Hans Knot's International Radio Report - February 2007 (2)
In our last issue I
published the long story about the time between Radio Nord and Radio
Atlanta and the whereabouts of the
Bon Jour, aka Magda
Maria, aka MV Mi Amigo. Svenn from Scandinavia responded with: ‘Dear
Hans! How interesting! Thank you so much for this extremely interesting
story. Most of this is entirely new stuff to me. I need time to digest
this. And what about the response from
Colin Nichol, one of the
earliest presenters on the MV Mi Amigo: ‘Hans, thank you for a
fascinating bulletin. I have sent it on to my old pirate radio colleague
Keith Martin for his thoughts. Regards, Colin.’
We welcome a new reader, Tim Richard, who has collected a lot of
interesting things during the years. He want to share some with you the
readers. So where’s one of the many things he sent to us, a cartoon from
a newspaper in the sixties:
Many thanks for sharing Tim and more to come in the future.
Almost a year ago I got from Amsterdam the
Carl Mitchell archive,
which had been there for some 35 years without a touch. Within the photo
collection there were also pictures from a guy called
Stevie Gee. In his
personal notes Carl wrote down that Stevie was one of his mates in
Amsterdam and he had done a short stint on Radio Caroline. Personally I
hadn’t heard him at all in 1967 or 1968, after the MOA became law. Also
in non of the many tape lists, I’ve seen through the years, never saw a
recording from this deejay. Looking for the Atlanta lately I also found
a newspaper cut from April 16th 1968 from the Haarlems Dagblad. With the
header ‘Ex deejay from Caroline loves to stay here’ the story of Stevie
Gee was told: ‘The 22 years old ex deejay from the ex radio station
Caroline has really found his place in Amsterdam. For many weeks he
plays his records in the local club ‘The Sound’ and also since two weeks
Stevie Gee can be found as deejay some days a week in the local dancing
‘Extase’ in the village of Bergen. Next to spinning the records Stevie
is songwriter as well as singer. On Radio Caroline he did his own show
last year and before that he did presentations from artists in England.
A year ago, in the summer, he came to Holland. The same happened to
other Caroline deejays. However Stevie saw the station go down and
decided to quit within days of arrival’. Lucky enough he’s a lot of
experience to get more clubs to sign a contract with for spinning the
records for a live audience.’
Who has ever heard Stevie on Radio Caroline? As I did sent the info to
Jon at the Pirate Hall of Fame to, he came back with: ‘Hi Hans, Thank
you very much for the Atlanta material and for the Stevie Gee cutting.
Stevie was heard on Caroline South on the midnight-6am "graveyard slot"
for a short time (a month or six weeks) in September/October 1967. He
was only on the ship for one stint. I have recently been given his
postal address (he isn't on the internet). I hope to make contact soon
and, if I do, will report back. All the best, Jon.’
Well another gap in the history, although a small one, can maybe filled
soon.
Then an e mail came in from Ben Kok in Utrecht, who is on the search for
the book in the seventies written by
Simon Barrett, who’s a
reader of the Knot International Radio Report too. Ten days in the life
of the lady is the title of the book and Ben Kok wants serious offers.
If you want to sell your copy please inform him, also photocopies are
welcome as the book has been sold out for many years. Ben Kok can be
reached at: benko@wanadoo.nl
It’s almost 20 years ago we heard for the last time from Laser Hot Hits
Deejay DL Bogart and
suddenly he’s back by writing to the Offshore Radio pages from Martin
van der Ven, who sent the mail to me: ‘Wow!
It's hard for me to believe that it was twenty years ago since I spent
my brief tour of duty aboard the MV Communicator on Laser Hot Hits 576.
I honestly can't remember the last time I was in touch with any of the
fans or magazines, so I thought this would be the perfect time to say
hello, and catch you up on what little news I have to offer since. well.
whenever.
A little back-story if necessary. After returning to the States, I spent
the next 10 years bouncing from station to station - mostly classic
rock, mostly in the state of Missouri. (Don't worry if you haven't heard
of it, we're buried deep in America's Midwest. Besides Kansas City and
Saint Louis, Missouri is probably most famous for the glittering tourist
trap known as Branson.)
In 1996, I was forced into radio-retirement -- replaced by satellite
programming after 3 years as host of Joplin Missouri's top-rated morning
show. And sadly, I haven't been on the air since. Sure, I miss radio
very much. (In fact, I have an unhealthy number of radio-themed dreams
every week.), but I also felt at the time I was getting a little old for
the business.
