Hans Knot's International Radio Report - August 2007 (1)
Welcome to this long
edition of the Hans Knot International Radio Report. Not only a lot of
the readers have written to me to say �thank you� but again also many
have thought about adding some news, memories or others in their mail.
Everyone who responded a big thank you too. This month it�s 40 years ago
that the MOA was brought in by the British Government. A lot of memories
were brought back at a special radio reunion, which was held in London.
More about that later in this report. While writing this part of the
report I�m listening to the first broadcast day of
Pirate BBC Essex. 6 Days
long the radio ship LV 18 is the base for the station to think back 40
years in date. Programming is sounding nice with a lot of music, or must
I say only music from the First Offshore Period, 1964-1967. Of course
photos of this happening can be seen soon on sites like the one of
Pirate Hall of Fame and Radio London. I won�t be over as I had to choose
rather between the reunion or the Essex broadcasts.
Also BBC Radio Today paid attention this morning, Thursday August 9th,
when interviewing Peter Moore
and Johnny Walker. The
latter one could also be heard as well
Gordon Cruse in another
interview on BBC Radio. Rosko
made the headlines this morning when appearing in BBC TV News and a lot
of other media will of course pay attention to the transmissions from
the LV8 as well as the special exhibition in Harwich harbour.
Let�s start off with two
nicknames we didn�t hear before while listening to old recordings.
From 1986 it was a program from Radio Monique in which Tony Berk was
named �Tony van de muziek�. (Tony from the music). Johan Visser, and
than we talk about 1978, was mentioned by his colleague Ferry Eden �het
trouwe vissertje� which stands for �Faithful fisherman�.
It was in the International Times in July 1969 that an article was
printed under the title: �Radio Andorra, the blueprint in action�.
Seeing back the article it comes to mind that this must have been a pre
publishing of a project that later became known as
Radio Geronimo. Let�s see
what was written: �The programmes of Radio Andorra will be handled in
England by Japonica Sound Productions, which is a company owned by Terry
Yason, Hugh Nolan, Geoffrey Bass and Bill Hayes. The first programmes
are hoped to get together in the first week of August so that they can
be heard on August 15th onwards, which is the third anniversary of the
closedown of the pirates� .
Indeed Hugh Nolan was with Radio Geronimo, as far as my memories go, and
later he worked shortly for the offshore station Radio Seagull. The
writer of the article had no clear memories as it was only two years ago
in 1969. The station�s spokesman promised the reader a lot as he stated
that the station would be on the air for seven days a week. First from 1
till 2 AM and later extended until 6AM. The article went on with: � When
japonica gets the advertising together, it will be the first underground
rock station in England and apart from that Terry Yason and Hugh Nolan,
some programmes will be got together by John Peel and Mick Farren�.
The station spokesman promised a format called �From Bach to Beefheart
or Burroughs to the Beatles�. Also they wanted to get the listener to
make their own programs as they stated that anyone who gets together a
program for the station would have a licence � to do anything he wants
to do�. Or as Telly said in his own words: � Our policy realy is that we
just want to put a bit of f..k into radio and turn radio from the sopa
propaganda that we�re used to into a living communications system.�
The Blueprint also mentioned that both Telly and Hugh would become
program director and were responsible for getting the radio programmes
together and were responsible for getting the programmes run smoothly.
Just before the planned new station Hugh Nolan left another job, that of
sub editor of � Disc and Music Echo�. Terry Yason was a freelance
publicist of avant garde and underground music and also did the
publicity for the Blackhill Rolling Stones Concert in the park. Earlier
mentioned Bill Hayes was founder and editor of Opus Magazine and Opus
News Service.�
As Radio Andorra transmitted on 428 metres on the medium wave the
organisers thought that the station would have a slightly better
reception in Great Britain than Radio Luxembourg had in those days. Even
reception without any of the fading � 208� brought was certainly the
case. I only remember that there was just one test program from Radio
Andorra with Hugh Nolan, on a station called �Radio Rupert�. The
reception on 701 kHz was however very poor in England and so it was the
only time it was on the air from Andorra. Later on, in 1970,
transmitting time was hired from Radio Monte Carlo, whereby the name
Radio Geronimo was used for the first time.
Barry
Everrit nowadays runs the Geronimo Society which you can find on
the internet:
barry@geronimosociety.com
As we mentioned a few times on forehand
Red Sands Radio was on
the air in July with a temporary licence from Red Sands, the former base
for Radio 390 in the sixties. Rob Ashard was one of the visitors and did
also some programs as well as making wonderful pictures. His story is
at:
www.offshore-radio.de
Later in the report you�ll find a special from Bob LeRoi about the
programmes from Red Sands.
Next e mail comes from Peter van den Berg in Amsterdam: �Once again I
did enjoy a lot reading the report. What a lot of memories. Saturday
November 10th is in my mind. 40 years ago we we�re in our high days (San
Francisco?) but then we dropped in a unfathomable depth, surely after
March 3rd 1968. Are you also inviting those gangsters from Wijsmuller to
the Radio Day so they can finally tell us the reasons why both Caroline
ships were taken away from us? It took up until February 1970 before we
scrawled up a bit. (RNI makes you happy). Well is still keeps us busy
after all those years.�
Thanks Peter for your comments and no we won�t offer them a microphone
to tell the truth. Anyway good to hear you�ll be joining us too on the
Radio Day on November 10th in Amsterdam.
