This week: Chris Parry and Xfm, London's 'only alternative' rock station 1994 Xfm, launched by Parry in 1992, fails to get a permanent licence for the second time. 'I just don't
This week: Chris Parry and Xfm, London's 'only alternative' rock station 1994 Xfm, launched by Parry in 1992, fails to get a permanent licence for the second time. 'I just don't understand it,' Parry moans. 'There's more than enough room for something different ... and the kind of music we play is enormous.'

Oct 1995 Xfm continues its battle, with Parry promising a 'constant stream of interesting, fresh, happening bands' and decrying MOR rivals such as Capital FM.

Jan 1997 Finally, a licence on condition three-quarters of the playlist is less than three months old. 'Our listeners will have an outlaw attitude,' boasts Parry.

Sept 1997 Xfm launch ad claims: 'If other stations are in the middle of the road, we're lying drunk in a ditch.'

May 1998 Capital takes over. Sell-out? - not at all. 'We'll perform faithfully to our promise of performance (PoP),' promises Parry.

Oct 1998 Sell-out. The Radio Authority fines Xfm£4,000 for breach of PoP after all specialist shows are axed.

Feb 1998 A new line-up featuring oh-so-alternative 'drivetime shows' ...