R.I.P.: Howie Klein, Pioneering Record Exec, Radio DJ

Howie Klein, a pioneering record executive, radio DJ, and dedicated political activist, passed away Wednesday, at the age of 77 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. His sister announced the news via a social media post.

Howie Klein (1948-2025)

Born Howard Klein on February 20, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, he began his music career at Stony Brook University, where he booked iconic acts like Jimi Hendrix, the Who, Pink Floyd, the Doors, and Janis Joplin. 

After traveling abroad, he settled in San Francisco and hosted one of the first regular punk radio shows on KSAN in the late 1970s, interviewing bands such as the Sex Pistols, Devo, and Iggy Pop.In 1978, Klein co-founded 415 Records, a key independent label that signed influential new wave and punk acts like Romeo Void, Translator, and Wire Train. 

He joined Sire Records in 1987, contributing to its golden era with artists including Madonna, the Smiths, Depeche Mode, and Lou Reed.

Klein then became president of Reprise Records (a Warner Bros. subsidiary) from 1989 to 2001, overseeing a roster that included Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Green Day, Alanis Morissette, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, and many others. Known for his artist-friendly approach, he championed creative freedom amid industry censorship battles, notably against groups like the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC).

In 2001, following the AOL-Time Warner merger, Klein resigned. He later focused on progressive politics, co-founding the Blue America PAC, blogging at DownWithTyranny.com, and advocating for causes like free speech and social justice. His contributions to music history are preserved in the Howie Klein Collection at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Klein is remembered as a visionary who bridged punk, alternative, and mainstream music while fiercely defending artistic expression. His passing has been mourned widely in music and political circles.