The death of pirate radio
With the release of the film The Boat That Rocked, Nottingham DJ Howard Jacks looks at the glory days of pirate radio.
60s pirate radio was terminated with extreme prejudice, in September 1967, by a government scared of massive public demand that was outside of their control.
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Hioward Jacks
Before the pirates the BBC had restricted needle time to cover up the fact that they did not want to pay musicians' fees. So a lot of airtime was taken up with talking. Queen's English in them days, inane chat nowadays, but not much difference otherwise. On top of that, there was strict censorship of the music played, so what you mostly got was trad jazz and middle of the road, which kept the pre-1964 UK charts nice and bland despite lots of new bands.
Until pirate radio sailed up, bringing us the Stones, The Animals, The Who, Beatles, Kinks, Small Faces, Jim Hendrix Experience (Hendrix was signed up by Chas Chandler of The Animals and he put Hendrix together with Noel Redding and Mitch Miller from the UK as the Jim Hendrix Experience). Then from the US, the Byrds, Beach Boys, The Young Rascals, Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels and the Motown, Atlantic, Stax labels etc.
The first UK pirate radio was Radio Caroline, which started broadcasting on Good Friday 1964 off Frinton on the Essex coast. It got its name from a 1964 song by The Fortunes. The second was Radio London, swiftly followed by Radio Caroline North broadcasting off the Isle of Man and beamed towards the north of England. Then there was Radio Scotland, Radio 390 (off the Scarborough coast), Radio England, Britain Radio (which played only M-O-R) and Radio City that broadcast from the old concrete forts stuck out in the North Sea to protect us against the Nazi Invaders. They broadcast at least three miles away from the coastline, out of the reach of the authorities - 24 hours a day.
Pirate radio was maintained by commercials and, unfortunately, the government of the time (Labour) saw this as a threat. The lovable Anthony Wedgewood Benn, aka Tony Benn the people's representative, was Minister for Telecommunications. Now a national treasure, his sole mission at the time was to silence these upstarts, as a bad influence on the youth of the day, already fired up by post-war films like Saturday Night and Sunday Morning. Not for Tony the support of the masses, not this time. He drove the Marine Offences Bill through Parliament. This was then enacted by stopping the supply ships from setting off with food, equipment and more vinyl, and also jamming the pirates' signals.
This was a serious business for the government - estimates of the time found that 35 million (more than half the UK population) listened to pirate radio broadcasts. Demonstrations against the Marine Offences Bill were made across the UK. All of this created an atmosphere of a public, particularly a young public, with ideas of their own that none of the major political parties knew what to do with. The government put out statements that the pirates were harming musicians by not paying royalties, and their use of air waves was a risk to shipping. But record companies were not complaining – they fought to get their tunes on pirate radio as the exposure meant more sales. The risk to shipping was a joke. All the pirate radio captains frequently came on the air to say the idea of their broadcasts threatening the safety of other shipping was rubbish, and that they would stop immediately if this were the case. It was to no avail.
If the pirates had not been there, the UK 60s scene would probably still have happened, but not so quickly, or with the international dimension that led to economic benefits such as Hollywood money for filming in the UK. (To the extent that MGM made an internationally-released film about a whippet owned by 60s band 'Hermans Hermits', living in Manchester!) People were furious at the Marine Offences Bill, but could see no-one in power was listening. If the public had succeeded in preventing the government from sinking the pirates, their legacy might have been a real sense of personal responsibility, one that comes from faith that governments and public bodies will actually listen to public demand. Instead, we got used to pap.
By September 1967 they were all silenced. The Radio Caroline boat sailed to the Dutch coast for repairs. September 1967 brought about the start of Radio One and a controlled chart still with a restricted 'needle time' policy ... M-O-R, orchestras playing cover versions of 60s pop so you could not hear those nasty lyrics, and Housewives Choice (which offered no choice at all to the housewife looking for some good tunes).
The next government was no better (Conservative). It brought about the Free Radio Bill in 1970. This was controlled by the Independent Broadcasting Authority, and meant each area then had a 'Radio London' or 'Capital Radio', but all they offered was controlled chart and playlist tunes with lots more adverts and inane chat to pad it out, pretty much the same as pre-pirate radio.
