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RIP Martin Streek of Edge 102
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| Rodrico |
EYE WEEKLY has learned tonight that former 102.1 The Edge on-air personality Martin Streek has committed suicide.
Streek had been one of the local modern-rock station's most recognizable voices for two decades, hosting the popular Thursday 30 countdown as well as live-to-air weekend broadcasts from the Phoenix Concert Theatre and Velvet Underground. However, in the wake of recent station restructuring, Streek and fellow Edge veteran Barry Taylor were shown the door this past May. Late Monday evening — following a reportedly grave Facebook status update — I was informed by a former Edge colleague that Streek had taken his own life.
As alternative rock went mainstream at the turn of the '90s, Martin Streek was a most eager enabler, an early vocal supporter of the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins. I remember him emceeing a Porno for Pyros/Flaming Lips show at the Masonic Temple in June of '93 (back when he had long hair), using that distinct low voice of his to stoke the mosh pit. One of my first writing assignments for EYE WEEKLY was covering some Korn promotional tank-ride down Yonge Street in August of 1998, after which Streek used a few minutes of his Thursday 30 airtime to slag my less-than-enthusiastic account of the events. Hearing this familiar voice of my youth utter my name (even disdainfully), I felt like I had made it.
More recently, I had come to know Streek casually while doing my weekly Thursday afternoon on-air appearances at The Edge storefront studio on Yonge. The man was always in good spirits, always having a laugh and always looked like he was ready to run a marathon. It's sad to think that kind of vigor can fade away so fast.
Eye Weekly Article Link
Sad to hear, a recognizable voice from the Toronto nightlife. A true original who will be missed. |
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| kotsy |
Heard about this a few hours ago. He was easily my favourite announcer and the reason I took radio in college. His on-air presence during the live-to-air shows were always memorable.
RIP Martin :(
| quote: | Originally posted at http://torontoist.com/2009/07/martin_streek_dead.php
Martin Streek is Dead
Legendary radio announcer Martin Streek, most famous for his work on CFNY/Edge 102 over several decades, before being unceremoniously fired from the station in May, is dead. He committed suicide on Monday.
The news was first reported late Monday night by Mike Boon, based on comments left on Boon's article about Streek's firing. Boon's article about Streek's death (which has since been updated) was met with no small amount of confusion and skepticism earlier tonight, but Streek's death has since been confirmed on Twitter by people close to Streek (like Kneale Mann), as well as to Torontoist by several current and former Edge employees who knew him.
David Marsden, CFNY's founder, wrote on The Southern Ontario/WNY Radio-TV Forum that Streek "put on his wings earlier today, to the shock of most everyone....Good night Martin. We don't know what forced you to take this step but we do wish you a wonderful and peaceful rest." According to Marsden, Streek's final Facebook status update, set on Monday, was:
"So...I guess that's it...thanks everyone...I'm sorry to those I should be sorry to, I love you to those that I love, and I will see you all again soon (not too soon though)... Let the stories begin."
CORRECTION: JULY 7, 2009 In our rush to verify whether the initial report of Streek's death was a mistake or not, we made a mistake of our own, and originally noted Streek's age as just shy of fifty-seven. The biography on Edge's site that Streek had written saying as much, however, was a joke—the bio, and date of birth, were that of the Clash's Joe Strummer. Streek, we're told, always held his age close to his chest anyway. Torontoist sincerely regrets the error. |
102.1 The Edge Live To Air @ Joe - November 29th, 2004
Club 102 Live to Air @ The Phoenix - June 5th, 2004 |
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| VDub |
| Depressed for getting canned after 20 years at edge? |
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| Rodrico |
| You would think that with a radio announcers salary, that 20 years of that would of drive someone to commit suicide, but clearly this is a man who loved to be on the radio and love working for The Edge. Very tragic... |
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| SPANIARD |
| And the weird continues... |
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| The Ear |
| Right ty news. Got the heads up last night. Won't forget the evenings spent chilling w/ Streeky & a few burners on the roof at Whisky Saigon back in the day. |
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| urban_legend |
| Everyone has Demons, Martin was no exception. |
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| 1dawoman |
Apparently his facebook status doubled as a suicide note:
So...I guess that's it...thanks everyone...I'm sorry to those I should be sorry to, I love you to those that I love, and I will see you all again soon (not too soon though)... Let the stories begin.
Sad. |
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| StereoPrincess |
| Such sad news. |
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| kotsy |
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