Kyle and Jackie O are startled by disturbing ‘suicide’ call on live radio
An alarming call from a listener on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday prompted co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson to request a welfare check.
A man named Michael came on the air at about 6:30 a.m. during the First Calls segment and then sang a somber song about suicide — which the hosts clearly didn’t expect him to do.
The song in question was Fade to Black by American heavy metal band Metallica, from their 1984 album Ride the Lightning. The song is about suicidal feelings and the lyrics refer to losing the ‘will to live’ and needing it of ‘the end to set me free’.
The listener had failed to warn the hosts that he would be singing a song, even telling producer “intern Pete” Deppeler off the air that he was a “comedian” and “had a few jokes to tell.”
Henderson seemed concerned and asked the team to check that the listener was okay.
An alarming phone call from a listener on The Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday prompted co-host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson (pictured) to request a welfare check
A man named Michael came on the air around 6:30am and then sang a somber song about suicide – which the presenters didn’t expect him to do. (Pictured: Kyle Sandilands)
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to The Kyle and Jackie O Show for comment, but has not received a response regarding listener welfare.
The disturbing segment began shortly after a commercial break in which host Kyle Sandilands said, “Do you want to call for something? First Calls, 13 1065 will get you through. Michael called. Hey Michael.’
“Hello,” Michael replied in a mournful-sounding voice, which the hosts said was odd since Sandilands immediately imitated it by saying “hello” back.
When Sandilands asked how the listener was doing, he replied, “Oh, not bad.” i [inaudible] I’ve got a quick ten-second song I’d like… to sing to you.”
‘Sorry what? A song?’ Henderson asked.
“It goes like this,” the man said before singing the lyrics to Fade to Black: “… lost the will to live / Simply nothing more to give / There is nothing more for me / Need the end to set me free . ‘
Michael then sang a line that was not in the original song (“Never cared for no one else”) before abruptly ending the phone call.
“Don’t be like that… Okay, there he is,” a confused Sandilands said after the listener had ended the conversation.
The listener had failed to warn the hosts that he would be singing a song, even telling off-air producer Pete Deppeler (pictured) that he was a “comedian” and had “a few jokes to tell.”
Henderson immediately feared the worst and asked the producers, “Is he okay?” That didn’t sound right, guys? What did you pull out of the air, because that sounded like a farewell song to me.’
Sandilands seemed less concerned and told her, “He seems fine. He seems fine.’
Deppeler, who spoke to Michael during the commercial break and briefed him on what would be discussed on the air, said the listener had found him “normal.”
“He was normal to me,” Deppeler said. When Henderson asked what they were talking about on the air, he explained, “He said, ‘I’m a comedian, I’ve got a few jokes to tell, I’ve got a new song.'”
“So he went rogue with you?” Henderson asked, to which Deppeler replied, “A little rogue, yes.”
Henderson seemed concerned and asked the team to check that the listener was okay
Henderson asked Deppeler to “call him back and check if he’s okay,” adding, “He just hung up and said that’s the end of it for me.” Just see if he’s okay, that guy.’
She then laughed awkwardly as she and Sandilands berated Deppeler for having such a morbid listener as the first caller after a two-week break.
The presenters then moved on to the second caller, a woman named Debbie.
- For confidential support, call Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support on 13 11 14
- Children’s helpline: 1800 55 1800