On the next internetsite many nice tunes can be found as used on German
Radio and Radio Luxembourg:
https://freenet-homepage.de/phranc/trailer.htm
Another internet site is mentioned by Alan Bailey: �Hi Guys. Just in
case you�re interested I�ve added some new audio to the website
www.208itwasgreatradioluxembourg.co.uk
Hope
you�re keeping well. Cheers. Alan.
As promised here the official report from Bob LeRoi about
Red Sands Radio 2007.
�Red Sands Radio was brainchild of Bob Le-Roi (Radio City) who with
Robin Banks (Caroline & RNI) set about organising a trial broadcast on
air from the 14th-23rd of July on 1278kHz. Despite skeptics it did
actually broadcast from the same Fort that Radio Invicta launched from
in June 1964. The concept was to both commemorate the anniversary of the
last broadcast from Red Sands by Radio 390 in July 1967, and to promote
the hugely popular Whitstable Oyster Festival
Black Printz Photo Hans Knot
The antenna was designed by Peter Chicago (Caroline and RNI) and erected
with Tony Pine (Radio City) and Robin Banks, transmission/processing
equipment was provided by Chicago, the desk and audio gear by Dave
Foster & Rob Ashard. Bob Le-Roi as Programme Director programmed the
music was responsible for the image and sound of the station, its
presenters and output, provided PC and associated software for studio
and newsroom. Contributors were: Ian MacRae, Printz and Bob Le-Roi
(Radio City) Kevin Turner, Rob Ashard, Doug Wood, Tony Christian, Dave
Foster (Radio Caroline) John Ross-Barnard, John Aston, Vic Davies (Radio
KING and 390) Bill Rollins (Radio Tower) Sietse Brouwer (Radio Seagull)
Stephen Wright, Ray Copeland and Tony James with Chicago and Robin
badgered into a Q and A session. Local bands were highlighted in the
mid-morning programme & the final day included a live performance by
Mandy Kewley and percussionist Animal Dave
Poor weather throughout the broadcast almost delayed the launch &
limited tender visits, but having erected the antenna twice! The whole
story will be told over the coming weeks Red Sands Radio began testing
on at midnight on 13th July 2007 Reaction to the station was incredible,
playing across the whole region in factories, offices, shops, clubs,
pubs and to listeners on-line, it received 100�s & 100�s of text
messages often jamming the line. Similarly 100�s of emails arrived daily,
dozens of letters of support have subsequently arrived at our office
it�s apparent that a there�s a need and potential future for Red Sands
Radio whose broadcast was dedicated to the memory of Tony Allan.�
Thanks Bob for the report and also thanks to Cornelia van den Berg who
did some informative info about the project to me.
From
Henk in Dokkum an e mail with an internet address, where you can find
some news about the Radio
Waddenzee ship and studio�s
www.radiowaddenzee.nl/?pag_id=7313&site_id=86&toon=sel&news_id=4469
Next an e mail from Belgium: Dear Hans, The first link in your report
does not work. It is missing an hyphen. The correct link is :
https://www.editions-harmattan.fr/index.asp?navig=catalogue&obj=livre&no=23969
Interesting report... as usual ;-) The Emperor rocks! Kind regards, Luc
Masuy Namur, Belgium
Let�s now go to a longer contribution, in which a reader gives his
thoughts on a certain subject. Of course you can reflect on this one to
by writing to Hknot@home.nl
�Dear Hans. To begin with I note your list of readers is growing and may
I thank you for that. Recently your list resulted in a very good friend
getting in touch with me, again thank you. The above prompts me to ask -
what will happen in, say, 40 years time? Who or where is the new Hans?
Next, what will be in the history books about radio - will it read
'Radio was a medium of entertainment which eventually ended when
citizens world wide could access audio from Warner/Sony/EMI/Universal
and the Association of Independent Music...'. Or will it read 'Radio has
returned to the entertainment medium it was always thought to be. It now
boasts thousands of stations combining music of all formats, some
stations narrowcast others broadcast, with the most successful being
broadcast stations with entertaining DJs (DJ being Digital Jock)? (I
hope the last will happen HK)
For anyone interested in Net things - I have now had a chance to test
the TechniSat InternetRadio
- A fabulous device. Turning it on is easy as is the very limited set up
- it offers language options etc. The test unit I have works well via a
secure Wi-Fi as well as the increasing open Wi-Fi outlets. I have
listened to a station close to my heart in many locations without the
need for a long antenna, a big YAGI or 1,000 Euro receiver. It gives me
thousands of stations to choose from and no need to remember the URL of
the station. You simply scroll down a list of stations, via the
on-screen display, and select the station you want. If you like the
station that much you simply add it to the favorites menu.
https://www.technisat.com/?site=produkte/produkteview.php&kid=1,80&reload
The link above tells you more and the claims made are all real.
This prompts major question number three - Is this the future of radio
as we know it? When Wi-Fi becomes as commonplace as it surely will be,
will we need wasteful carbon fuel burning transmitters as we do now?
Will these products encourage a return to real choice in radio? After
all, that's why we children of the sixties are still talking about ships
� what it really gave us was choice! You can forget all the politics and
so-called freedom issues, what listeners had (I was one ) was choice. I
could write to a station and they would play a track for me or at least
say hello - the important thing was that they would interact with me.