Yet my retirement opened up my schedule for a new project: an idea that
had been brewing for some time. most everyone who heard my tales of
pirate radio always had the same comment: "That would make an AWESOME
movie!" I had to agree. So I wrote one. Of course, it hasn't been made
yet, but not for lack of trying. "CALLING LONDON" has been trapped in
the deepest darkest pits of Hollywood development hell for the past
decade, and I've given up hope of ever seeing it on the silver screen.
The basic story (a period piece set in the late 80's) is one that has
intrigued every producer, director or development executive who has
heard the pitch. but sadly, each and every one has felt compelled to
tweak the poor script to DEATH (and un-recognize-ability).
The 15th-revision screenplay is still on "back burner" status at a
couple of major production companies, but I'm tired of holding my breath.
Heck, this is the era of digital video, micro-budget Indy art films and
the internet, maybe I should just make it myself. Anybody got a lifeboat
and a Shure mic I can borrow? Speaking of indy films, after 5 years in
the Hollywood trenches (5 other screenplays, 3 other production deals,
but no green lights), I've picked up more than enough practical
experience to mentor a small group of local Spielberg wannabees who are
trying to put together an ultra-low budget sex & gore-fest based loosely
on our local "Spook Light" legend. Trust me, we're a long, long way from
"The Descent" here.
In and amongst it all, I've worked as a ghost-writer for Joe Bob Briggs
("The Drive-In Movie King"), a video critic for assorted horror and
underground film magazines, and have spent untold dollars beefing up my
Doris Day and Horslips collections. What else is D.L. doing these days?
Not a lot, and I mean that. In the interest of solvency, for the past
six years I've been using my degrees in chemistry for purposes of evil,
"working" for a local manufacturer of industrial ceramics. It's
mind-numbingly dull work to be sure, but my co-workers provide hours of
endless amusement. (Much like an "Island Of Misfit Toys" for scientists
and engineers who could never pass a psych exam or drug-screen at any
other job.) I've promised myself that THIS was the year I was going to
return to some sort of creative/media/entertainment employ, but there
are no good (or even mediocre) prospects on the horizon as of this
writing.
Anything
else? I've been fairly active in progressive rock circles (mostly as a
fan and critic); I'm ashamed to admit that was a dedicated Marillion fan
right up to the time they started selling new albums to us two years in
advance over the web. Also, with the purchase of a multi-region DVD
player, I've been building the Midwest's largest "not-released-the-USA"
Britcom collection. Nothing more satisfying than being one of the first
people in America to see Spaced and Black Books a full 3-years before
they aired on our BBC America satellite channel.
DL Bogart: Archive Martin van der
Ven
And in case you were wondering: No, Europe's Most Eligible Bachelor
never got caught. I've managed to remain unmarried, and generally
unattached over the past two decades. Sure, it sometimes gets very
lonely, but I manage to get by with the occasional help of lap dancers,
Asian massage girls, lonely housewife-phone-sex-ladies and other
"independent contractors."
But times do change, and I think I may have an opening for a full-time
English Rose of appropriate qualification and ambition. (She doesn't
even have to be English. Dutch. Japanese. Belgian. Scot. so, do you know
anybody? Any and all applications will be considered.) See, old habits
die hard. Do I keep in touch with any of the old pirate crew?
Unfortunately, my hermit's nature has caused me to lose touch with
almost everyone on the roster except Jim Perry. Should anyone have
current contact info for Brandy Lee, Andrew Turner, Johnny Rock 'n' Roll
Anthony or anyone else, please forward it my way. I'm
not anti-social, really. Just lazy. Thanks for reading. Please feel free
to circulate this, and I invite everyone who remembers 576 to get in
touch with me and at least say hello and maybe share some of your
memories. Lingerie photos also welcome.
(sorry). Till next time, D.L. Bogart, Europe's Most Eligible Bachelor
20-years unchallenged, Joplin, Missouri.‘
Well what I’ve to add to this contribution. Nothing but a big thank you
as the long e mail speaks for itself. DL Bogart can be contacted at
uncled@ozarktech.com
Of course with thanks to Martin van der Ven. Talking about Martin, on
his site there’s now an exclusive series of pictures to be seen: 483
great pictures - especially from the 1984-87 Caroline and Laser period.
