Whether as a television beast or a radio shock-jock, Stan Zemanek was a professional stirrer.
The Sydney broadcaster, who died today aged 60 of a brain tumour, wore political incorrectness like a badge of honour and bragged about being radio's most complained-about personality.
He described some of his talkback callers as "numb nuts", "half-wits" and "left-wing loonies", told others to "give yourself an uppercut" and asked those who sounded slow if they were smoking "wacky-tobaccy".
But at least some of his audience loved it. They must have.
"Many years ago you called me a boofhead on your program," said one listener, "and a lot of my friends and family were listening in. From that day on my nickname was Boof."
Zemanek's red-neck style was not everyone's cup of tea, least of all Melburnians and even some of his fellow broadcasters.
He once exchanged bitter barbs with 2UE colleague Mike Carlton after Carlton announced on-air that Zemanek was about to move to rival station 2GB.
Carlton called Zemanek "a little shit", "a village idiot" and "a stunted runt"; Zemanek shot back by calling Carlton "a turd" and "a ponce with his head up his backside".
When Zemanek returned to 2UE after an unsuccessful stint at Melbourne sister station 3AW in 2003, Carlton said: "I don't withdraw a word of anything I've ever said about him. I think he's a moron."
Zemanek started in radio in 1973 as a producer for John Laws, eventually getting behind a microphone himself in 1987.
He wrote a book called "The Thoughts of Chairman Stan", produced numerous CDs, appeared in 500 of his own live cabaret shows and corporate speaking events, and skippered his yacht "Magnavox 2UE" which his employer helped to sponsor.
His official website describes him as "the broadcaster people love to hate".
"For those of you who can't get enough of me," it adds, "why not purchase yourself some Stan Zemanek merchandise? There are coffee mugs, keyrings, pendants and of course my sort (sic) after Cabaret Spectacular album available on CD or cassette."
Zemanek worked as long as his illness allowed, saying: "The worst thing you can have is too much time to start thinking about terrible things.
"Radio gives me a purpose, a distraction. It's a great source of energy and fun. I enjoy myself for four hours a night. I'm in a cocoon and away from everybody. It's just me and the listeners, and we just go for it. When I walk out of the studio at midnight, I feel invigorated. I feel alive."
Zemanek will also be remembered as host of TV's Beauty and The Beast talk show, for which he was the 13th and longest serving "beast".
He retired from radio in December last year to spend more time with his family - wife Marcella, two daughters, Gaby, 36, and Melissa, 31, and grandson Hamish, 4, and granddaughter Chloe, five months.
