Radio Show Plays None of the Hits : Bootleg radio: Lou Friedman and Rob Raino give unknown rock bands badly needed airplay.

Five years ago, Lou Friedman was struggling to start a Muzak-type service. These days, the Canoga Park man fancies himself a Masked Avenger of rock ‘n’ roll.

Friedman and a friend, Rob Raino, are co-hosts of a weekly radio show on tiny KWNK (670). “Bootleg Radio” broadcasts one hour of contemporary rock--the kind of music that plays on KPWR (105.9) or KQLZ (100.3)--but the program features unknown, unsigned bands that most radio stations won’t give a chance.

“We will listen to any band’s tape,” Friedman says. “We will play anything that is good rock ‘n’ roll.”

“Bootleg Radio” airs at 11 p.m. every Friday. The show can also be heard on Friedman’s 24-hour music service, KLF Cable Radio, which started out as a Muzak-type service for restaurants. KLF now supplies Top-40 songs and news to accompany the program guide on United Cable’s channel 30.

One band, Misguided, recently appeared on “Bootleg Radio” and was subsequently invited to record several songs for a major label.

“Everybody in the world comes to Los Angeles to do rock. It’s competitive,” said Meghan McMullin, the band’s lead singer. “Once you can get your toe in the door, then you squeeze the rest of your body through. Little things like that can happen because of ‘Bootleg Radio.’ ”

The program began in January, 1989, as a lark: Friedman and Raino were playing in bands and knew, all too well, the difficulty of getting airplay. Unlike other fledgling musicians, these two had what amounted to a radio station at their disposal. Friedman had started KLF back in 1985. He and Raino decided to put a weekly show on the music service and fill it with bands they’d met on the club circuit.

At first, such fare reached only cable subscribers. Friedman soon approached KWNK, and the Simi Valley station agreed to carry the show. Most other programs for unknown bands are on small, college stations.

“It’s almost like community access,” a KWNK official said. “We want people in the community to have a way of voicing their opinions, not only during our talk shows but also musically.”

The show got another break from the pop duet Captain & Tennille. Daryl Dragon and Toni Tennille, who are married, own Rumbo Recording in Canoga Park. After listening to Friedman and Raino’s pleas, Dragon and Tennille decided to let “Bootleg Radio” tape in their studio, for free. Expensive equipment gives the program a better sound than would be possible with KLF’s small production facilities.

Vicky Camblin, who manages Rumbo, said, “The Captain & Tennille were discovered at the Smoke House,” referring to a former Sherman Oaks club. “They would like other bands to have a chance.”

Though “Bootleg Radio” has been on the air only a year, word has spread quickly, and bands send in demo tapes by the sackful. According to Friedman, a New York band heard the show in Los Angeles and told other groups in the East. Tapes have been arriving from all over the country.

“We try to feature at least one out-of-state band each show,” Friedman said.

But Los Angeles bands continue to dominate the weekly hour. By featuring groups that play local clubs--and have local followings--the program guarantees itself listeners.

“On the night when a band is going to be on the show,” Friedman said, “the fans will have a big party, and everyone will gather around the radio.”

And now the show is trying to be syndicated nationally. Friedman and Raino say they are negotiating with two dozen radio stations across the country. In a promotional flyer, “Bootleg Radio” offers to deliver bands that will be the new Guns ‘N’ Roses and Motley Crues.

The Casey Lee Jones Band, which was on “Bootleg Radio” in January, hasn’t made it that big yet, but good things have happened since they were featured.

“We’ve been offered a movie sound track,” said Steve Williams, the band’s manager. “Lou and Rob have a good concept. Bands need every opportunity they can get.”