All taken by Dietmar Flacke.
www.offshore-radio.de
Next is Ian Biggar: ‘ Hans, I was going through my lists of
Radio Mi Amigo recordings
and came across late December into January 1977. There was a quick
turnover of live jocks on board with Hans Brouwers, Hugo Meulenhoff and
Ron Van Der Plas, all appearing within a couple of weeks of each other.
I have recordings of all these guys, but there is one from that time who
is missing, namely Hans van der Ven. I can clearly remember him
presenting ‘Ook Goeie Morgen’ for a period so was wondering if anyone
knows anything about him and maybe a recording? Thanks Hans, Ian.’
Well Ian, I can tell you Hans van der Ven was only for a few days up
till a week on the ship. Anyone from the Mi Amigo deejays to comment on
the person Hans van der Ven?
And has anybody a recording for Ian from Hans van der Ven on Radio Mi
Amigo. Please let us know!
From Sweden news about Radio
Nord: ‘I have started a forum about Radio Nord on Yahoo. In
Swedish and English.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/radionord/
Göran Lindemark
Bryan Gilgallin wrote in too: ‘Dear Hans, I am nostalgically reading
your January 2007 newsletter. I am puzzled by the widespread use of
nicknames (aliases) by the characters (mainly DJs). How were they
dreamed up, and why were they used?’
‘Well Bryan radio's history goes way back 100 years. It must have been
in the thirties of last century that the most deejays starting to use
nicknames. If you read the classic book 'The deejays' by Arnold Passman;
how the tribal chieftains of radio got where they're at' you will read
that it was quite normal in those days to have a nickname. Also in the
sixties, when the first offshore radio boom was there, deejays used
nicknames. Either put on by themselves or given by colleagues. And this
went on up till the moment personality radio died. By the way, the
mentioned book is from 1971 and published by the MacMillan Company in
New York. A must for every radioman. Of course the payola within the
industry is heavily mentioned in the book and I also found the word
layola in there. So I will ask the readers if anyone of them was ever
attacked by layola and if so, if he or she can tell details.
Now, I’m going to Scotland and Greame who wrote: ‘Hi Hans. Another
collector has asked if I know of anyone who has early Radio 2 jingles
from 1967 -70.
Do you of anybody that might have these ? Cheers ! Graeme’.
Well anyone who has an answer can write directly to Graeme at:
Greameotr@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Hans
The Medium Wave Circle is pleased to announce three new CDs for 2007
which
will be of interest to radio enthusiasts. We've launched a three CD set
of UK Land based pirates from the 1980s. This unique set gives a very
comprehensive picture of UK pirate radio in the 1980s.
The Landbased Pirates - London Pirates 1983 - 1991 Volume 1
28 plus hours of recordings in MP3 format of the following pirate
stations
recorded in London from 1983 to 1991. JFM, Alice's Restaurant, Asian
Peoples
Radio, CDR, City Sound, Contrast Radio DBC, FM 101.5, Fresh FM, Horizon
FM,
JBC, 3 Boroughs Radio, K Jazz, Kiss FM, Laser, London Weekend Radio,
Medina
Radio, Obsession Radio, Phase 1 and Q102.
The Landbased Pirates - London Pirates 1983 - 1991 Volume 2 contains 26
plus hours in MP3 format of the following stations. Quest FM, Radio
Andromeda, Radio Amanda, Radio Comsat, Radio Floss, Radio Invicta, Radio
Jackie (4 + hours), Radio Memphis, Radio Shoestring, Radio Sovereign,
Radio Veronica, Renegade Radio, RJR, Sky Radio, Skyline Radio, Solar
Radio, South East Sounds, Starpoint FM, Studio 1, Sunrise Radio, Time
Radio, TKO, Traffic FM and West London Radio. Try before you buy -
download a CD sample of Radio Jackie 1323 kHz from the 31st October
1983. Relive the memories. This is a 45 minute (18MB) recording in MP3
format to play on your MP3 player or PC.
The Landbased Pirates - UK Pirates 1983 - 1990 Volume 3. 28 plus hours
of stations in MP3 format from around the UK recorded between 1983 and
1990. Liverpool - Channel 5, Radio Atlantis. Radio Eleanor, Storton CR,
Central
Radio London – WIBS, Stockport – KFM Stevenage - Newtown Radio, Pulse
FM, Sound of Stevenage, Stevenage Alternative Radio Shropshire -
Sunshine Radio
Hertfordshire - Radio Fiona, Radio Neptune Bedfordshire – Bedfordshire
Independent Broadcasting, Leeds - Radio Radar Essex - Radio Rainbow
Luton - Jive FM, Peoples FM, Pressure FM. All recordings are digital
conversions of first generation off air recordings (not poor tape-tape
copies).