Actually, that prompts me to suggest that really the majority of the
offshore stations became popular because they were interactive, that's
many years ahead of the term being used in the modern world.
This leads me to say, there are still many lessons that radio people can
learn from the offshore stations - or at least be reminded of the things
offshore did for its listeners. Offshore radio gave listeners real
choice - there were ranges of broadcast programmes being aired. Lots of
shows had GREAT presenters who entertained the listeners - I often
wonder how much more those presenters could have given us with the help
of computers. Equally, how many would have been horrified at the thought
of today's stations claiming it's better to have non-stop music and no
DJs. Actually, I think the pioneering DJ would laugh at people saying
non-stop music is best. Those pioneering DJs knew that the reason a
station was a winner was due to there hard work entertaining the
audience linking the music and of greater importance making sure the
audience stayed during the ad-break.
As we approach 14 August 2007, I know there will be programmes being
made, Internet radio stations appearing, other radio services being
planned and what will they achieve? Nothing unless they can entertain
millions of people in the same way the 1960s stations entertained people.
Have a great August 14 everyone - and let's not forget we are now in "The
Digital Decade". People making a difference today do it using zeros and
ones, ask Bono! Regards Eric N Wiltsher
https://ericwiltsher.blogspot.com
Thanks Eric for this wonderful contribution and hopefully others will
reflect on it by writing to Hknot@home.nl
Next issue will bring a long contribution again from Geoffrey Baldwin.
Another email comes from England : �Hi Hans. Thanks as always for your
fascinating radio report. I too wonder why Radio Britannia rarely gets
mentioned, I was a regular listener when I lived in Surrey, near
Coulsdon, and remember well the professional programming and the signal
was strong and crystal clear. I would love to hear a recording of the
station, maybe someone can help please? Regards Mike Terry (now in
Bournemouth)
Miketerry73@btinternet.com
The foundation for Media communications from Amsterdam, the financial
organisation behind the Radio Days, has asked me to write to the readers
who want to attend and want to have paid their contribution to SMC (FMC)
not to sent in the money by cheques. Please don�t as the exchange costs
are 50% for such a low donation. Just sent the Supporter fee to SMC PO
Box 53121 1007 RC in Amsterdam.
More information on the Radio
Day can be found at:
https://www.offshore-radio.de/radioday/
Another mail from former Radio Luxembourg technician Alan Bailey: �Hi
Hans, Thank you for your latest report. I don't know if I sent you this
or whether you may be interested for your news letter. I was on John
Peels' BBC programme 'Home Truths' just before his demise talking about
the submariner mentioned in the chapter 'The highlight of my career'
from my book and I thought you may be interested to hear part of that
wartime interview and if you click on
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hometruths/20040816_nazi_78_rpm.shtml
you'll be able to hear it if you go to the top centre of the page and
click on ' Listen to the item'. Kind Regards, Alan Bailey.�
Well thanks a lot Alan and I thought to share it with the readers too.
From
Belgium we have an e mail from Alex Bervoets: �Hello Hans, Hope all is
well with you. During the past weeks I�ve been on my bike a few times to
the Kempsich Dok (the harbour part in Antwerp where the former Veronica
vessel Norderney is
docked since a couple of years. They are very busy repainting the old
vessel and really looks very good now. It�s painted in a combination
from white, black and blue. It looks like a brand new vessel, although
we know better. A pity that the ship will leave Antwerp in September.
That is what the painters told me. Todays place for the ship is not
interesting at all as no normal tourist visit that part of Antwerp.�
Thanks Alex and hopefully I can tell in one of the next report where the
former Veronica ship is going to. It�s this month 33 years ago the
station was heard for the last time from the Norderney off the Dutch
coast.
MV Norderney in 1973 picture
Ronald Atema
Next one comes from Rob Veld in Holland: �Dear Hans Let's start with:
�Hans you done it again, a very interesting letter!!!!!� I don't know
how you do this every time (With a little help from your friends ??)
From this way, thanks to Phil Crosby for his contribution about Thames
Radio and Radio Britannia, that's what I mend with my question about
land-based pirates and the MOA.
Then I read also the question from Erik van der Pol about the
signal strength in the
Netherlands from different kind of radio ships and forts and even
land-based. It depends on a lot of things. If your living near the coast
I think you have no difficulty. The sea water is very friendly for
signals in medium wave. If you live however in the southern province
Limburg, you have a problem. That problem is a good ground. Of course
you have different kind of receivers, good and bad ones, and also very
important is your receiving antenna. On the other side there is the
transmitting station. Very important are ground and the antenna. Then
secondly the power of your transmitter and the modulation power. And at
last, if you're on 538 meter you have a long "ground wave", if you're on
192 meter it's a lot shorter. Reception by daylight is only by ground
wave. During the evening and the night the "air wave" is much stronger.
If you receive them both you've got "fading", that's a signal which is
going up and down.
A good example for a (compromise) antenna is from "Red Sands Radio" (I've
seen the photo's of the antenna, but how did you do that exactly Peter?
