Legendary Rock DJ Jim Ladd Dies at 75

Ladd, Known for His Free-Form Radio Style, Inspired Tom Petty's 'The Last DJ' Album

Jim Ladd, the legendary rock DJ and host of SiriusXM’s classic rock radio station, has died at the age of 75.
Ladd was known for his free-form radio style, and his career spanned over 50 years, during which he interviewed many of the greatest artists in his Los Angeles studios and on SiriusXM’s Deep Tracks channel.
He was also the inspiration behind Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers’ 2002 album ‘The Last DJ’, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his achievements.
Following news of his death, numerous famous faces from the entertainment world have taken to social media to pay their respects to the DJ.
Ladd also had a career in the film industry, including the role of an all-night DJ in Cameron Crowe’s 1989 film Say Anything…, and shared the semi-autobiographical book Radio Waves: Life And Revolution On The FM Dial in 1991.