KROQ's Kevin and Bean Are Breaking Up

Bean has co-hosted the show with Kevin Ryder since it began in January 1990.

One of Los Angeles' longest-running morning radio duos -- KROQ-FM's Kevin and Bean -- is breaking up, co-host Gene "Bean'' Baxter announced Wednesday.

Baxter told listeners of the rock station's "Kevin & Bean Show'' that after 30 years on the air, he plans to move back to Great Britain, where he was born, at the end of the year. Bean has co-hosted the show with Kevin Ryder since it began in January 1990.

Baxter will remain for another nine months and then the program will continue with Ryder and others, it was announced.

"So, it's time for my wife, Donna, and me to move on to new adventures on a new continent,'' Baxter said in a statement. "We are moving back to my homeland, England. I am a British citizen ... and have spent many vacations there over the years and it always feels like home."

He added that he is not retiring and wants to continue broadcasting in Britain, "even though I have this funny accent. I just hope someone will give me a chance."

Baxter has been doing his part of the broadcast remotely -- first from his Seattle home and recently from New Orleans -- with Los Angeles-based Ryder since the late 1990s.

In a Twitter post, Ryder said, "Bean has wanted to move to England for a LONG time and I truly think this will make him happy. That makes me happy.''

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The show has seen a lot of changes, including the departure of longtime movie beat personality Ralph Garman, who was there for 18 years. Filmmaker Kevin Smith, who hosted another show with Garman, said the radio personality was fired due to budget cuts. 

Lisa May, who was replaced by former KTLA reporter Allie Mac Kay, who was with KROQ for more than 20 years, spoke out on a podcast about her leaving. She said she wasn't told much, but assumed it was because the morning show environment is competitive, and they wanted to make changes. 

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