(Please will you write me about that:
vintage_radio_197@yahoo.co.uk). With just 1 Watt Effective Radiated
Power (ERP) I received them on a Philips 444 with only the ferrite
antenna 25 km north of Amsterdam. Another guy in the same place has
reception on a vintage tube receiver, with 75% on the "magic eye" and
yes, again only with the ferrite antenna. They were also heard in Dokkum,
Noordwijk (5-9+40) and Rotterdam, this is of course possible with a good
receiver en a good antenna.
It's no secret that Radio Noordzee (RNI) had a stronger signal then
Radio Veronica (on 192 meter), even Radio Caroline (on 199 meter) had a
stronger signal then Radio Veronica (on 192 meter). The explanation is
simple, Noordzee and Caroline had a better antenna and more power. I
don't say that the Veronica Antenna was bad. There was not enough room
for 1/4 wave antenna so a good compromise was born, they made a
T-Antenna. The same problem was there with Capital Radio. They used a
DDRR antenna (DDRR stands for: Directional Discontinuity Ring Radiator).
Normally not a too bad antenna, but in combination with seawater and
storm, a bad choice, cause the isolation of the antenna and the tuning
system. So no 1 till 10 for the mentioned radiostations, but a technical
explanation, sorry about that. Rob Veld.
Thanks
Rob to answer the question which was published in last issue. Older
issues of the Hans Knot International Radio Report can be read back at
www.hansknot.com
with of course thanks to the great help of my webmaster Martin van der
Ven.
Well some of his former offshore colleagues did already play a little
roll-film or in a television series. Almost on the age of 63 Bert van
Rheenen has been asked to play the roll of a police chief in a movie
called � I love Dries�. The movie comes out in spring next year. Bert
van Rheenen is to us better known under his deejay name Chiel Montagne.
He worked in the sixties and seventies for Radio Veronica. He has also a
very popular television program on TROS TV many years.
Some weeks ago a lot of photos were rescued from the cellar of the
Foundation for Media Communication. Photos taken during three decades.
75% of them were traced or, in other words, had a name of the maker of
the photographs. The other ones I've tried to get a name of the maker.
But not all were found. You'll find some exclusive photo's never been
published before, which have been taken in 1977 when the
MEBO II, former radioship
of RNI, finally left Slikkerveer harbour, heading for a new position off
the Libyan coast. When finding this photos it occurred to me that there
was a familiar face. With new scanning techniques it was possible to
enlarge the person. Well I thought I was right and sent her an e-mail
with the question if she was there in Rotterdam in 1977. She wrote me
back she was and so on one of the photographs you'll see the woman with
the long hair which is the former Radio Caroline secretary in the early
seventies in Scheveningen and the Hague, Elija or Cornelia van den Berg.
if you think you've also some unique photo's never published before, let
me know at hans.knot@gmail.com
The complete serie can be found at
www.hansknot.com
MEBO II leaves for Libya 1977
Next e mail comes from the UK: � Here� s a site you may wish to link to
https://beehivecandy.blogspot.com
It includes a regular feature called anorak corner, with lots of mp3
downloads of 'offshore radio' musical gems. These are music and artists
easily associated with offshore radio, rather than just theme tunes or
air checks. Thanks, Mike Heath
On the day I�m writing the next item it�s not too many days as it will
be 40 odd years ago that the Marine Offences etc Bill became Act in
Great Britain. Most of our favourite offshore radio stations had left or
left the airwaves on August 14th
1967. Some of you all remember the words spoken out by deejays,
artists and director at Big L aka Wonderful Radio London. Others do
remind what Robbie Dale told his listeners just after three o'clock on
Black Monday. It was then already more than 7 years ago I started
collection newspaper cuttings.
Also
was writing a lot to my favourite jocks on Caroline, London and Radio
England. With the Act becoming nearer I recorded more and more programs.
But also got in contact with several people who had the same opinion:
The British Government went too far with introducing the MOB etc.
I got from several people leaflets and letters and a few of them were
put in my archive at that time. One of them I will now, 40 years after I
got it from England, officially open for all the people who stayed with
offshore radio and the good memories we have. The leaflet enclosed came
to me late August 1967 and I think it was Nick Oakly who sent it, but
I'm not sure. Anyway you will see that she or whoever did already made
on the form some official protest lines against the odd decisions of the
British Government. That it took 40 years to publish is in one way a
shame, on the other hand I must say a big congratulations to anyone
involved who kept our radio dream alive during 4 long decades.
As usual we have in
this report our regular plugs for befriended site holders, the first
this month is Bob LeRoi:
�Welcome to the August Update. With the prospect of an Indian summer?
More Barge Sailing Dates added to our diary, join us it's great fun. In
this months Scrapbook we continue the scene setting feature in the build
up to the broadcasts of Red Sands Radio with some more Fort history.