These CDs can be ordered by post or on-line from the Medium Wave Circle.
ull details are located here
http://www.mwcircle.org/mcd.htm#lb where it is ossible to listen to
extracts before you purchase. Steve Whitt
General Editor Medium Wave News
It is Ben Meyering who
found a marvellous site with links to American hits and rundown lists:
http://forums.avro.nl/central7/radio/tm.aspx?m=59312&mpage=1&key=
I have just carried out the February update to
The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame,
wrote Jon M to us: ‘New this month: The much loved Radio City closed
down in February forty years ago. We look back at the station's origins,
its tempestuous history and its lasting legacy in a 15 page special. We
also hear from a previously 'lost' Radio City DJ: Mike Procter was on
the Tower of Power briefly in February 1965 and has got in touch to tell
us what he's up to now. Kitty Black, one of the founders of Radio
Atlanta, the UK's second offshore radio station, died on Boxing Day.
Colin Nicol, the first DJ to be signed up for Atlanta knew her well and
has written a tribute to the woman he describes as “the queen of British
pirate radio”. Atlanta's Johnny Jackson has sent us some photos of
himself
and his father Bob Scott. (He has also sent some fascinating cuttings
and documents from the early days of the station which will be added to
the site soon.) Thanks to everyone who has responded so positively to
last month's launch of 'Seventies Supplement'. More names will appear
next month but, in the meantime, we have added some more audio and
information to the first page of 70s DJs. Thank also, as always, to the
contributors - especially, this month, those who helped with the Radio
City feature. All the best, Jon www.offshoreradio.co.uk
Johnny Jackson also sent us, with thanks to Paul de Haan, a lot of
material and some bits and pieces appear in this issue:
Radio Atlanta Johnny Scott
Last week of January I visited, together with Rob Olthof from the
Foundation for Media Communication, 6 days long all kind of radio
friends, including Bob Le Roi and Jon Myers. Well guys it was extremely
nice to have a chat, some memories bringing back and have a drink with
you.
Remember Mike Hayes from
Radio 270? He was guest on the Radio day a couple of years ago and still
living in Amsterdam. Well he mentioned that he
opened
his own website with of course also memories to his offshore past. Go
and find out at: www.mike-hayes.com
Well time for Bob Le-Roi
in Kent, who I did met at the end of January:
’Following an unprecedented month in which we succeeded in crippling our
ISP Server with thousand upon thousand of visitors, this months
Scrapbook brings you a feature on Shivering Sands & a brand new high
quality book – SEAFORT (Remember I qualified this book as high standard
in the January Report and a must for every Sixties Radio fan, listening
to old Radio 390 recordings and reading and viewing this excellent photo
book Bob Le Roi has it now for sale!). n One Subject One Link we go
green & try to do our bit towards re-cycling. ave a squint at Equipment
for Sales, we've some new hardware on offer, a range of newly added bits
& pieces plus some rare books which will be of interest In the A-Z of
Pop & Rock we've reached letter L with Led Zeppelin on record & Jerry
Lee Lewis on CD. Enjoy your visits www.bobleroi.co.uk
Talking about LeRoi, he gave me a review copy of his new production in
the serie ‘Roaring Sixties’ called ‘Radio Essex part 1’. In this
documentary Bob Le Roi has succeeded to getting back to the high
standard interviewing and editing. He really brings you back to the
times of Radio Essex with exclusive interviews and above all recordings
from which you be very surprised they exits on such a high quality. You
will be hearing the stories and voices from people including Dick
Palmer,
Mark
West, Roger Scott, Guy Hammilton, David Sinclair and many more. Closing
my eyes it was, with the stories, extremely easy to bring me in the
atmosphere of Britain’s first 24 hours station, Radio Essex. And don’t
forget it’s only Part 1. So my advice go to the site and order the CD:
www.bobleroi.co.uk
From England a nice new internet site produced by Clive: ‘Hello Hans and
thanks for a truly great report this time. I've completed parts 1 - 4
now of my 8-part series "Capital
Radio - The First Mad Year" and it's up at
www.citiria.com/citipub/capital-index.html There are several
ex-founders helping me with memories for this, but not nearly as many as
I would like, so may I make an appeal? Please, if you were with Capital
Radio in year 1, get in touch with me (clive 'at' citiria dot com)
Well less than 9 months to go for the annual
Radio Day in Amsterdam,
organised by Foundation for Media Communication, Martin van der Ven and
yours truly. The 29th year in a row! November 10th will be the date to
be written in your agenda.
