KNAC Returns: Legendary Rock Station Relaunches in California's High Desert

At midnight on Halloween, KNAC returns to FM radio in California’s High Desert, 30 years after signing off 105.5 FM with Metallica’s “Fade to Black” on February 15, 1995. The question isn’t whether nostalgia can fuel a comeback, it’s whether a terrestrial FM station can recapture what made KNAC legendary in the first place.

The Glory Days Were Real

KNAC 105.5 FM launched its “Pure Rock” heavy metal format on January 8, 1986, and instantly became something special. The launch came after four consecutive sold-out Iron Maiden shows at the Long Beach Arena proved that heavy metal was more than an underground fad. Despite a weak signal that barely covered the LA market, KNAC built a fiercely loyal fanbase that turned the station into a cultural phenomenon.

From 1986 to 1995, KNAC was the soundtrack for Southern California metalheads. The station played AC/DC, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest when other stations wouldn’t touch them. It helped break bands like Metallica and Megadeth into the mainstream. KNAC sold merchandise nationwide, influenced the heavy metal scene, and eventually earned induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014.

The station’s bumper stickers and T-shirts became ubiquitous symbols of rock rebelliousness throughout Southern California. Even people in Oklahoma knew what KNAC was because major artists wore the station’s shirts. That’s how deep the cultural impact ran.

The Streaming Years Kept the Brand Alive

After the FM signal went dark in 1995, KNAC.com kept the brand alive as an internet radio stream starting in February 1998. I didn’t grow up in Southern California, so I never experienced the original 105.5 FM broadcast. But in high school, I spent hours streaming KNAC.com, discovering bands and diving deep into the world of heavy metal from hundreds of miles away.

The internet stream proved that KNAC’s appeal transcended geography. Without the constraints of terrestrial radio, KNAC.com could be even more adventurous with its playlist. It maintained the attitude and the community that made the original station special, just without the FM dial position.

The Challenge of Returning to FM

Now KNAC is back on FM, broadcasting on 96.9 in Lenwood/Barstow, 94.9 in Baker, and 99.7 HD3 in Mountain Pass, covering the I-15 corridor from Southern California to Las Vegas. Heftel Broadcasting is relaunching the brand with Gonzo Greg Spillane, who worked his way from intern to morning host at the original station, now serving as President of Rock.

The setup sounds promising. The opening hours will feature archival clips, legendary voices like Thrasher and Jack Trash, and those infamous moments that made KNAC’s reputation. The playlist will mix modern acts like Five Finger Death Punch and Bad Omens with classics from Mötley Crüe and Bon Jovi.

But can it work in 2025?

What Made KNAC Special Can’t Be Replicated

The original KNAC succeeded because of timing, circumstance, and a willingness to take risks that most broadcasters wouldn’t. The station operated with a weak signal in a market dominated by giants like KMET and KLOS, which gave it underdog credibility. It played music that wasn’t on other stations because it had nothing to lose. The heavy metal scene was exploding in the mid-1980s, with bands selling out arenas and going platinum despite limited radio support.

Those conditions don’t exist anymore. By 1994, the LA hard-rock community had become virtually nonexistent, and the culture around hard-rock music had undergone massive social and musical upheaval. Today, radio itself has been diminished by streaming services, podcasts, and algorithm-driven playlists. The rebellious attitude that defined KNAC has to navigate 2025 broadcast regulations and corporate ownership structures that didn’t exist in the same way 40 years ago.

The High Desert Location Might Be Perfect

Here’s the twist: KNAC’s new location in California’s High Desert might be exactly what it needs. The station isn’t trying to compete in the Los Angeles market where expectations and competition would be overwhelming. It’s serving a corridor of highway towns and desert communities that actually need a real rock station with personality.

Spillane told Blabbermouth, “The spirit of KNAC was never about living in the past, it was about kicking down the door to the future.” That’s the right mindset. If the new KNAC tries to be a museum piece replaying 1980s glory, it’ll fail. If it uses the KNAC spirit to break new bands and serve its actual community, it has a chance.

Nostalgia Alone Won’t Be Enough

I want KNAC to succeed. I want it to recapture some of that attitude that made the original station legendary. But nostalgia alone won’t sustain a terrestrial radio station in 2025. The new KNAC needs to be genuinely good radio, not just a tribute act trading on a famous name.

The pieces are in place. Spillane understands what made KNAC special because he lived it. The station will stream globally on knac.com and knac.fm, combining terrestrial reach with internet distribution. The playlist respects the legends while featuring modern bands. Former personalities are returning alongside new voices.

But will it have the same rebellious edge that defined Pure Rock in 1986? Will it break new bands and influence the rock scene like the original did? Will it matter to listeners in 2025 the way it mattered to metalheads in 1990?

Time will tell. I’ll be listening when KNAC returns at midnight on Halloween, hoping that some of that old magic survived the 30-year gap. The spirit might still be there. Whether it can thrive in 2025’s radio landscape is the real question.