By DONNA BALANCIA
UPDATE 12/13 – Ending a three-month mystery, Jonesy told his KLOS-FM audience he had a heart operation and recuperation, which delayed his return to the radio. The following week, on 12/20 he did not broadcast during his designated time, but he returned with guest Robby Krieger of The Doors on Jan. 3, 2020, he hosted Fred Armisen the following week and hosted Duff McKagan at The Viper Room on Jan. 17.
“Three months ago I was going to start the 1-day a week,” he told his audience on KLOS-FM with cardiologist Dr. Eli Gang by his side on the air.
“The day before I was gonna come in I was in Malibu I was with my friend Richard and my face started feeling wonky,” he said. “I asked him, ‘Does my face look funny to you? He said ‘Yes.’ ”
Jonesy said he went to St. John’s Hospital and the first affliction turned out to be Bell’s Palsy.
“I had no idea what it meant other than when I smiled I look like Popeye,” he said. “Three weeks later it was getting a little better, I was getting ready to come back on September 13th, Friday the 13th. I went to bed at 11 and woke up at 2 oclock with a pain in my chest. I drove meself to CVC (CVS) in Beverly Hills for aspirin …”
Shortly thereafter, he drove himself to Cedars, he said.
Dr. Gang helped Jonesy explain a bit, saying the popular DJ and former Sex Pistol went to the cardiac cath lab. He said surgeons opened a vessel that had closed in his the heart. “They opened it in time,” the doctor said.
It was a 90 percent blockage, the doctor said.
“In your case they averted a larger heart attack by getting to your heart and opening it up,” he said.
Jonesy got two stints.
He asked the lady at the CVS: “I said ‘What’s a good aspirin for heart attack?”
He said the slow recovery has been a “nightmare.”
UPDATE 12/13 – morning
It’s looking good for Jonesy’s return to the radio, as the Jonesy’s Jukebox Instagram post indicates today.
UPDATE: Will Former Sex Pistol Steve Jones and ‘Jonesy’s Jukebox’ Return (With Slash) to KLOS-FM?
UPDATE: 12/12 Will Jonesy return to KLOS-FM this Friday, Dec. 13? The KLOS-FM website indicates all systems are go for Jonesy to host Slash at The Viper Room.
We have heard this before but hopefully Jonesy will make finally make his triumphant Fridays-only return to the station. More here at KLOS-FM.
It has been a roller coaster of hope as fans have been promised the return of the beloved D.J. Perhaps this time, on Friday, it will prove to be the real deal.
See our previous reports:
UPDATE: 11/8 – Despite ads for Jonesy’s Jukebox on the KLOS-FM website and some Instagram activity, again, no Jonesy on the air on this particular Friday. Despite our messages, we have received no return phone calls from the PR at KLOS-FM. Marci Wiser is doing a good job holding down the fort.
UPDATE: 9/20 – No mention whatsoever of Jonesy or the show Jonesy’s Jukebox and show did not materialize on Friday.
UPDATE: 9/20 – Full Metal Jackie “filled in” for Jonesy on KLOS-FM in a special edition of Jonesy’s Jukebox with studio guest Jack Black on Friday 9/20.
UPDATE: 9/17 – No Jonesy again last week and comments from KLOS-FM include that he “had a setback” and “he will return when he is 100 percent,” on the KLOS Facebook Page.
While some fans on the page are worried about his condition, others suggest that there may be a parting of the ways.
UPDATE 9/12 – Steve Jones may finally be returning to radio, according to his Instagram post on 9/12.
On his Instagram account, he wrote “Ok! 12 bells! Friday!” which listeners have to come to know as his opening line on the show. See his crude Instagram announcement here.
UPDATE 8/16 – The first Friday-only edition of Jonesy’s Jukebox on KLOS-FM, which was supposed to feature Orville Peck did not materialize.
A blog devoted to his show said the episode has been “canceled” and host Steve Jones is ill.
In response to a dial-in call on the air at 12:30 p.m., KLOS radio host Marci Wiser said Jones is “normally going to be doing Friday, today he’s sick.”
Steve Jones, the midday host of KLOS-FM Los Angeles’ radio show “Jonesy’s Jukebox,” will be cutting back his daily show to one day a week, he said on the air last week.
Towards the end of his show Friday, Aug. 9, the well-loved former Sex Pistol told his audience he was “burned out” on doing the show five days a week and he would cut back to broadcasting on Fridays only. Orville Peck was scheduled to be on the show Friday, Aug. 16.
“I got some good news and I got some bad news,” Jones told his audience in announcing the schedule change. “The good news is I’m only gonna be doing once a week Friday from noon to 2. The bad news is I’m only going to be doing it from noon to 2 Friday. I just decided I just want a break. Getting burned out doing it five times a week. We’ll see how it goes. That’s as simple as I can say it without getting all stupid.”
Jones had been hosting the show daily at “12 bells” since 2016. His guests have run the gamut from musicians and artists to photographers and filmmakers. His off-the-cuff interview style and funny quips made for good interviews over the years. His KLOS interviews can be heard here.
“I definitely need a breather,” Jones said. “And I don’t know what’s going to happen. I am really looking forward to just doing it once a week. We’ll try to fun fill it once a week for two hours.”
Jones said: “It’ll give me a lot more time to catch up with me Playstation and exercise and get in shape and whatever else I’m up to. Maybe do a solo album, maybe a cover album. Now I’ll have the time to do that. I think I’ll record it in the bathroom.”
Jones started “Jonesy’s Jukebox” in 2004 on Santa Monica’s Indie 103.1. The show was picked up by KROQ in 2010 and broadcast for three years. KLOS started running Jonesy’s Jukebox in 2015, expanded it to a daily show in 2016.
Jones has amassed a strong following not only on the radio show, but also on his Instagram account, where he has 75.6 thousand followers. On social media, he posts dramatic and funny 1-minute skits and performances, usually from his bathroom.
“I do like the minute,” he said. “And you don’t have to go anywhere. Thanks for being fans.”
KLOS was purchased from Cumulus by Meruelo Media last April.