An e mail from Keith Knight is next: ‘Dear Hans, I have not written to
you for some time but constantly enjoy your monthly emails, they are
almost a book in themselves.
When Pirates Ruled the Waves has been published and came through
my door on Wednesday of this week. I ordered it initially through Amazon
via a company called the Book Depository in Gloucester. When I noticed
that Amazon were charging more postage on the item I cancelled the order
and placed it with them direct. They charge £14.17 for worldwide
delivery well worth a look. Please say Keith Knight the wireless waffler
recommended you!
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/WEBSITE/WWW/WEBPAGES/search.php?key=when%20pirates%20ruled%20the%20waves&by=title
be sure not to click on buy from Amazon - their postage is outrageous in
my opinion. The book is well bound for a paperback on quite thin paper
but with 355 pages. There are some new pictures in it and the format is
much larger than needed for the text but it allows for larger pictures.
There are some new ones including one of the shower rooms on the MEBO -
RNI ship. The tap on the hand basin looks like some of the newer
plumbing of today. In conclusion just to say that the wireless waffle
site continues but on a different site - I gave up the .co.uk address
last year
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/waffler/
Long may your monthly news continue. Keith Knight.’
Australia next and Colin Nichol who recognised a person on one of the
photographs in last issue and has more to reflect on the long story
about the Bon Jour, I
wrote in last issue: ‘With regard to your story on Kitty Black and that
photograph showing Oliver Smedley: I believe the person on the right,
whose name you did not know, was the late Martin Newton. I notice from
your latest Report that it shows, indirectly, how Allan Crawford learned
and copied so much of his structure for Radio Atlanta from Radio Nord /
Thompson. Then Ronan O'Rahilly copied Allan's research to create Radio
Caroline. Allan wanted to take over Radio Nord and use it immediately
for
UK
transmissions, but Thompson took fright over legal risks and returned
the ship to America. Otherwise, Britain would have had pirate radio much
sooner - possibly in 1962. I assume you know the Wikipedia site for
Caroline etc - I haven't so far found a Wikipedia site for just "Pirate
Radio" but must look harder. I don't have time to research the site yet,
but if you haven't posted to it, let me suggest you might consider doing
so. You must know about it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Caroline
Kind regards, Colin Nichol.
Thanks Colin for the info and yes so the history is getting completer
and completer. I wish I would have the time for the Wikipedia thing, but
I’m too busy in writing the report as well for several radio magazines.
So anyone else in the readership could give him/herself a try!
Photo taken from the mast mv Mi
Amigo during Atlanta days (Archive Johnny Jackson)
From the western part of the Greater London area the next e mail: ‘Hi
Hans - greetings from Graham Brown in Ealing, London and thank you for
your great work on the newsletter. I thought you would like to know
about a record played on BBC Radio 2's Sounds Of The Sixties programme
yesterday (Sat 3 Feb) by Johnnie Walker. It was called ‘Opposite Lock’
and was performed by Emperor Rosko. Personally, I didn't even know it
existed! But great to hear the Emperor back on the BBC. I see on his
website his postal address in California is close to where my wife,
musician Kathie Touin, grew up. I'd also like to say that Johnnie Walker
has done a great job on Sounds Of The Sixties. Next Saturday it is
welcome back to regular presenter Brian Matthew who has been recovering
from illness. All the best Hans, Graham
www.kathietouin.com
www.myspace.com/kathietouin
Thanks Graham, well what a coincidence. I was in Boston Manor during the
last Sunday of January, not too far away from your place. I was seeing a
good radio friend for decades and he showed me a cd which
Rosko had sent to him
with the songs he once recorded! Radio indeed is a very small world. And
Rosko, what about sending me a copy of the cd and so I can do a little
promotion for that in the report. Surely there will be readers who want
to buy a copy.
