After 55-Years, Dr. Demento Unveils Retirement

On Tuesday, Barret "Dr. Demento" Hansen, aged 84, announced his retirement, ending a 55-year career as a radio personality known for championing novelty, comedy, and bizarre music. 

The announcement came during the final regular episode of The Dr. Demento Show, with Hansen stating, “I’m now 84 years old, and I have been doing this show for nearly 55 years — about two-thirds of my life. It’s been a blast, but I have come to the decision that I need to hang up my top hat soon.” 

The show, which began in October 1970 on KPPC-FM in Pasadena, California, will conclude with its 55th anniversary on October 11, 2025, featuring retrospective episodes and a final broadcast highlighting the top 40 songs in the program’s history.

Born April 2, 1941, in Minneapolis, Hansen adopted the “Dr. Demento” persona in 1970 after playing “Transfusion” by Nervous Norvus on KPPC-FM, prompting DJ “The Obscene” Steven Clean to call him “demented.” This inspired his focus on novelty and comedy music, transforming his freeform rock show into a cult favorite.

The show went into national syndication in 1974, peaking from 1978 to 1992 via the Westwood One Radio Network, airing on FM rock stations, often late Sunday evenings. It moved to a subscription-based online format in 2010 after broadcast syndication ended on June 6, 2010. 

Hansen also hosted live broadcasts on Los Angeles stations like KMET (1972–1987), KLSX, and KSCA until 1997.

Later Years: Due to his age, Hansen reduced his workload in 2025, producing two new shows monthly, with associates Jeff Morris and “Musical Mike” Kieffer compiling others using archived segments. The show’s final phase focuses on its history, reflecting Hansen’s extensive record collection (over 300,000 albums) and musicology expertise.