WALK ON THE WILD SIDE LOCAL RADIO PROGRAM DIRECTOR WRITES ABOUT TURBULENT SIDE OF TV, RADIO AND POLITICS.

Byline: MARK KELLAM Valley News Writer

Martin Perlich says most people know him as a mild-mannered classical music radio host, but he confides he has some outrageous tales to tell. And he's told them in his recently published fictional book, ``The Wild Times.''

Perlich, 68, who is program director of KCSN in Northridge, has taken his years of experience in radio, television, film and politics to weave a story about a man in the 1970s who's part of the fast-paced entertainment industry and gets involved in volatile political movements. Some of the book is autobiographical, but much of it is taken from people Perlich has met over the years - their struggles and accomplishments, their demons and redemptions.

One of the autobiographical moments was the main character in the book, Mitchell Hertz, meeting Leonard Bernstein. After the meeting in real life, the well-known composer offered Perlich a job. Hertz is also offered a position in the book.

Like Perlich, Hertz produces a music show in the 1970s. Perlich co-produced ``The Midnight Special'' on ABC from 1976-78. He recalled that Wolfman Jack was great to work with, but some of the more popular, trendy musicians of the time didn't feel ``The Midnight Special'' - or any television show - was hip enough for them to make an appearance.

He did convince Bob Dylan to allow a film crew to travel to Florida to tape one of his concerts to be aired on ``The Midnight Special.'' However, once the filming was done, one of Dylan's associates convinced him that he was too cool for ``The Midnight Special'' and he backed out of the deal, Perlich said.

On the political scene, the book's main character, like Perlich, gets involved in the anti-war and civil rights movements of the early 1970s.

``The Wild Times'' is the first of a four-book series that Perlich is writing. The other three are in various stages and he hopes to finish the second book this August.

In the second book, the main character enters the feature film industry and deals with issues such as drugs and sex while also facing the challenges of being a single parent. In the third book, he battles depression.

In the fourth book, titled ``Adequacy,'' he strives to make sure he leaves a legacy that he will be proud of. He breaks away from the darker parts of his life, Perlich said. He also wants his friends and family to see his life has value.

The series is called The Adequacy Quartet, Perlich said.

Perlich has been program director at KCSN (FM 88.5) for six years. KCSN, which is on the Cal State, Northridge, campus - but not the college radio station - plays a wide variety of musical styles including classical, blues, bluegrass, big band, new age and jazz. On his morning radio show, Perlich interviews more than musicians. He sits down with any artist who has an interesting story to tell including novelists, comedians and dancers.

Prior to KCSN, he had worked at KUSC, a classical station on the USC campus.

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Martin Perlich's new book ``The Wild Times'' looks at the volatile worlds of politics and entertainment in the 1970s.