Ahead of the story of how Red Sands Radio came about which begins next
month. Plus crash bang wallop oops as a radio car goes up in flames in
Hot FM. In "One Subject One Link" a contribution an alternative view of
Terry Wogan's Radio 2 Breakfast Show. We've a nice patch bay up for sale,
more Books, Records and CD's too all at great prices Enjoy your visits:
www.bobleroi.co.uk
Bob is followed by Jon at the Pirate Hall of Fame: �Hi, I have just
updated The Pirate Radio Hall of
Fame. With the fortieth anniversary of the Marine Offences Act
looming:
I have added twenty pages of press cuttings from before and immediately
after 14th August 1967; there is a page dedicated to that dreadful day
when Radios 270, Scotland and London shut down forever; there is a
second page of photos from Robbie Dale's collection; we have news of
Pirate BBC Essex, two offshore documentaries, the temporary return of
Swinging Radio England / Britain Radio and an on-line offshore
nostalgia-fest; and news of an offshore DJ's autobiography due to be
published in September.
www.offshoreradio.co.uk
I also can tell you that Mary and Chris Payne have a wonderful update on
their Radio London site. And surely they will bring much more after the
BBC Pirate Radio Essex transmissions as they�re in Harwich all those
days too. Give a look at
www.radiolondon.co.uk
Rob from Amsterdam suggest you the reader to have a listen to a golden
oldie webstation:
www.radiobelinda.be
Very sad news came in from Canada for Mick Luvzitt had a heart attack
late July. Mick is not only a reader to the Knot International Report
for many years but was also the only offshore deejay ever married aboard
a radioship. Way back in 1966 he married the sister of colleague Ray
Terret. I wish Mick all the best and hopefully a complete recovery for
him too.
Another e mail from England, this time Mike Barraclough: � Four and a
half minute report broadcast last night, old footage and interviews with
Johnnie Walker, Roger Day, Dave Cash and Peter Moore:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkHj7hJoWfY. Mike Barraclough
From
Belgium the advice from Herman to have a look in the following
discussion group:
https://ukonair.com/forums/
But there are more internet sites sent in to plug: The next one is a
special one for vinyl lovers:
https://www.slsknet.org/
I go to France and this e mail: �Hello Hans, Have you info about the
stream of Radio North Sea Gold on the WEB?
https://www.radionorthseagold.com
The website has disappeared. Best regards Gilbert from La Chapelle
d'Armenti�res in France.�
Thanks Gilbert. Radio NorthSeaGold closed down The First casualty to
closedown was due to the New PPL licensing laws with Internet radio,
from the UK and the USA, As with the Station Format it was modelled on
Offshore Radio Stations from the 60s up till the 80s with a mix off
music to cover the mentioned period. As with all Internet Based Radio
Stations the cost
for a small operation runs into many hundreds of pounds a month so with
this new ruling will put many Internet Stations off the Air. I
personally think the warning from the PPL searching the web instantly
for small internet radiostation so they can get a lot of money out of
them is the main reason for radiostations like Radio NorthSeaGold to
disappear from the net. A pity as once again some kind of Free Radio is
followed, how small the stations are, by the authorities.
In this issue also a youtube tip from reader Oeds Jan Koster:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIJtKxdRQzY
and what about next one? It show the start of Radio Caroline, way back
in 1964:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0r5RsZxTVk
Next e mail comes from the guy who I met for the very first time on
August 4th 2007. Ian Damon. Listened a lot to him in London days and I
exchanged some photos of the Radio Academy day in London and he came
back to me with:
�Here's some my son took thought you might enjoy looking at them.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/anderidamedia/sets/72157601288721453/
Cheers Ian Wombat Damon.�
Thanks a lot Ian and hope to see you in Amsterdam too in November.
Via Martin van der Ven I received the next e mail from the USA: �As of
this writing, I am still downloading and listening to the various mp3's
that have recently appeared on your site. These stations all have a
distinctive sound, and have been a real treat to hear. Please pass along
my thanks to all who have contributed to this. You are probably aware of
Radio New York International,
the U.S.' attempt at an offshore radio station in 1987. This is the
20'th anniversary of its beginning, and its shutdown (27 July 1987).
There is a website that features a history and air-checks of the station
(as well as land-based unlicensed WHOT New York). Here are the links I
have found:
https://rfny.hankhayes.com/05_rni.html
https://whot.podomatic.com
As I have mentioned
before, my favourite offshore station was Radio Caroline, in its 1970's
Album Rock era. While radio has gone corporate in recent years, there
were radio stations in the past that had the same spirit of hat Caroline
sounded like here. If you ever get the opportunity, you might want to
listen to air-checks of these stations:
KAAY--1090 kHz Little Rock, AR. From the late 1960's to 1977, this 50 kW
AM station had an overnight progressive rock show called � Bakerstreet.�
The show was run directly from their transmitter (as opposed to the
studio), and was quite a bit different from their standard Top-40 format.
The original host of the show still does this show weekly on a local
Little Rock FM station and you can hear this show online, and download
older shows at
https://www.beakerstreet.com
WLAC--1510 kHz Nashville, TN. In years past, this station was a
legendary R&B station that had a sound and feel all its own. It's 50 kW
signal blanketed the U.S. south and Midwest, and served an audience that
did not have a local R&B station. KTNN--660 kHz Window Rock, AZ. This
was the last clear channel AM radio station granted by the U.S.
Government. It serves the Navajo Indian Nation. The � official� format
is Country, but it also includes American Indian chanting, and regional
musicians. Its 50 kW signal at night has a much larger reach than the
state of Arizona, and it is online as well. KMET--94.7 MHz Los Angeles,
CA. While corporate owned, this station was a leader in progressive rock
radio into the early 1980's.
KSAN-- San Francisco, CA. Like KMET, KSAN had a major impact on
progressive/AOR radio until 1980. They have a tribute website:
https://www.jive95.com
and features a number of unscoped air-checks (streamed--not downloaded).
Best Wishes Paul Harner.�
Thanks Poul and welcome to the Hans Knot International Radio Report too!