Then
an e mail from Holland: ‘Dear Hans and thank you for last issues of the
Report. Great info for all Offshore Radio Fans from then and now. As a
screensaver on my computer I use a picture from the
Norderney taken in July
1973 by me. Every time when the computer is starting I see this. Next to
that I listen the stream of Radio Veronica 192. And so Veronica is still
there in 2007.’
Thanks Martin van der Valk for sending us the photograph. So which
screensaver do you use as reader of the International Knot Radio Report?
If it has anything to do with radio, why don’t you share it with us.
Hknot@home.nl
Who does remember the young Caroline Martin from Radio Caroline in the
mid eighties? Well she’s grown up and mother of four doing a breakfast
show. Read more here:
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/tm_headline=dj-leaves-brmb-breakfast-show%26method=full%26objectid=18559564%26siteid=50002-name_page.html#story_continue
Charlie Wolf is round the
corner again asking for more information on a former colleague from the
time the both worked on Laser 558: ‘Hans, do you or anyone in the Free
Radio community have any information on the whereabouts of
Liz West? Tommy Rivers
and I would like to contact her. Can you ask around and I would
appreciate any information you may have. Regards, Charlie Wolf. ‘
Well my memories to her stopped in the early nineties. I know some of
your other people from Laser days are readers too. So anyone who knows
more, please reflect. Hknot@home.nl
Remember The Scorpions and they’re massive hit played a lot by Veronica
in 1965 called ‘Hello Josephine’? Well this group is still active on
Sixties Festivals and recently brought out a new cd called ‘Scorpions
Now’. On the cd 21 songs including ‘I can tell’, ‘Boney Maronie’,
‘Walking the dog’, ‘Follow me’ and a nowadays version of ‘Hello
Josephine’. For the readers of the report it’s now exclusively available
as the CD is not for sale in the record shops. Go and get your own copy
by ordering you own copy with the Fabulous Sounds of the Sixties, PO Box
111, 5280 AC Boxtel the Netherlands. E mail:
B.Bossink@kpnplanet.nl
A lot of rumours are going round about the
Music Mann project, the
long planned long wave radio station on the Isle of Man. Two of the
people involved I asked for comments and till now no answer from Paul
Alexander Rusling. Here’s what Rodney Collins wrote me: ‘Hi Hans, I
resigned from the Board on December 08 and I am told Paul resigned at
the beginning of January. Paul, as the CEO, can tell you more, but I can
say that I left as the Board were unable to make progress with the
project because of difficulties with certain shareholders.
Rodney Collins’
Thanks Rodney. And just a day later we got an e mail from
Paul Rusling, who we also
asked about the project:
Maybe now everybody
will stop writing about it, and give the people who are still working on
it a chance to get the work done, unmolested by crazy internet stories!!!
The internet stories did cause us a lot of problems last year and
resulted in two investors walking away, scared of stories about the
aerial, or that LW was too old fashioned. As you know, I believe that it
is programme content which attracts listeners, not the hifi quality of
transmissions. There are some other reasons why IMIB is becalmed - the
professional radio people in the IMIB team (for example, myself and
Rodney Collins, but several others too) did not want to launch without
enough money to operate properly for at least 6 to 9 months, and pay
people proper wages. I have always ensured that everyone who worked
under me got paid and none were ever put in danger from low standards -
those are two principles that I won't compromise on. Some folk in IMIB
want to launch very cheaply (we call it "on a shoestring" in England)
and I could see that this could create a huge problem. Caroline has
already tried all those cheap blagging tricks, I was there with some of
the biggest blaggers of all time (and I say that with the greatest
respect, I admire what they managed to achieve in the face of adversity).
IMIB however is a legal radio station and must be operated under the
strict terms of its licences - not just broadcast permits, but various
maritime regulations too. The classification society have written up
formal conditions to "ensure safe operation of a radio ship transmitting
while at sea". I regards that as a major achievement, but it does mean
you cannot do things cheaply. When you are licensed and fully authorised,
you cannot duck and dive from responsibilities - life is too short for
too many capers like that. It’s maybe ok if your team are young with no
responsibilities - but my team are mostly mature and have things like
mortgages, car payments, children and especially wives to keep. None of
us can live on fresh fish alone - well, not for very long! For the
record, I did not receive any salary or my expenses from IMIB for many
years, and instead, like many others, was feeding money into the IMIB
company to keep it alive. To continue dialogue with investors you need
to go to meetings, make presentations, submit documentation, pay the
bills of lawyers and accountants while they make their due diligence
investigations. And still pay annual registration fees, the cost of
offices, telephones, travelling - etc, etc. For me this all became too
much expense and, after a long discussion with my wife, I stepped down
from the Board over a month ago in order to press on with other work.
