As a teenager of the 60's Caroline was "my" station and my transistor radio was always tuned to 199 much to my dads annoyance who used to say, "you'll get me into trouble listening to that illegal station", which made tuning in even more fun!! Little did any of us realise we were listening to history in the making. 24/7 radio is taken for granted now. Johnnie Walker was my favourite DJ and now tune into his shows on the BBC.....excellent DJ and presenter. Some years ago i made contact with a guy whose father had a number of reel to reel tape machines and amassed a library of recordings of Pirate radio broadcasts. No idea if he's still around or if he still has them.
You're lucky you got to listen to Caroline live during the golden era. I'm 30 but I'm obsessed with this stuff. The great thing about the internet age is we can download and listen to 60's pirate radio whenever we wish. If you get back in touch with your friend's dad you should tell him to digitize those old tapes and send them to the Azanorak online archive.
Who on earth could possibly decide to watch this, and then NOT like it?????? Just WHAT is there NOT to like about this great footage of a significant, enjoyable and sadly missed period of our heritage??? Strange people. I fitted a radio in my car, just to listen to Caroline - it was NEVER tuned to any other station :-) (Apart from Radio Atlanta, sometimes, during those first few weeks.) HAPPY DAYS. so fondly remembered. What a privilege to have been just 20, the Easter when Caroline commenced broadcasting, AND to have a transistor radio that tuned to 199.
Excellent footage and thanks for posting. It is so good to see the old girl looking in fine trim and still in her Radio Nord trim. Thank you. Have you considered sending this to the National Sound Archive, they would really appreciate this:-)
This is real history. This era of broadcasting history should be in the syllabus , the students just might take an interest. There is so much information available on this subject - political, musical and social. It seems such a waist to me. A very exciting time.
Right?! I have a communications degree and learned about broadcast history in college. Offshore radio was never mentioned. I learned most of what I know about these stations through interviews with DJ's who worked on them. Tony Prince's documentary series "History of DJ" is fantastic.
Yes great that's a really historical piece of footage, I actually listened to Caroline while they were testing before that eventful Easter Weekend that changed the pop music scene completely. Thanks.
EXCELLENT ! Worth noting that the second part is a 'tender' visit to Radio London ('Big L' 266) with rare footage of the studio, and dj;s including Keith Skues, Paul Kaye and Ed Stewart..
MV Olga, built 1920s as a small freighter and subsequently enlarged and elongated, with the addition of the deck house. Under the name Bon Jour was purchased by Swedish station Radio Nord and broadcast from spring 1961 to June 1962, during which time it was renamed Magda Maria. Later sailed to Galveston, Texas and was renamed Mi Amigo. Bought by Radio Atlanta in 1964 and refitted as broadcasting vessel, went on air in May 1964 in direct competition with Radio Caroline until early July when due to Atlanta's mounting debts the stations merged. Original Caroline ship sailed to the Isle of Man to become Radio Caroline North, while Mi Amigo became Radio Caroline South. In March 1968 both ships were towed to Amsterdam in lieu of unpaid debts. Mi Amigo finally went back on air in September 1972 as Radio Caroline. In April 1973 briefly broadcast Radio Veronica programmes when Veronica ship ran aground. July-October 73, broadcast Radio Atlanta during daytime. January 1974-October 78, broadcast Radio Mi Amigo during daytime. Ran aground on sandbanks in 1975 and 1976, and condition of hull deteriorated. March 1980, sank in 20 feet of water after crew were taken off in a storm. Replaced by MV Ross Revenge which broadcast from 1983-90.
The gods of radio. Without them Music would be 30 years behind. The Government sh3 have recruited them instead of having classical music that no one wanted to hear. History is on big ball of irony
Thanks for the comments - we've got a plan to add a voice over to this sometime soon by someone very much involved with the Pirate Radio scene of the 60s.
Hmm, it seems the 2 finger salute was very popular then! What wonderful footage from a time long gone, and sadly never to return. I used to love listening to the pirates at around the time this film was taken. It was all so exciting! You felt as though you musn't switch off the tranny just in case you missed something. The music was brilliant at the time, so if you switched off you probably would!! You might missThe Kinks latest single, or the 10th play of Happy Jack!. SO FAB!!
Who were the DJ's on the boats? I recognise Johnnie on Caroline, but who are the others? On Big L I think there was Ed Stewart, Paul Kay and Keith Skues. Who were the others?
Worked on that tender the offshore one owned by the weistmullers,, know Robbie Dale and Johnny Walker don't know who the third one is in red,, pity no sound
As a teenager of the 60's Caroline was "my" station and my transistor radio was always tuned to 199 much to my dads annoyance who used to say, "you'll get me into trouble listening to that illegal station", which made tuning in even more fun!! Little did any of us realise we were listening to history in the making. 24/7 radio is taken for granted now. Johnnie Walker was my favourite DJ and now tune into his shows on the BBC.....excellent DJ and presenter.
Some years ago i made contact with a guy whose father had a number of reel to reel tape machines and amassed a library of recordings of Pirate radio broadcasts. No idea if he's still around or if he still has them.
You're lucky you got to listen to Caroline live during the golden era. I'm 30 but I'm obsessed with this stuff. The great thing about the internet age is we can download and listen to 60's pirate radio whenever we wish. If you get back in touch with your friend's dad you should tell him to digitize those old tapes and send them to the Azanorak online archive.