From three sources I got the next contribution so I think those who sent
it in all thought � wooww this must get to be published in the report.�
�LORD SUTCH STATUE PETITION�
It's
been nearly ten years since the sad demise of the late great, Screaming
Lord Sutch, a man who inspired many people, and even more so made a lot
of people smile in what can be a very sad world. Could you please
support this petition. Whitstable in Kent would be the ideal place for a
Lord Sutch statue, Lord Sutch operated Radio Sutch from the Shivering
Sands forts here in 1964. It was one of the UK'S first pirate radio
stations.
https://petitions.pm.gov.uk/LordSutch/
With Looniest Thanks LORD TOBY JUG THE OFFICIAL MONSTER RAVING LOONY
PARTY�.
David Lord Sutch (Freewave
Archive)
Of course I advise you to go to the internetsite and fill it in. It
brought back directly many memories of my regular visits to my good old
friend Chris Cortez in Cambridge. In the eighties and early nineties we
met up in a pub in Gwyder Street in Cambridge and there was the official
pub for the Monster Raving Loony Party. A pity was that not only the pub
closed in the early nineties but also David died some years later.
Well important news for Caroline followers: Radio Caroline on FM in
central Europe. Radio Tatras International commemorating an
International Day in Radio
14 August 2007 RTI joins forces with Radio Caroline. London: RTI, Radio
Tatras International, the leading pan-European English/Slovak radio
station, will be airing special programming during it's English service
on 14 August to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the passing of the
Marine Offences Act.
Jan Telensky, owner of RTI, said, "May I begin with a quote from the
Radio Caroline web site 'August 14th 1967 has gone down in history as 'the
day the music died'. "That may have been the case had it not been for so
many people who have striven to retain and keep alive the spirit of
those pioneering broadcasters. "Many said that RTI would never get off
the ground and as is the case with Radio Caroline "we refused to go
quietly! Therefore, we felt that a demonstration of solidarity with the
station that inspired so many should take place on RTI. Personally,
Radio Caroline gave me a great deal when I first came to the UK and in a
small way we hope that more people find out, via RTI, that a lot of the
quality radio available today is based on or around those pioneering
broadcasters of the 1960's"
Eric Wiltsher, Director RTI, said: "Some will say it is strange that a
pan-European station such as RTI has such an interest in a law passed by
the then UK government of 1967. However, that is best answered by
sharing the following; in Slovak the conversation started 'Ano, Ano,
Radio Carolina - byt voln�m (Yes, Yes, Radio Caroline - to be free).
Both Caroline and RTI are considered to be free spirited stations by
listeners. Therefore, this act of solidarity between free spirited
broadcasters is the only option for August 14 2007. I am very much
looking forward to hearing these special programmes, for which I thank
Peter Moore and the team of Radio Caroline for making them available to
RTI, on FM whilst parked on the top of the beautiful High Tatras
Mountains in Slovakia - I may even drive across the border to Poland
whilst listening."
The relay of Radio Caroline via
Radio Tatras International will commence at 7.00pm CET on 14th
August and continue through to 7.00am the following morning. The RTI FM
service can be received in a number of European countries, as well as
via the Eurobird satellite, Sky Digital and online at
www.rti.fm
And now to the Celebration of
Offsore Radio of the sixties deejays and staff members in the
Sugar Reef, in Great Windmill Street in London. A street well known for
many people as the Mouse Trap from Agatha Christie played there more
than 40 years. Well 40 years? Yes the same amount of years as the MOA is
now officially. The Sugar Reef and August 4th will remembered in 40
years by our grandchildren as their granddads brought back the memories
of real radio days. I attended the event together with Martin van der
Ven and Rob Olthof.
Arriving
around 11.45 it was Jon Myer and Chris Payne, later followed with Mary
to shake hands with. The three of them have done a very good job in
organising this event for the Radio Academy and thanks also for the
invitation to join the gang.
The first hour was one of �greet and meet� and it was very kindly to see
people who�ve been in contact with me for many years and also those who
I met before and gave me another change to renew contacts. But also
there were a lot of people coming to me to give me compliments on my
work, who I never met before. Thanks all and hope you all will enjoy my
work in the years to come. Next to the deejays also Offshore Radio Fans
came to the event and some took with them some photos they shot in the
sixties. I think it was Vivian who showed me the
next photos:
I personally did not stay too long in the session room. I wear hearing
aids since a couple of years (Yes I listened too much to the radio on
High Volume and so you are all responsible for it!). So I tried to chat
a lot with many people in the entrance of the building as well as
outside the building. But I would like to go to an informative part of
the Steve Szmidt bulletin about the content of the program, which he
sent in on August 8th. (thanks a lot Steve)
'The first session
was entitled �The Sound of the Nation� and was a celebration of Radio
Caroline, still broadcasting 40 years after Johnnie Walker vowed that
the station would continue and never be taken away. The panel, Chaired
by Mark Story (Head of Radio, Emap) consisted of Keith Skues, Bryan
Vaughan, Nick Bailey, a very vocal Roger �Twiggy� Day and Graham Webb.
Each session started with related audio visual clips and additional ones
were sometimes used during and at the end of the presentations. One
point that came over very strongly, was an opinion first voiced by
Roger, is how bad UK radio is today. This is because the accountants
have been allowed to take control from those who had and/or still have a
passion and love for radio. The music and DJ�s are too tightly
controlled and radio has consequently become boring and is no longer �fun�.