I'm now in Melbourne Florida working on developing a type of antenna. I
remain a shareholder in IMIB and wish the project well - the new Board
know that if I can be of help then I shall be, but I couldn't continue
being the public face of I
MIB
when i didn't agree with the stance being taken over investment and the
cost, which impact on operational style and might jeopardise the huge
potential that I believe is inherent in the LW279 project. Here we have
a relatively cheap to launch totally legal free radio station, from a
ship at sea. All possible tomorrow, it just needs a bit more cash
(£1,800,000 is needed - that will guarantee operation at 250 KW for a
year.) Guys - please start buying lottery tickets (I’m in the Florida
Lottery the last few weeks - a $32m rollover at the moment!)
Thanks a lot Paul Rusling and I hope it’s clear now for those who were
asking us frequently what is going on with the project.
Bob Scott and captain Myer and his
wife n board the mv Mi Amigo
Sad news for the listeners to
Big L as it was announced early February by the station that one
of their team members died. ‘It is with great sadness that Big L 1395
announce the death of presenter, Tony Fox. With a rich voice and wide
knowledge of music, Tony made the Friday night slot of ‘London Calling’
very much his own; a show he had hosted since the station's launch in
May 2005. His influence on Big L ran deep: as a highly respected
show-business agent, he introduced the station's anchorman, Mike Read as
well as former presenters, Opal Bonfante and Becki Seddiki. Tony began
his radio career at LBC before moving on to Radio 210 in Reading. While
there he proved instrumental in the technical training of the
aforementioned Mike Read and current Radio 2 presenter, Steve Wright.
Tony was seen as 210's Mr. Fix-It: if something needed sorting, he'd
sort it. A stint with Radio Luxembourg followed before he joined top
agent, Michael Cohen in the late 1980s, representing major names in the
world of radio and television. Tony went it alone in the 1990s, handling
the affairs of TV presenter, Keith Chegwin among others. With the
dawning of the new millennium, he went on to represent notable stars
from the reality show, Big Brother as well as former S Club 7 artist, Jo
O'Meara-who, ironically, recently appeared in the celebrity version of
the Channel 4 programme. Deeply proud of his Polish parentage, Tony was
a generous and courteous man who took pride in both his work as an agent
and presenter. Mike Read describes him as “one of the most genuine
people in the business”. He will be greatly missed by all at Big L 1395.
‘
Now we go to Mike Terry who was on holiday in Africa: ‘Thanks for the
newsletter as always. I thought this might be of interest. We are now
home now from our wonderful week's holiday in Africa - guaranteed
sunshine, incredible people, fascinating countryside, animals, birds and
beaches, and all at a very comfortable 90 degrees. I am pleased to
report that there are some excellent FM and a few AM stations to be
heard in The Gambia, some with wonderful ethnic Gambian and Senegalese
music. On Monday we cruised with the dolphins in a luxury catamaran up
the River Gambia and I was thrilled to shoot some pictures and movie
footage of the hulk of the MV
Cheetah off Banjul. I had to ask the local guide and captain to
point out the wreck (there are many) which they gladly did and they
seemed interested when I told them more about its history (with my
anoraky enthusiasm!). Most of our fellow English tourists thought it was
a joke but I managed to convince some. On our return the tide was lower
and the pelicans that had covered it earlier had flown so the photos
were better. I quote from Wikipedia - "The fascinating history is that
Radio Syd pronounced Sud) started to broadcast from a ship to Sweden to
give the wedish people a musical entertainment channel. Broadcast on VHF
(FM). In harge was ex-beauty queen Brit Wadner. Mrs. Wadner was jailed
at least once or breaching Swedish broadcasting law. In early 1966 the
second ship the mv heetah 2 broadcast the British station Caroline South
for a few weeks after he mv Mi Amigo ran aground at Frinton. After this
service ceased, the ship as sold and moved to the Gambia, where she
eventually sank. Brit Wadner Settled in The Gambia and for many years
operated the Wadner each Hotel located about a mile from Radio Syd.