Radio Caroline and a transistor set , a perfect match.
Great stuff even without sound. Camera work was excellent. Quite moving as well. Happier days for many transistor listeners.
Who on earth could possibly decide to watch this, and then NOT like it?????? Just WHAT is there NOT to like about this great footage of a significant, enjoyable and sadly missed period of our heritage???
Strange people.
I fitted a radio in my car, just to listen to Caroline - it was NEVER tuned to any other station :-) (Apart from Radio Atlanta, sometimes, during those first few weeks.)
HAPPY DAYS. so fondly remembered. What a privilege to have been just 20, the Easter when Caroline commenced broadcasting, AND to have a transistor radio that tuned to 199.
Excellent footage and thanks for posting. It is so good to see the old girl looking in fine trim and still in her Radio Nord trim.
Thank you.
Have you considered sending this to the National Sound Archive, they would really appreciate this:-)
This is real history. This era of broadcasting history should be in the syllabus , the students just might take an interest. There is so much information available on this subject - political, musical and social. It seems such a waist to me. A very exciting time.
Right?! I have a communications degree and learned about broadcast history in college. Offshore radio was never mentioned. I learned most of what I know about these stations through interviews with DJ's who worked on them. Tony Prince's documentary series "History of DJ" is fantastic.
When I was a kid, holidaying in a caravan on the North Kent coast, 266 Wonderful Radio London was playing all day and evening! BIG L !!!!!!!!! !
"PIRATE RADIO"❣️
Brings back such happy memories. So pleased to hear Radio Caroline on DAB now.
Great film.Good to see Pete Drummond,Keith Skies and Chuck Blair on Big L.
The ship at 8:18 is Laissez Faire, home of SRE/Britain Radio later R227/R355.
I agree excellent footage!
Your Dad is a legend :)
Yes great that's a really historical piece of footage, I actually listened to Caroline while they were testing before that eventful Easter Weekend that changed the pop music scene completely.
Thanks.
Thank you for the share...excellent :-)
EXCELLENT ! Worth noting that the second part is a 'tender' visit to Radio London ('Big L' 266) with rare footage of the studio, and dj;s including Keith Skues, Paul Kaye and Ed Stewart..
MV Olga, built 1920s as a small freighter and subsequently enlarged and elongated, with the addition of the deck house.
Under the name Bon Jour was purchased by Swedish station Radio Nord and broadcast from spring 1961 to June 1962, during which time it was renamed Magda Maria. Later sailed to Galveston, Texas and was renamed Mi Amigo.
Bought by Radio Atlanta in 1964 and refitted as broadcasting vessel, went on air in May 1964 in direct competition with Radio Caroline until early July when due to Atlanta's mounting debts the stations merged.
Original Caroline ship sailed to the Isle of Man to become Radio Caroline North, while Mi Amigo became Radio Caroline South. In March 1968 both ships were towed to Amsterdam in lieu of unpaid debts.
Mi Amigo finally went back on air in September 1972 as Radio Caroline. In April 1973 briefly broadcast Radio Veronica programmes when Veronica ship ran aground.
July-October 73, broadcast Radio Atlanta during daytime. January 1974-October 78, broadcast Radio Mi Amigo during daytime.
Ran aground on sandbanks in 1975 and 1976, and condition of hull deteriorated.
March 1980, sank in 20 feet of water after crew were taken off in a storm.
Replaced by MV Ross Revenge which broadcast from 1983-90.
❤nice!
The gods of radio. Without them Music would be 30 years behind. The Government sh3 have recruited them instead of having classical music that no one wanted to hear. History is on big ball of irony
@simonjb99 - the footage belongs to my father. he can be contacted through kindred-spirit.co.uk
brilliant
Thanks for the comments - we've got a plan to add a voice over to this sometime soon by someone very much involved with the Pirate Radio scene of the 60s.
I take it such a plan never materialised?
@@319metresMW ... Not yet. ☺️
Hmm, it seems the 2 finger salute was very popular then!
What wonderful footage from a time long gone, and sadly never to return.
I used to love listening to the pirates at around the time this film was taken.
It was all so exciting! You felt as though you musn't switch off the tranny just in case you missed something.
The music was brilliant at the time, so if you switched off you probably would!! You might missThe Kinks latest single, or the 10th play of Happy Jack!. SO FAB!!
A golden age
Great video
I love radio caroline
Very interesting.
good movie, thanks
alexander211173 Same ship from the film “Pirate Radio”?
Who were the DJ's on the boats? I recognise Johnnie on Caroline, but who are the others?
On Big L I think there was Ed Stewart, Paul Kay and Keith Skues. Who were the others?
Also Chuck Blair in the Radio London footage, I believe.
Kenny & Cash, Tony Windsor.
I wasn't keen on Radio London: too pseudo American, and they made up their own Top 20!
Who are the persons on this footage ?
Worked on that tender the offshore one owned by the weistmullers,, know Robbie Dale and Johnny Walker don't know who the third one is in red,, pity no sound
Excellent footage...what is the last radio ship at 8:18 ?
The Laissez Faire, home of Radio England and Britain Radio.