CHAPTER FOUR
THE KILLING OF ALAN BERG

On June 18, 1984, Denver radio talk-show host Alan Berg was shot and killed by members of "The Order," a neo-Nazi domestic terrorist group.

Berg was a top-rated personality on KOA-AM who proclaimed himself a "wild man of the airwaves." He enraged and fascinated listeners by insulting and cutting off callers. A political and social liberal, Berg frequently talked with callers about sexual stereotypes, Christian hypocrisy, racial intolerance and the need for gun control. He ridiculed members of the KKK and the Aryan Nation, often mentioning specific names.

Alan Berg at KOA-AM, Denver

Berg targeted separatist/survivalist Robert Jay Matthews, a leader of "The Order" for scathing criticism. Matthews was inspired by William Pierce's "The Turner Diaries" and had assembled a list of people he deemed to be threatening the existence of the white race. Berg was at the top Matthews' hit list. Matthews was part a militia of assassins that shot Berg as he got out of his car at his home. The killing received extensive national news coverage.

Berg's life and violent death are chronicled in the book "Talked to Death" by Stephen Singular. The book was the basis for Eric Bogosian's stageplay and Oliver Stone's movie "Talk Radio." The death of Alan Berg further reinforced the image of the radio talk show host as an edgy and combative figure.

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