Red Fades to Black prides itself on bringing a unique blend of rock, metal, and hardcore music to listeners, from heavy hitting world famous bands to local and unsigned bands. Sick of corporate radio and tired of commercial radio's 'so called' rock, Jared and Gina set out to bring the best of rock, metal, and hardcore to an audience worldwide with music including some you will never hear on any commercial station. Red Fades to Black has interviewed a variety of guests including comedian Dane Cook, rock singer Lennon Murphy, Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D., The Break, and many more. In addition to music and interviews, RFTB has also put on local shows called The Nocturne, the most recent in November 2004 which was for charity and included acts How It Ends, Forever I Burn, Cipher, The Divining and others. But we're not just about the music either. Jared and Gina also discuss controversial topics, music news, local shows, and mostly everything about something. Throw in a couple'santics and you have a show that only a duo like Gina and Jared could bring to life. Red Fades to Black seeks to push the limits and restrictions of radio...it is like no other broadcast you have ever listened to, truely unique and entertaining.

The History:

Red Fades to Black was first conceived in April of 2003 by Jared Mondelli and Chris Pompeo. The idea of the show was simple; an unscripted show with a focus on rock, metal, and hardcore. An ambitious goal was to have the show become one of the top shows at WEXP Radio, a college radio station in Philadelphia, PA. In August 2003 Red Fades to Black launched its official webpage and began airing as a live show on Friday nights on WEXP La Salle University Radio. WEXP at the time was mainly an online station and as such, RFTB wanted to reach as many listeners as possible through interviews, giveaways, and of course music people had heard of before. Knowing not all of the friends of RFTB were into 'the darker side of La Salle Radio' as it was called; Chris and Jared always kept a lighter, humorous side to the show involving random people in the studio, prank phone calls, and basically whatever came to mind. By the end of September 2003 the show had completed its first interview with the band 'The Break' out of New Jersey. The in-studio interview went well, but wanting to leave a mark early on, RFTB sought more well known interview victims. Before this however, Chris came up with the idea of hosting an all night 12 hour marathon of Red Fades to Black. But not just DJs talking to themselves at 2am, rather a marathon featuring live bands playing in the studio. A few setbacks reduced this event to only one live band playing, however it was a small success in the eyes of the studio and of the DJs. Around the same time the first official RFTB merchandise was created in the form of black t-shirts with the show name on the front, 'the darker side of lasalle radio' on the back and a small WEXP logo below the neck. A few weeks later, Red Fades to Black would interview well known comedian Dane Cook live over the phone. This interview is regarded as one of the most well known interviews done at WEXP Radio. It went well and gained the show a slighter larger fanbase outside the genre of rock, metal, and hardcore.

The show returned in the Spring 2004 with plans to launch a larger version of the Nocturne 12 hour broadcast. Before this occurred Chris and Jared interviewed rocker Lennon Murphy. Also at this time the idea of the RFTB Army mailing list and street time was launched. A special webpage was created for 'members' with exclusive content The Nocturne II occurred in March 2004 and included many PA based bands including Inane and Leavenworth. It was broadcast successfully live and was a a lot of good times. However, this event would begin a 5 month silencing of RFTB Radio. During this event, prank calls were recorded and done live on the air. Lets just say one went a little too far and gained the attention of many around the University. The recording of the offending prank was played for higher ups and it was determined Red Fades to Black was to be suspended until August 2004. The good news was that Red Fades to Black would in fact return. It returned at full speed beginning planning for a 3rd Nocturne that promised to be insane. In the meantime the first RFTB stickers were created and quickly found their way all over campus and the world. September 2004 brought a live phone interview with Killswitch Engage bassist Mike D. Also at this time a special edition of a popular Philly graffiti artist's character 'BoB' was created for RFTB and formed as a sticker. The 3rd Nocturne was the be a live event, but not to be broadcast online, rather a concert opened to the public held at La Salle. Bands were booked from NY, PA, and NJ and included Fall River, The Divining, Cipher, How It Ends, Forever I Burn, and Dead Again with a date set for November 14th 2004. Proceeds from the concert would be given to Jared's cousin Todd suffering from Cystic Fibrosis. While planning the concert, plans were also laid out to launch a new and more kick-ass T-shirt for Red Fades to Black