This is why iPods and internet radio may end up winning the battle for
listeners and normal radio stations will become extinct. To reverse this
trend, action is required now! I wonder if the Radio Academy has a plan
of action.
Next up was �Station on Sticks�, Chaired by Ralf Bernard CBE (Chief
Executive of GCap Media plc), with a panel of ex Fort based DJ�s, namely
David Allan (Radio 390), Brian Cullingford (King Radio and Radio 390),
Guy Hamilton (Radio Essex) and standing in for Tom Edwards was Mark
Wesley (West). There were also guest speakers Prince Bates (son of Roy),
Bob Le-Roi and Candy Calvert (daughter of Reg). Mark Wesley presented a
graphics virtual tour of one of the gun tower forts, which was produced
by his own company.
The next session, �The Jocks Who Rocked the Ocean� took us on a journey
to the North West, with Radio Caroline North, then across to Radio 270
in the North East and finally Northwards up to Radio Scotland. At the
helm was Tony Currie (BBC Scotland) with shipmates Jack McLaughlin and
Ben Healy (both Radio Scotland), Mike Ahern (Caroline North) and Ned
Miller (Radio 270), who stood in for the �sea sick� Paul Burnett. What
was interesting to hear was the contrast in quality of the living
conditions on the different ships and even the different forts in the
preceding session. For example Radio Scotland was sparse (no swimming
pools etc. as promised!) compared to the luxurious life on Caroline
North. According to one recollection, even the Mi Amigo (Caroline South)
was inferior.
The first session in part two was �It�s Smooth Sailing with the Highly
Successful Sound of Wonderful Radio London�. We all had to sing this
famous and much loved jingle at the request of Tony Currie before we had
tea! Asking the questions this time was Trevor Dann, Director of the
Radio Academy, whilst the interviewees, all former Radio London DJ�s,
were Tony Blackburn, freshly axed from his breakfast show on Classic
Gold, Norman St. John, Ed �Stewpot� Stewart and Duncan Johnson. It was
felt by the panellists that Radio London was the best and most
professional of the Offshore Radio stations and it was also strongly
believed by one that if the station came back today, even with the same
jingles package, it would be successful. I wonder how Ray Anderson felt
about hearing this claim! Maurice Cole (Kenny Everett), my favourite DJ
of all time was fondly remembered, as was the late John Peel.
Finally,
�No Man Will Ever Forget� was a fitting end to the proceedings. Phil
Martin chaired the smallest panel of the day, which was Johnnie Walker
and Robbie Dale, for many the two heroes of the day, and an unbilled
Mark Sloane, a former Caroline North DJ. Unfortunately, Ronan O�Rahilly,
who more than anyone should have also been up on stage, preferred to
stay quietly in the wings of the room, nearest to the exit. However,
when given recognition from the stage, he did give the fans a wave to
signify his presence and whereabouts. Johnnie not only spoke out against
the Government taking control of Radio, but also on how today it is
turning the UK into a �Nanny State�.�
Thanks Steve and it was very nice from Robbie Dale thanking the
organising party as well as Mary and Chris Payne and Martin and myself
for the many work we do to keep the dream alive. I thanked Robbie some
20 minutes later personally for this nice gesture. He told me he felt so
sorry he forgot to mention Jon Myer. I think Jon will understand it
Robbie.
Photos of the event, made by Martin van der Ven and a guy called Hans
Knot, are on
www.offshore-radio.de as well on
www.hansknot.com
Hans Knot and Ronan O`Rahilly
snapped by Robbie Dale
As we all know Ronan tried all those years to be in the background, only
appearing when hugh promotion in radio or television was needed. Is was
in the hall when he entered in the afternoon the building. When he saw
the crowd inside he didn�t even say �hello� but �its too heavy crowded
here�. He then disappeared for a while to get in later. Above a photo
taken by Robbie Dale and when Robbie asked Ronan if he knew how
important I was in the Fight For Free Radio Ronan responded by saying: �
Of course I know but I more like the women�.
For as complete list of people who attended the Radio Academy Event
Martin van der Ven has made a rundown at his pages:
https://www.offshore-radio.de/london2007/listing.htm
It was lovely to see a lot of the old deejays and crewmembers back on
this special event and talking to a lot. Also very nice to see and speak
to some people who are readers for years, but who I met for the very
first time including Ian Damon, Tony Meehan, Ben Healy, Norman St. John,
David Allen and many more. But also people who I didn�t see for ages. It
was twenty years ago when I
had
an interview at Zeezenders 20 in Noordwijkerhout with CNBC deejay Paul
Hollingdale. And at the Sugar Reef someone caught my eyes at the same
time as he spotted me. Wonderful to see him back
Cathy Spence, Bud Bullou, Paul
Hollingdale ,Graham Gill, Tony Meehan and Ben Healy (Photo Hans Knot)
Some months ago Colin Nichol in Australia and myself tried to track down
Paul Hollingdale as we
wanted to republish an eighties interview with Paul done by Colin. The
later one liked to refresh the interview before publication but we
didn�t find Paul as he was not reacting on an e mail address I had from
years ago. So I could tell Paul that it was published (to be found at
www.hansknot.com).
