After 29 years at WBCN -- 23 as program director -- Oedipus has relinquished day-to-day programming responsibilities at the Infinity Alternative station. The company is conducting a national search for his replacement.

While he is retiring from hands-on station programming,  Oedipus will continue with Infinity as VP of Alternative Programming.

Arriving at 'BCN in '77, just as Punk and New Wave were challenging a cliched, bloated corporate Rock world, Oedipus convinced station management to give him a part-time job playing the music that was exploding out of New York and England that ultimately gave rise to the Modern Rock format. Among the first to interview The Ramones, the Talking Heads, and The Damned, Oedipus became synonymous with Punk.

In 1981, he was named WBCN PD. Backed by committed management and one of the best airstaffs in the history of Rock radio, he built the station into a radio icon, earning countless awards and accolades along the way.

"What began as a passion for Punk Rock turned into a career - a long, intense and exciting career based in a glorious city at a pioneering Rock station," said Oedipus. "But the time has come for me to retire and hand the reigns over to a new generation of programmers. Relinquishing the 24/7 life of a radio programmer will allow me the time to enjoy the moment, and to explore more fully my numerous diverse interests."

"For close to three decades Oedipus has led WBCN to a preeminent position in Boston weaving the station into the fabric of the community through innovative programming and numerous charitable events," WBCN-WZLX GM Mark Hannon said. "His contributions to WBCN are immeasurable as evidenced by the strong on-air staff, the station's recognition as an industry leader, and the countless number of awards the station has received."

Oedipus says stepping down as PD will give him more time to "study" the record collection he's amassed over the past 29 years, and to work with the charities he's aligned with. In addition to running the Oedipus Foundation (which promotes the arts, the environment and health), he also serves on the Board Of Directors for the artist-run Mobius center and is a member of the Board of Mentors for Community Servings (which feeds HIV-infected Boston families).