. However in the end of October and in the midst of much planning, Chris left Red Fades to Black radio over-creative differences. With the Nocturne fast approaching, Jared finalized planning with the help of soon to be new co-host Gina and also WEXP staff. The night before the concert local New Jersey celebrity Tommy Avallone of Wasted Apples/Nitty Gritty fame came by the studio for what was a hilarious interview. The concert the next night went incredibly well and raised 500 dollars for Todd. During the final band's set and many believe due to poor security work; a fan too into the music crashed through a wall causing some damage to the venue. Security confronted the band's singer, throwing down the mic and declaring the show was over. After some heated words the show was shut down. Red Fades to Black again found itself looking at another suspension from WEXP, possibly for good. The University decided that the incident was accidental and deemed it the responsibility of WEXP to fix the damages. Jared and other concertgoers insisted the situation escalated due to poor private security hired, but in the end WEXP payed for the damages. Red Fades to Black remained on the air, but plans for new merchandise and another Nocturne were up in the air.

2005 saw the creation of Red Fades to Black Official MySpace page and syndication on then Live365 station Radio Domain. The RFTB street team site was taken down and simply turned into a mailing list due to the creation of the MySpace. Gina Monturo who had long assisted RFTB became the new co-host in January 2005 and the show plowed on. Even with these changes the show still kept a lighter side to the often deathly serious word of rock, metal, and hardcore. Random conversations, MadLibs, jokes, and of course music news filled in the gaps between blistering music. In May 2005, Wednesday 13 of Murderdoll's fame was interviewed via phone for RFTB's final show until August 2005. The return in 2005 brought the beginning of a new direction for the show. Over time the music featured on the show would shift to more underground bands seeing as commercial radio was pretty much destroying the image of rock, metal, and hardcore music. Jared also officially became the Music Director of WEXP Radio which began to take up more time then the show. Representing WEXP at the National Media Convention in Kansas City, MO in October 2005 proved to be a learning experience for both Jared and WEXP as a studio. It was discovered that WEXP was one of only a few college radio stations still supporting a free format way of programming. That is shows like Red Fades to Black had no place at many radio stations unless the content was pre planned and made by others.

October 2005 also finally brought the release of the new RFTB shirts which featured the show name on the front and a logo of a half faded away guy with headphones screaming his face off. The art was created by Josh Greer a graphic artist from Bucks Co, PA. The image is actually of his face too. The shirt was created by Seatthole Designs from Seattle, Washington and actually sold quite well. November 2005 saw the creation of Red Fades to Black on Demand. Officially RFTB would be available on iTunes as well as podcast on Podomatic.

Another show had been brewing at WEXP called Dismissing the Cynics and focused on death metal, grind, and heavy metal. It was only natural that many times during 2005/2006 this show teamed up with Red Fades to Black for mini marathon shows. In fact Red Fades to Black's final show on WEXP in April 2006 featured Dismissing the Cynics teamed up with RFTB. After this a long silence fell over the world of Red Fades to Black Radio. Occasional old interviews were posted on iTunes and assisted by Anthony Lucas, the show planned a return to on demand podcasting. The possibility of joining another college radio station in Philadelphia was available, however Gina and Jared decided it was best for their new focus on underground music and anti-censorship, to make the show 100% independent. In November 2006 the show's website and MySpace account went essentially blank until January 2007 when a new show finally surfaced on iTunes, and also streamed on their official MySpace page.

The future for Red Fades to Black looks promising as Gina and Jared prepare to take the show to a whole new level...