*************************************************************************
On Saturday August 4th
2007 there was a gathering of deejays of the sixties' offshore stations.
The stations based on the forts, Radio Caroline, Radio London and the
smaller stations. A remarkable event. SMC filmed it (duration 90
minutes).
You can obtain the DVD for 5 pounds sterling or � 8,-- No cheques please.
Send it to:
SMC
PO BOX 53121
1007 RC AMSTERDAM
THE NETHERLANDS
*************************************************************************
The next e mail came in three days after the event: �Hi Hans, It was a
pleasure meeting you last weekend at the Radio Academy Pirate
Convention. It was so well organized and amazing to see so many familiar
faces there. Many thanks for sending the photos and I was pleased to
read again the interview I did a long time ago with Colin Nichol re CNBC.
I am busy right now getting ready to return to BBC Radio 2 for their
40th Anniversary programmes next month. I am starting to get a lot of
publicity in the English Press. I am so lucky to be still around doing
things. I have had an incredible life in Radio and TV. Please keep in
touch. Best Paul Hollingdale
Paul
friendly added this article from the Daily Mail.
But there were other people who were introduced by others to me on the
event. Nigel Harris (Stuart Russell) and Don Stevens for instant (both
ex Caroline and VOP) introduced me to someone who has a pirate radio
background and loves to get into radio again.
�Hello Hans. It was a pleasure to meet you at the Radio Academy event
last Saturday. I have often read your Radio pages website and found your
reports most interesting. Maybe I will visit Amsterdam in November for
this years for the Radio Day event. I did not know it will be the 29th
year Of Radio Day in Amsterdam, Time goes so quickly, It is 30 years
since I started listening to Radio Caroline.
I have worked as a radio DJ in the past at United Biscuit Network just
before they closed down and helping out at Radio Medway. Also Radio
Jackie where I have many happy memories of taped transmissions, from
fields around the Surrey area, powered by car batteries, with handles,
for a quick getaway if the GPO turned up. I even got together with some
guys to start my own land based Pirate station. I have had a nice
conversation with Peter Moore and will be down at the Radio Caroline
studio's next Friday.
I moved away from Radio when I started working with pop groups in the
80s as a singer/dancer and also dancing on TV on many pop videos .
Although Radio and especially Free Radio has always remained a great
passion of mine. I listened to both the English and Dutch programmes on
Caroline and Radio Mi Amigo. I enclose some photos from the Radio
Academy that I
hope
you will find of interest. Do keep in touch. Best wishes Mandy (Susie)
Marton'
Don Stevens, Hans Knot and Mandy
After the photos of the event were put on the web by Martin one of the
first e mails, which came in, was from our � Scotchman� Dave Burke: �Oh
Hans, I wish I'd known that you were there too. I was going to go with
my friend Mike (who I've been trying to introduce you to for years! He's
a big anorak - now works for Emap Radio), but he had already booked a
holiday in......Amsterdam! :-) I would have enjoyed it most with him,
and I didn't think any of my other radio friends would really be there -
but I already know that wasn't true! Excuse me if you did say you'd be
there in the report or something. One day we'll meet again maybe if I
don't make any more cock-ups! Best wishes, Dave.
Well Dave surely there will be a moment we�ll meet again as already two
other travels to Britain are planned later this year and in March 2008.
Dave was in the early days of the internet there with some pages on
Radio Scotland. I hope one day you will find time to sent some of the
material to republish in the Hans Knot International Radio Report.
Radio Netherlands has a special on Offshore Radio on their site which is
written by Andy Sennit,
which can be listened to on
line
too:
https://www.radionetherlands.nl/features/media/med070809
Let�s not forget that next Thursday August 16th it�s 30 years ago Elvis
Presley died. On Radio 227
a day earlier (15th) a two hour shows with memories will be transmitted
presented by Peter van Velzen. Starnight is on the air from 20-22 hrs
Dutch time.
https://www.radio227.nl
Also a day earlier, August 14th, Radio 227 will be paying attention the
days of 40 years ago, when British Government brought us probably the
most bespoken Act, the MOA. Former Radio Dolfijn and Radio 227 (from the
sixties) deejay Look Boden, who now runs the Radio 227 station in
Holland, is on the air 20-22 hrs Dutch time to look back in memories as
well as music and air-checks from 40 years ago.
www.radio227.nl
Last e mail to mention comes from Scotland: �If it� s of any interest
for you to download, Next Thursday, August 16th, Smooth Radio Glasgow
has DJ Tony Prince as guest talking about the pirates, Luxembourg and
the death of Elvis anniversary. He will be on Dave Marshall' s
mid-morning show. I would have recorded it for you but am in London all
next week, including a day back in BBC Archives at Caversham, and a day
listening to old VOA tapes in the British Library archives. Cheers from
a very wet morning in Scotland! Graeme Stevenson.�
Well Graham have fun and enjoy listening and researching the archives.
On the next internet address Tony Prince can be heard.
https://www.smoothradioglasgow.com
Of course a lot more could be to told in this issue of the report, which
is by the way the longest in the history of the Hans Knot International
Report. But more next month. So don�t think your e mail was not of
interest but time tells me to end this edition. All photos please to
Hans.Knot@gmail.com and the
memories and news please to Hknot@home.nl
Next month more with greetings from Groningen in the Netherlands,
Hans Knot
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report