all the way to the bottom of
this list! If some of these statements made you snicker or nod
your head in agreement, then tune in. You’ll have a good
time. Check out my Top Fives if you want even more, and feel
free to submit any ideas for Top Fives. Thanks for your time.
