Strangest Day In Philly Radio History

Two legendary figures in Philadelphia radio history departed on Friday, and Howard Stern made a rare radio appearance, too.

Link: Howard Stern Returns To WYSP

It may have been the strangest day in Philadelphia radio history, as CBS killed off rock station institution WYSP-FM at 3 p.m.

The first person on the new WIP-FM was Howard Eskin, who would end his full-time 25-year radio career later in the day.

And earlier in the day, Howard Stern appeared on WYSP-FM for a 30-minute salute to Philadelphia. The person who interviewed Stern was Eskin's son, Spike, who was also just about to lose his job at WYSP.

WYSP played "Fade To Black" by Metallica as its last song as it approached 3 p.m. After about 10 seconds of silence, the CBS-owned station became WIP-FM.

Ironically, long-time WIP sports talk "king" Howard Eskin was the first person on the new 94.1 WIP-FM, doing his last full-time show for both stations.

Eskin is also gone from the Philadelphia afternoon radio waves after Friday, as WIP tries to compete with 97.5 The Phanatic.

On Tuesday, Sept. 6 the station will officially stop its all-music format and go to sports-talk radio full time.

Earlier on Friday, one of its last guests on WYSP was Howard Stern, who lauded the station with praise for 30 minutes.

Stern called in to WYSP for a very rare session on free radio with Spike Eskin, and spent a half hour speaking about his love for Philadelphia, FM radio and WYSP.