Remembering Jim Ladd: The Legendary Rock DJ Who Inspired Tom Petty
Jim Ladd, the famed rock DJ who inspired Tom Petty's song "The Last DJ," has died at the age of 75 from a heart attack. Ladd was a fixture of L.A. rock radio in the 1970s and went on to host SiriusXM's Deep Tracks for over a decade. He interviewed rock legends such as The Doors, Pink Floyd, and John Lennon. Tributes have poured in for Ladd, with members of The Doors remembering him as an essential part of the culture of rock n' roll. Ladd also played a semi-autobiographical role as a radio DJ in the film Say Anything.