Jed the Fish, the legendary Los Angeles radio DJ whose real name was Edwin Jed Fish Gould III, has died at the age of 69. He passed away peacefully at his home in Pasadena on April 14, 2025, after a brief but aggressive battle with small-cell lung cancer.
The diagnosis came in early March, and his condition rapidly worsened in the weeks that followed. Friends and colleagues confirmed that Jed was under hospice care at the time of his passing.
Jed the Fish was a pioneering figure in alternative radio, best known for his 34-year tenure at KROQ-FM, where he helped shape the sound of punk, new wave, and alternative rock in Southern California and beyond. He was celebrated for his unique personality, and sharp wit, and for being among the first U.S. DJs to play bands like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, and The Smiths, giving them their initial exposure to American audiences.
Tributes from the music and radio community have poured in, remembering Jed as a tastemaker, mentor, and beloved f