Radio Caroline arrived back from Holland in spring 1969 and broadcast for a few months from its original moorings in Frinton. In spring 1970, Radio Northsea International (RNI) broadcast for a while from the Dutch coast, but the government jammed the signal making it virtually impossible to listen to.
By 1970, the music scene had deteriorated to such an extent that session musicians appeared on Top Of The Pops three times masquerading as three different groups (White Plains, Eddison Lighthouse and The Brotherhood of Man). The London scene dried up, and the music scene moved back to the US. Then came the Winters of Discontent...... and disco.
S.P.A.M! salutes the pirate radio stations, and the tunes that made them so FAB, with DJ residencies at the Rescue Rooms and The Ropewalk.
The next, at the Rescue Rooms tomorrow, will celebrate 60 years of the seven inch single -- and six years of S.P.A.M. at the venue.
More information can be found on www.vinyljacks.com.
There's also talk about the relaunch of Radio Caroline. The beat goes on!
HOWARD JACKS
19 Comments
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by Martin Rosen, London
Thursday, April 09 2009, 10:46PM
“So someone in Falkirk thinks I don't know how Radio Caroline got its name, or how it started ?
Do tell us all - we deserve a good laugh. Mr O'Rahilly will be fascinated, I am sure.”
by Clive, London
Monday, April 06 2009, 12:30PM
“I hope that your letter has some effect, Andrew.
To make matters worse, Howard doesn't even seem bothered about the criticisms!
And Steve in LA, excusing the mistakes as acceptable as it was his first time: How would it be viewed if a different historical account were researched in a similar way. For example if accounts of the second world war were inaccurate? I'm sorry but there simply isn't any excuse!
The internet is a powerful research tool today, and it would have been easy to put together something that was accurate.
I expect that nothing will come of this piece of poor journalism, and that Howard will get away with it, and snigger up his sleeve at it all.”
by Andrew Duncan, London
Monday, April 06 2009, 10:47AM
“This article is the most poorly researched I have ever read. How the devil this drivel got past the subs I'll never know.
Absolutely Appalling.
One can only hope you are included in the list of job cuts proposed by Northcliffe.
I certainly will be forwarding a copy of this article to the MD of Northcliffe with a few suggestions.”
by Steve, Los Angeles area, California, USA
Saturday, April 04 2009, 6:47PM
“What a shame about your inaccuracies, Howard!
There are two that stand out a mile: 1) the radio station was named after the US President, John F Kennedy's daughter, Caroline. and 2) the station continued to broadcast after the new law came in. (They carried on broadcasting in defiance of it.)
Apart from that and a few other inaccuracies, which have, I'm afraid, devalued the article as a whole for Radio Caroline enthusiasts, who really do know this history (which would not be published in any history book for use in schools and colleges), I think you have really grasped the way that the government of the time, hell-bent on their own motives, and pandering to special-interest groups, would do anything to shut down this radio station which stood for free enterprise. I think you have captured this particularly well.
It is sad that you have received so many negative comments. Some people are very quick to criticize and perhaps cannot see what the article really addressed! For someone who didn't live during that oppressive era, I am quite impressed that you have picked this up very well.”
by Lee Shuttlewood, Danbury, Essex
Friday, April 03 2009, 10:22PM
“I'm not sure what is worst here, the origional sloppy and slapdash attempt at reporting, the fact that it got past the editorial staff and made publication, or the fact that the writer of this article has commented in the unashamed way that he has concerning the negative response to his "article".
When I was listening to Brian Martin in the late seventies, I'd love to know who he was broadcasting for, as I was sure at the time it was Radio Caroline.
This article beggars belief, it's not like the sixties and seventies, when in order to find accurate information you had to consult books, public record offices, or interview those involved.
Today we have the internet and google etc. Just type in Radio Caroline, or whatever other refreance you could think of regarding UK offshore radio, and you'll net a wealth of accurate information.
This article looks like it's the musings of some muddled old anorak, who's memory has long since taken a turn for the worse.