Radio Syd was eventually set up in The Gambia just outside the capital
Banjul, broadcasting to The Gambia and Senegal on medium wave, the
station ceased transmitting in 2001 when the antennae came crashing
down. The station was run by Connie, daughter of Brit and her partner
Bennie. xtracts from
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Syd lots more at
http://www.offshoreradio.co.uk/odds31.htm
Well thanks a lot and maybe in next issue one of your photographs? [Here it is. Your webmaster]
I regularly sent out some downloads from my archive to former heroes
from the past and so also Steve
Young received old recordings from me. This what he answered:
‘Hello Hans. Thanks so much for sending me the links to the downloads. I
really appreciated getting the one of my show, which I've added to my
collection of memorabilia. Yesterday I was interviewed by CBC Radio
about my days with Radio Caroline so I was able to give them a little
chunk of the recording to use on their programme. They, apparently, had
quite a large listener response to the interview....many "ex pat Brits"
who live on Vancouver Island had their memory banks re-kindled by the
memories of Radio Caroline and the Pirate tations. Also I lent the
producer a copy of your book on Caroline for some background reference,
he told me how much he enjoyed it and that he had never realized the
huge impact that the Pirate Radio stations had on broadcasting in
Europe. Thanks again Hans for, as always, being so considerate in
keeping me "in the loop" about Pirate Radio happenings. Steve Young,
Victoria, BC, Canada.’
So nice to see these response and good the Canadian Radio paid interest
to such an historic subject Steve. Well done!
From Thomas Voelkner I received the latest edition of Infodigital, which
brought a lot of info about ‘digital speech based literature and audio
book radio channels ’ in German but also the latest info about radio,
internet and
television. It’s a bit similar to what Oneward does in the UK and
Telerama Radio in France.
www.info.digital
**********************************************************************
Commercial time for
Foundation for Media Communication (SMC)
Dear radio friends: we offer you the opportunity to have your favourite
station on a Canvas "painting". We print a photo on canvas and... it's
rather cheap! We now have: REM island, Veronica, RNI, Caroline's Mi
Amigo, Fredericia, Ross Revenge, and Radio London on canvas. The sizes
are as follows: A 4 € 31,-- or 25 pounds, A3 € 45,-- or 30 pounds and A
2 € 75,-- or 60 pounds.
You may put the banknotes in an envelop and send it to:
SMC,
PO BOX 53121
1007 RC AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
After receiving the money the painting will be sent within 3 days! This
is also your address for cheap Dutch cd's from Golden Earring, Focus,
Earth and Fire, Outsiders and so on. Prices? Just ask Rob Olthof at
rob@mediacommunicatie.nl
A wonderful interesting site on Scandinavian Radio History including
downloads from Radio Nord days can be find at the next address:
http://radiohistoria.jvnf.org/radionord_ljud.htm
The month February brought is already twice very sad news. First of all
the passing away from Tom de
Munck at the age of 59. Tom wrote, together with Karel Gerbers,
Jelle Knot and myself the book ’25 Years Radio Caroline’ as well was a
regular writer for the Freewave Media Magazine, Free Radio Magazine and
others using his own name as well as the name John Wendale. He became
famous to his integer way of contacting people and bringing a lot of
information two his readers about the Caroline organisation during the
period 1980-1984, which others failed to explore. Saturday February 10th
brought the sad news of the passing away from Jeanne from North Wales.
Better known to a lot of readers as
Penopele Page. She was
sub editor for the Monitor Magazine in the seventies and early eighties
and after the editor Buster Pearson died, she took over his work as
editor for Monitor Magazine. I had the luck to write with her on the
Magazine for many years in the eighties and brought in the news from the
Dutch stations which transmitted from the Ross Revenge as well by
interviewing several deejays from the past. Therefore I visited the 31
Avondale Road in Benfleet several times, to meet up with Don Scott and
Jeanne. Never forget these two people cared a lot for Buster Pearson,
who stayed in a wheelchair for most of his life. I wish the family of
Tom de Munck as well as Don Scott all the strength in the world to carry
the lost of both fine people. On www.hans.knot.com a long article about
Caroline in the eighties can be found, written by Tom and myself as well
as photos.
HANS KNOT AND JEANNE TALKING ABOUT
RADIO 1986. (Photo Rob Olthof).
Well that ends up this edition of the report. Hope to bring better news
when the next edition comes out in March. As always your news and views
as well as memories can be sent to
Hknot@home.nl
Greetings
Hans
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report