Rodney Sinfield, born on January 4, 1981, was a man whose impact on CKDSRadio and everyone he encountered was profound and unforgettable. His journey with the station began in 2014, a year that would forever change the course of CKDSRadio’s history. Rodney was not just a contributor; he was a force of nature, a creative powerhouse, and a beloved friend. His life was filled with passion for movies, music, and connecting with people, and he channeled all of this into everything he did for the station.
Before Rodney joined, CKDSRadio had already been on air for ten years. Those early years were spent not just in kitchens and bedrooms, but often with us all hammered, fueled by our love for music, good company, and perhaps a little too much alcohol. We were a bunch of friends talking nonsense late into the night, sharing our favorite tracks, and having a great time doing it. It was a wild ride, and people loved our junk. Despite the chaos, we somehow managed to land ourselves in the top 10 most listened-to stations globally. We were more than just a station; we were a group of friends who turned late-night drinking sessions into something people genuinely connected with. But it was Rodney who helped us—who helped me—realize that CKDSRadio could be even more than what it was.
Rodney brought with him an infectious enthusiasm and a wealth of new ideas. He quickly made his mark by launching his own shows, like Movie Night, where he shared his unfiltered movie reviews, and Cheese to Please, a quirky show born from his love for playing the most unexpected and sometimes irritatingly catchy songs by artists like Jason Donovan and Hanson. These shows weren’t just segments; they were extensions of Rodney’s personality, reflecting his eclectic tastes and his unique ability to entertain and polarize in the most delightful ways.
But Rodney’s real genius wasn’t just in his shows—it was in the way he changed my life. He dragged me out of the kitchen and into the real world. Rodney was the one who introduced me to the world of comic conventions, something I had never even considered before. It was his idea to take CKDSRadio from a bunch of drunk friends broadcasting from a kitchen to a real presence at events. Before Rodney, we were voices on the internet, known to our fans but unseen. Rodney saw the potential for CKDSRadio to become something more, to be a tangible presence that people could interact with.
The first comic convention Rodney took me to was a revelation. I was used to the safety of our kitchen studio, surrounded by familiar faces and plenty of booze. But Rodney convinced me to step outside and meet our audience face-to-face. And what an experience that was. At that first convention, I was looking forward to meeting Virginia Hey from Farscape. My youngest son is named after a ship from the show, so meeting her was a big deal for me. I couldn’t believe it when I approached her table, and she turned to me and said, “I know you!” I was stunned. How could Virginia Hey, someone I had admired for years, possibly know who I was?
It turned out she was a fan of the show. She had been listening to CKDSRadio. We had a back-and-forth conversation, and before I knew it, she was asking if she could have her own show on the station. I was so blown away that I said yes without a second thought. That was Rodney’s influence right there—taking me out of my comfort zone and helping CKDSRadio evolve from a bunch of guys getting drunk and talking into microphones to something much bigger.
That day didn’t end with just Virginia Hey. As I was stepping away from her table, Jerome Blake from The Fifth Element stopped me and asked if I was from the radio. He then took me into the car park to play me a song. It was a surreal moment, one that I could never have imagined happening before Rodney came into our lives. I had never even been to a comic convention before he started dragging me along, and now, here I was, meeting people I had only seen on TV or in movies. It was incredible.
When I got home after that convention, I realized we had a problem, albeit a fantastic one. Celebrities wanted to be on our show, but I couldn’t very well invite them to our kitchen. It was at that point that the AV Monkey and I knew we needed to step up our game. Rodney had sparked something in us, but it was now on us to build something worthy of the opportunities he had opened up. We built a proper studio, a space that could accommodate the growing interest in CKDSRadio, and turned the station into something far more professional.
It was after we built the studio that Rodney took on the role of producer for the UK team. He jumped into the role with the same passion and dedication he brought to everything. He wasn’t just a presenter or a DJ; he was the one who made sure everything ran smoothly, coordinating shows and managing the logistics of live broadcasts. He was a critical part of CKDSRadio’s growth and professionalism.
Rodney’s role as producer extended far beyond the technical. He was the one who orchestrated interviews at the Borehamwood Film Awards, bringing CKDSRadio into the heart of the UK film scene. His immense knowledge of movies made him the perfect person for the job. He was a film buff to the core, and his passion was infectious. His love for movies wasn’t just about watching them; he lived and breathed them. He even made fantastic replica props, a testament to his dedication and skill.
One particularly memorable moment was when Rodney invited me to attend the MK Film and Comic Con. I was initially hesitant, mentioning I didn’t have a costume. Without missing a beat, Rodney handed me a glove from Nightmare on Elm Street. As we walked through the convention, we were approached by Robert Englund’s assistant, who had noticed the glove from across the hall. Rodney’s craftsmanship was so impressive that Robert Englund, the original Freddy Krueger, wanted to borrow it because he didn’t have his own at the event. That glove, crafted by Rodney, caught the eye of a horror legend, and in return, Rodney got a free photo and meet-and-greet with Englund himself.
This was Rodney in a nutshell: his creativity and passion opened doors that no one else could have imagined. Thanks to Rodney, I met some of my heroes, had dinner with Chris Barrie, and mingled with people from Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who. These were experiences that went far beyond the realm of what I thought was possible for CKDSRadio, and they were all because of Rodney’s vision and determination.
Rodney’s influence on CKDSRadio wasn’t limited to events and shows. He was a constant source of joy and entertainment, even if he sometimes drove people up the wall. His obsession with Jason Donovan, his insistence on playing Donovan’s music at every opportunity, and his stories about playing the electric guitar without power on hilltops were legendary. He was the kind of person who could irritate you and make you laugh at the same time. This was the essence of Rodney—brilliantly entertaining and unapologetically himself.
One Christmas, I remember buying him a 3-foot Power Ranger figurine because I knew how much he loved his movies and TV shows. His face lit up like a kid’s on Christmas morning. He also made incredible gifts. I still have a tiny replica pizza from Back to the Future that he made for me. It’s a perfect little piece of nostalgia, crafted with so much care and detail. That was Rodney—always thinking about others, always finding ways to make people smile.
Rodney’s journey with CKDSRadio was not without its challenges. The collapse of Live365, the platform we had been using for broadcasting, was a significant blow. Officially, the station never closed, and Rodney never stopped being our producer. His commitment to the station and its community was unwavering.
Rodney’s impact wasn’t just felt within CKDSRadio. He introduced me to Tasha, another remarkable individual who became a beloved part of our circle. Sadly, Tasha passed away after a long battle with cancer, a loss that deeply affected everyone who knew her. Rodney’s voice, along with Tasha’s, was heard by hundreds of thousands of people across more than half a million live streams. They were part of something special, something that went beyond just a radio station. CKDSRadio was a family, and Rodney was at its heart.
Rodney’s personality was such that he left a lasting impression on everyone he met, whether they were fans, celebrities, or his fellow team members. Some loved him for his creativity and passion; others found his antics maddening. But that was the beauty of Rodney—he was authentic, and he didn’t shy away from being himself, even if that meant polarizing opinions. He was a larger-than-life character, and that’s why he was so beloved.
On September 27, 2024, after a long and difficult battle, Rodney Sinfield passed away. His departure left a void that can never truly be filled. He joined Tasha, his friend and fellow CKDSRadio family member, leaving behind a legacy of laughter, creativity, and countless memories. His passing was kept private until his family was comfortable with making the news
Bossman
