Music

Traveling with Balboa

WUOT | By Todd Steed

Published October 14, 2025 at 10:48 AM EDT

Knoxville had one of the first and freshest punk rock/new wave scenes in the country. Leading the charge was an amazing band that defied all labels and broke any rules in their musical way. This is the story of Balboa, a short lived but hugely influential band to those that witnessed them. Todd Steed interviews surviving members Doug Klein, Hector Qirko, Richard Battaglia and Steve Housewright.

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Music Studio 865

Todd Steed

A Knoxville native, Todd began working at WUOT in 2006 as jazz coordinator now serves as program director and host of Studio 865/Flipside, Improvisations and Changing Course. Todd's newest podcast is Improvisations to Go. Todd got his start in radio at WUTK, where he served as both news and music director while earning his undergraduate degree in journalism at UT. He later earned a master’s degree in education from UT and worked for several years in Programs Abroad. Todd was inducted into the East Tennessee Writer's Hall of Fame in 2023. He was also recently honored with the UT School of Journalism and Media2024 Alumni of the Year Award.

You can reach Todd at steed@wuot.org

See stories by Todd Steed