Riki Rachtman

Riki Rachtman's "The Ball" debuted on talk outlet KLSX-FM (97.1) this week, returning the tattoo-covered rocker to the station where he was fired in 1997 for punching a fellow host. Starting at midnight Saturday, "The Ball" will feature two hours of heavy metal, thrash and punk, spun by the former host of MTV's "Headbanger's Ball." "Everything that's loud and fast," Rachtman said. "It's the ultimate Saturday-night, hard-core party show."

Riki Rachtman's "The Ball" debuted on talk outlet KLSX-FM (97.1) this week, returning the tattoo-covered rocker to the station where he was fired in 1997 for punching a fellow host. Starting at midnight Saturday, "The Ball" will feature two hours of heavy metal, thrash and punk, spun by the former host of MTV's "Headbanger's Ball." "Everything that's loud and fast," Rachtman said. "It's the ultimate Saturday-night, hard-core party show."

Outrageous and loud talk from such personalities as shock jock Howard Stern is the order of the day at KLSX-FM (97.1). But on Monday, the station's prime-time host decided to let his fists do the talking. Riki Rachtman, the host of "Riki Rachtman Radio" or, as he calls it, "The Triple R," was arrested on suspicion of battery after punching another host, Douglas Steckler, at the Wilshire Boulevard radio station near Koreatown, police said.

On any given night, high-heeled, platinum blonds vied for attention on the dance floor. Aspiring rock musicians with impossibly teased hair crowded the bar and offered their standard pickup line: "Come see my band play." In VIP corners, rock notables mixed easily with Hollywood scenesters. And always there was the thunder of loud music, the promise of fast sex, the smell of hairspray. A decade after its demise, this is how the faithful remember the Cathouse.

Riki Rachtman, the KLSX-FM (97.1) talk show host who faces a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly punching station colleague Doug Steckler at the office Monday, got his own one-two punch Wednesday. He got fired. And the firing, Rachtman said from home, came without severance pay. KLSX general manager Bob Moore said that Rachtman was "terminated today for misconduct. . . . By no means do we condone violence."

KROQ's "Loveline" is one of the three top-rated FM evening shows in the Los Angeles area. The local call-in program went into syndication three months ago and can currently be heard in 19 markets across the United States. Now "Loveline"--which serves as a medium through which teens and young adults can receive advice about sex, relationship and substance abuse problems--is preparing to splinter off into television as a late-night show this fall.

On any given night, high-heeled, platinum blonds vied for attention on the dance floor. Aspiring rock musicians with impossibly teased hair crowded the bar and offered their standard pickup line: "Come see my band play." In VIP corners, rock notables mixed easily with Hollywood scenesters. And always there was the thunder of loud music, the promise of fast sex, the smell of hairspray. A decade after its demise, this is how the faithful remember the Cathouse.

"Everybody talks about the skeletons in their closet. Well, that's mine right there," says Riki Rachtman, referring to his appearance in the film "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years." In Penelope Spheeris' 1988 documentary about the outrageous and often self-absorbed world of heavy-metal music, a wild-eyed Rachtman can be found extolling the salacious aspects of his Los Angeles hard-rock den, the Cathouse.

KLSX Changes: Radio station KLSX-FM (97.1) will shuffle its daytime schedule Monday in what Perry Michael Simon, KLSX program director, called an effort to "improve the flow" from shock jock Howard Stern's morning drive slot through the afternoon. "The Regular Guys" team of Larry Wachs and Eric Hessler will move from afternoon drive to the 11 a.m.-2 p.m. slot immediately following Stern. Ken Ober and Susan Olsen, previously heard from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., will switch to 2-4 p.m.

After five months as an afternoon talk show host on Los Angeles radio station KLSX-FM (97.1), Kato Kaelin has kissed his career there goodbye. His agent, Raphael Berko, said Thursday that a "window of opportunity" had come up in television, film and a variety of charitable appearances and that Kaelin "decided to take it. . . . Being limited to radio just wasn't appropriate." Berko declined to say specifically what TV and movie offers America's most famous former guest house tenant has received.

Riki Rachtman, the KLSX-FM (97.1) talk show host who faces a misdemeanor battery charge for allegedly punching station colleague Doug Steckler at the office Monday, got his own one-two punch Wednesday. He got fired. And the firing, Rachtman said from home, came without severance pay. KLSX general manager Bob Moore said that Rachtman was "terminated today for misconduct. . . . By no means do we condone violence."

Outrageous and loud talk from such personalities as shock jock Howard Stern is the order of the day at KLSX-FM (97.1). But on Monday, the station's prime-time host decided to let his fists do the talking. Riki Rachtman, the host of "Riki Rachtman Radio" or, as he calls it, "The Triple R," was arrested on suspicion of battery after punching another host, Douglas Steckler, at the Wilshire Boulevard radio station near Koreatown, police said.

KROQ's "Loveline" is one of the three top-rated FM evening shows in the Los Angeles area. The local call-in program went into syndication three months ago and can currently be heard in 19 markets across the United States. Now "Loveline"--which serves as a medium through which teens and young adults can receive advice about sex, relationship and substance abuse problems--is preparing to splinter off into television as a late-night show this fall.

"Everybody talks about the skeletons in their closet. Well, that's mine right there," says Riki Rachtman, referring to his appearance in the film "The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years." In Penelope Spheeris' 1988 documentary about the outrageous and often self-absorbed world of heavy-metal music, a wild-eyed Rachtman can be found extolling the salacious aspects of his Los Angeles hard-rock den, the Cathouse.

Well sports fans, this may be the last chance to bid farewell to Kings hockey star Luc Robitaille, who was traded this month to Pittsburgh. But what an L.A. way to go--surrounded by celebrities, with the Spin Doctors singing the National Anthem. Robitaille will lead a parade of professional and celebrity players in the Rock 'N the Puck Celebrity Hockey Game, on the Kings' home ice at the Great Western Forum at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

There's something in every rock star that likes to get up on stage in front of an adoring audience and let fly, say, yet another version of "Long Tall Sally" or a take on "Cherry Bomb" like the ones you used to hear at high school dances. Celebrity jam nights are popular at upscale Hollywood clubs, especially if Slash or Miami Steve shows up. And it's a rare arena hard-rock concert that doesn't end with some kind of impromptu all-star jam.