KNAC Returns to the Airwaves With a New Era of Pure Rock

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 4:21pm CT

KNAC-FM

On a day devoted to the return of spirits, one of rock radio's most notorious names is being resurrected. At the stroke of midnight this Halloween -- Friday, October 31 -- the legendary KNAC call letters will roar back to life, replacing Highway Rock and igniting a new era of Pure Rock for a fresh generation of headbangers.

The reborn KNAC will open with a blast from the past-archival clips, infamous airchecks, and the outrageous moments that defined the station's raw, unfiltered edge. From there, the format shifts into overdrive, blending new heavyweights like Five Finger Death Punch, Bad Omens, and The Pretty Reckless with metal mainstays Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and classic icons including Motley Crue, Bon Jovi, and Poison.

"KNAC was never just a station; it was a lifestyle, a brotherhood, and a giant middle finger to boring radio," said Gonzo Greg Spillane, Highway Radio's President of Rock. "Bringing it back means unleashing that energy on a whole new generation while giving the old guard their soundtrack back. And no, we're not asking for permission."

The KNAC network will cover the I-15 corridor from Southern California to Las Vegas, broadcasting on 96.9 KNAC-FM (Lenwood-Barstow-Victorville), 94.9 KHDR-FM (Baker), and 99.7 KHYZ-HD3 (Mountain Pass-Las Vegas), with worldwide streaming at knac.fm and knac.com.

The new KNAC is voiced by Rich Van Slyck and features on-air contributions from Gonzo and Mel Rox, a veteran of KOMP/Las Vegas and KSJO/San Jose. Legacy personalities like Thrasher and Jack Trash are also set to return. Sunday nights will showcase heavy hitters such as Charlie Kendall's Metalshop, LA Lloyd's Rock 30, and Full Metal Jackie -- cementing KNAC's return as nothing short of a resurrection of rock radio rebellion.