Problem Children
The Problem Children is the former Friday afternoon show of Australian radio network PBA-FM. It broadcasts to the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia.
The Show
Only broadcasting to Adelaide, the Problem Children is hosted by Angus Warhead and Michael, and two new additions only referring to themselves by nickname of 'Ghetto' and 'TEST' as their on-air names, they refuse to reveal their true names.
The show is broadcast over 89.7 on the FM band from 5pm to 6pm Friday fortnights, and contains many segments including Professor Warhead's Green Day Lecture, Listener Feedback and Topic Of The Week as well as many MusicAL segments in which the show focuses on a certain genre of music.
The show rarely has guests and is very confined to its own hosts. Occasionally former members and staff join the show, but only on special occasions or promotions.
History
Prior to its success, the Problem Children (then known as PGHS Radio One) had a lineup of four, including Sandman, Michael, DJ Smooth and Mystery Man. The show wasn't without its flaws, all of the hosts had only just started in radio. As time progressed, the show changed in experience and format.
Three weeks into production, an event called for Mystery Man to leave the team. After a minor dispute, Mystery Man left. Only a week later Sandman supposedly "Choked on a glass of water and passed away", and Angus Warhead took his place. Widely believed that Angus Warhead is the real name of Sandman, as they both share exactly the same voice.
The show, in a decision that happed just moments before going to air, had its name changed to the Problem Children, which was the result of a suggestion by Angus Warhead. Along with the name, the format changed dramatically, and the basis of the show became to play some of the best music from the Punk, Hard Rock and Metal genres, as well as taking a new approach to recently events. DJ Smooth performed just one show of The New Problem Children.
DJ Smooth eventually backed out of the team after the format shifted, and it was called for two new members to be found. It was then that the team took on two new members, Ghetto and TEST. After what was named as "The best first performance in the history of the show", the two became permanent in the shows hosting lineup. Shortly after they were inducted, the team once again changed slightly for the better, as the team then took on a new approach to their talk, which involved creating their own topics and media.
Angus Warhead and Michael went in to the Pre-Production business by creating several sound clips for the show. The two were eventually heard on air by many local foundations and businesses, some of which asked for advertising. All ads were made to conform with the Problem Children format, but PBA-FM eventually began to play them at random intervals throughout the week. Michael later issued an online statement. "Me and Angus Warhead, while working on ads, don't plan to sell out and the show will be our primary concern."
Cancellation
By the end of 2006 the group experienced difficulties, described on the website as "differences between the hosts on our opinions of format and musical genre". Negotiations for time allocations went under way shortly after the initial decision and within a week of the initial issue, the team split, with Michael & TEST forming their own show, Test & Mike, and Angus Warhead and Ghetto forming their show, We Don't Exist. The separate shows are formatted differently to reflect on the opinions of the hosts. The hosts, despite some criticism of each other on air in the first 2 weeks, have made clear that they do not have any grudges or disapprovals of either team or their shows.
They reunited as the Problem Children in early 2007 for the 50th show, in which the group announced that despite their earlier team separation, they would both enter in to the SPARK radio project and would occasionally exchange topics and content across shows.
Their final reunion aired on the 5th of May, 2007 as the "Masters Of Mayhem". The episode aimed to be more like a Triple M program, and was named after an early name of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
Trivia
- Little known fact, Angus Warhead originally referred to himself as Angus Warhead Laney, after a brand of guitar amplifier.
- After being heard on air, Angus Warhead was selected to narrate a radio advertisement for the South Australian Metropolitan Musical Theatre Company, for the performance 'Annie Get Your Gun'. Show host Michael also produced and edited the advertisement. The recordings have since been made available via the podcast feed.