Chris ‘Banksy’ Banks, who has shared breakfast with Central Queenslanders for 11 years on Triple M 101.5 and 95.1, has announced that next Friday is his last on air.
This hometown Rocky boy is hanging up the headphones and looking forward to sleeping in, and says, “I’ll definitely miss talking with Central Queenslanders every morning, especially Big Al, Groundsman, Manly Mick, Schmick Mick, Bruce the Gladstone Cabbie, Selwyn the Bush Mechanic, Tam and all rest.
“I think maybe most of all, I will miss the groans of my workmates when I start up on my Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and sci fi love chats on and off air! Quietly, I think they’ll miss this as well!”
Triple M Content Director Central Queensland and Wide Bay, Ryan Bebbington, says, “Banksy feels it’s the right time for him, and he’s looking forward to the next chapter.
“From all of us, we thank Banksy for his years of passion, and we congratulate him on all the incredible radio moments he’s delivered. The exciting thing is that we are now on the lookout for Central Queensland’s next breakfast radio superstar – sidenote – you’ll need a very good alarm clock!”
Banksy’s breakfast radio career has spanned the east coast, from Townsville to Gosford, before 11 years in his hometown of Rockhampton.
He famously had a vasectomy live on air and says some of his greatest memories would be donning the new Mayor of Rockhampton with a superhero cape and the alter-ego of Captain Stamina, becoming “Juicy Fineapple” Drag Queen for the annual Pine Fest, and starting Central Queensland’s favourite call time with “Esky of Dad Jokes”, now in its seventh year.
He says, “My favourite interview would have to be Ray Lucia, drummer for Korn, David Lee Roth, and Army of Anyone. He loved the interview so much, he sent me a CD!”
“Being a champion for local bands has been a passion of mine, like Busby Marou when the only gig the boys had was a Sunday at The Oxford in Rocky. Look at them now, I’m so proud of those guys.”
His breakfast co-host, Central Queensland microphone maven Pinky, says she actually wouldn’t miss Banksy talking about Star Wars ad-nauseum, “To think we met at a brekkie bootcamp back in 2007, while working on separate radio shows in different states!”
“He has been the longest breakfast radio show partner and I’m really proud of all we’ve achieved in almost seven years together! We’ve met so many amazing people, built solid relationships in Central Queensland and beyond, laughed on a daily basis, even in the toughest of times.”