If the people of this country cannot trust the press on a simple piece of easily accessable history, then how on earth can we trust the press to accurately report on the real big and imprtant news of the day.”
by Mervyn, Falkirk
Friday, April 03 2009, 10:20PM
“Well, I wrote this once but had to register and lost it - so if it appears twice - that is why.
Howard, don't worry about Martin - he does not know how Radio Caroline started or who it was named after. What he thinks that he knows he does not know because what he told you is totally incorrect!
Anyway, back to you: I assume that your article is somewhat of an advertising joke to promote yourself as a dj?
I gathered that after reading to the end of your article and clicking on your link!
First rule of advertising and self-promotion: "I don't care what you say about me, just spell my name right."
But first you had to get the attention of an audience - you certainly have done that. Your blurb has now gone into wide circulation - it is as if you have just stepped on an ants nest and the ant anoraks are swarming and they are mad at you!
What a laugh!
Keep it up Howard, you will do just fine.
Only one thing: I assume that you did know what you were doing and that all of the rubbish was intentional?
If it wasn't, well this is your lucky day because you now know what to do next time to stir up the pot.
Lot's of luck Howard!”
by Falkirk75, Falkirk
Friday, April 03 2009, 10:06PM
“Nice one Howard! You wound them all up in order to plug your dj web site! Now this page has been copied to all of the anoraks who are now mad as hell and I think that you are laughing if I read this correctly. By the way, tell Mr. Rosen that he who thinks that he knows all about the origins of Radio Caroline hasn't got a clue himself (due to what he wrote). Very good Howard, I assume that you belong to the school which says I don't care what you say about me so long as you spell my name correctly. Good one! Great job in self-promotion ... only I don't think that these anoraks will be booking your services or coming to your shows. But at least they know who you are now and that is rule number one in advertising. My hat is off to you Sir. I just hope that all of the rubbish in the article was intentional, that would make my day!”
by Martin, London
Friday, April 03 2009, 10:03PM
“Well this seems to be HJ's first (and last?) article for the paper, inasmuch as there is only one previous reference to him on the website search. That was a letter to the editor.”
by Peter, Kefalonia
Friday, April 03 2009, 7:26PM
“I spent time on several of these stations and your article amazes me. You have not attempted any research into this article choosing to put your own patronising innacuracies. Sure, sometimes the events are mixed up by the mists of time. Yours have been totally re-invented!!
Let me guess, next week you are reporting on the Ross Revenge being dissassembled and re-assembled on the moon!!
get real and do some proper research if you ever want to become an editor. Don`t insult the memories of hard-working guys that believed with all their hearts in what they were doing.
I for one will certainly never be visiting this papers website any more (Unless I want to read a fairy story)”
by Brian Martin, Kent
Friday, April 03 2009, 4:06PM
“Well Howard.
If the British government silenced Radio Caroline in September 1967 where the hell was I in 1977 and 1978 then?
This is the most deplorably inaccurate peice I have ever read on the subject of Offshore Radio.
Old "Hacks" used to write everything in shorthand and then retire to their favourite watering hole. I fear you got it the wrong way round.
You simply must do better.
I was going to blame your very apparent shortcomings on the fact that Nottingham is about as far inland as you could possibly get but I myself hail from Rutland and have probably forgotten more about this subject than you, on this offering, will ever know.
Note to the editor...
This is what happens when you send a boy on a man's job. With freedom of speech comes the responsibility to research your piece and then qualify that research.
"As for the facts, I tend to ask people who were there at the time."
Name names. I'll lay a penny to a pound that you can't!
If you did as much research into your sources' claims as you did into the rest of the piece I wouldn't trust their words further than I can spit!
For future reference if you want to run a piece on Radio Caroline - there is, incedently no requirement for quotation marks around the name, we can trace out heritage directly back to 1964 thanks - then why not go to www,radiocaroline.co.uk where you can find accurate information and a full history.
If your gonna do it get the info from the horses mouth.
Not the other end as you just have.
BTW Please spare me some condescending reply. I just wanted to express that your inaccuracies and ineptitude are completely indefencible and you should be ashamed of this scurulous misrepresentation.”