Ron Manno & Byran Slade
Radio Hosts
Ron Manno & Byran Slade Born in 1965 in Baltimore, MD, Ron Manno caught the radio "bug" pretty early in life, listening to all kinds of groovy Top 40 songs on 600AM WCAO back in the 70s.
Living in the Parkville area, his travels always took him out Harford Road, where he'd constantly see the sign and building that housed the Broadcasting Institute Of Maryland. Ron knew then his destiny was sealed.
Graduating from the Broadcasting Institute Of Maryland in 1985, Ron caught his first big break when he was hired to do overnights at 96ROCK in Ocean City, MD. Within six months, he was promoted to 7PM - Midnight, where he'd stay until late 1992.
With 96ROCK sadly going off the air, Ron headed back to Baltimore where he was hired at the best heavy metal radio station on the planet, 97Underground.
While the jams at 96ROCK were solid enough, playing the likes of Guns & Roses, Def Leppard and Jon Bon Jovi, Ron had always gravitated toward the metal the station wouldn't play, like Savatage, Metallica, Queensryche and his all - time favorite, Iron Maiden.
It was at 97Underground that Ron was able to play that metal, BUT was also introduced to a whole new world, such as Morbid Angel, Overkill, Armored Saint and Fates Warning.
After one more stop at 1570AM in Towson, MD, Ron's radio career had sadly come to an end in 1996.
While working some very cool day jobs and doing some nightclub DJ work at night, Ron kept jamming all along, looking for one more opportunity to play some metal.
A chance encounter with The Phantom, helped along by his cousin Byran Slade, landed him as one half of the Muay Thai Metal Show here at 97Underground.com!!!!
Ron and Byran happen to be the first born sons of identical twin brothers, so they've been hanging out together since 1971 and playing metal since Ron first played Byran the first Iron Maiden album in 1980.
More importantly, Ron is back with cousin Byran Slade as hosts of the Muay Thai Metal Show, Mondays from 2PM - 4PM with an encore show Sundays 6PM - 8PM right here at 97Underground.com!!!!
Byran Slade has lived and worked in Maryland for eons! Byran achieved many early accomplishments including majoring in cutting class and listening to Metal all day. He also received high marks in cranking bands like Maiden, Savatage, Dirty Looks and Dokken much to the shagrin of the neighbors! He then followed his cousin Ron Manno's astute love for radio and metal his whole life. Given the opportunity to do it all over again Byran says quote "I would like to catch some tasty waves then head over to England and jam with Stones!!!" unquote. Byran also listened to 97Underground with religious regularity throughout his amazing journey. He now believes in giving back to the community by bringing an explosive new chapter of the best heavy metal on earth. The MuayThai Metal Show! Metal Life Matters!
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