Radio Caroline - The Mi Amigo Goes Down
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
- On March 20th 1980 one of Radio Caroline's original radio ships, the MV Mi Amigo, sank in a force 12 gale off of the Essex coast broadcasting almost until she went under the waves. A lifeboat from Sheerness rescued the four broadcasters and a canary in a dangerous operation for which the crew were awarded the RNLI silver medal. This documentary, produced by Mark Dezzani for the Radio Caroline Support Group, tells the story of the Mi Amigo on that fateful day.
Mooie terug blik naar een geweldige tijd.
As a 13 year old I cried xx.
I had to go to school the next day, so I didn’t catch the last broadcast from Mi Amigo, but it was already sounding desperate by the time I had to switch off. I remember the sick feeling in the pit of my stomach hearing dead air the next day, and then saw on the news that she’d finally given up the ghost and gone down in the storm. It was, outside of the loss of my parents and various dogs, one of the worst days of my life.
I listened every night. I felt their pain when they found it more and more difficult to keep going because of money. I couldn't help with that. I was listening right up until the end of their last broadcast as they abandoned the ship. Radio Caroline's end created a very loud silence. It left a huge void. The music they played made it the best radio station I was able to tune into. I lived in south Kent at the time.
Radio Caroline for me in the 70's right up until it sank in 1980 was not just a very important music station, it was a hobby, everywhere i went ( as a teenager) Caroline was with me on my large portable radio , hanging around in my neighbourhood with my friends it was awesome, i did go through lots of batteries. Caroline ( the same with John peel) introduced me to so many fantastic bands.
I used to have a recording of this day, the DJ asking for their offices to be contacted, playing music while the boat was slowly going down! Wish I'd kept it.
Just seen this... My husband Mike Allen was on the Mi Amigo right at the beginning , as programme controller and DJ , and I went on board a few times ... Even in 1964 it was in a terrible state....
RIP Ronan O'Rahilly 💔
My dad has been up listening to Radio Caroline past few nights and been so upset.
When he heard the announcement it knocked him for six and messaged me.
He brought me up listening to Radio Caroline and I was lucky enough to go aboard The Ross Revenge and now I tell my kids all about it and once this lockdown is over I will be round my parents showing my kids the pictures of me at around their age on board The Ross, I'm proud to say they love all the music.
My thoughts are with family, RC family, friends and fans at this sad time. I'm sure Ronan would of wanted us to all enjoy Radio Caroline, especially during these tough times that we are suffering at the moment. I'm certainly dancing around with my kids and trying to get through this and what a way to do it.....listening to Radio Caroline with my family in lockdown.
Missing my parents terribly but I know we're listening together and once this is over we will be able to hug each other again and listen together. All stay safe and take care!! X
Sad that they are all passing away Jeff Rothstein is still living and is well here across the pond in Florida. Aka Ric. Harris laser 558 and the legendary Art Bell. One of the many Americans also was on Caroline Ross Revenge for a short time. Along with Dennis Swagart aka Blake Williams Laser 558. All Wiener was on the air on Caroline MiAmigo Laser 558 and Caroline Rose Revenge. He was part of Kiss 103 Belfast with Barry Marsh aka Miles Johnston.
This is probably too late to reach you Anne Marie but just in case, I went on the Mi Amigo in about 1965 with Keith Skues and just came across this video by accident, what a shock, an era I’d almost forgotten. I remember at the time thinking the ship was frighteningly low in the water. Go ahead and visit your father, the Rona is a scam to make us take a genetically engineered drug and take away all our freedom which you can clearly see is happening. Just watch this video, those guys wouldn’t have socially distanced and worn masks, I remember they were constantly running from the law, the vile British Government never left them alone for no reason, they were not doing any harm, bringing joy to so many people like me.
But the Government wanted to end free speech to get where we are today creating fear and propaganda with a repurposed, renamed flu to bring about mass tracking, tracing, vaccine passports, vaccinicide. Whatever happened to the freedom and dreams of the Swinging Sixties. We are now completely boring, health and safety obsessed sheep. I hope your father hasn’t fallen for this pathetic and criminal Psyop. Just take Vitamin D3 with K2 10,000 I.u. And get some exercise in the sun, that’s all you need to stay well. Namaste 🙏
The best definition of a "passion project". Profound thanks to everyone involved with making - and sharing this.
I was 14 when they first appeared - Radio Caroline set the trend for millions of young people's minds and lives - awesome!
I well remember idly tuning the dial on my transistor one day in '64, and pop music coming out where there should be none. When I got to school everyone was talking about it! Radio Caroline. For us, this set the scene of the sixties, the transition from the dark days into the light. Although Radio London turned out to be my favorite, Caroline was the first! That theme song still gives me a warm nostalgic glow after more than 50 years!
Radio Caroline North and South. The greatest pop music stations ever. Thanks for the music Ronan for so many years.
Yes Ronan, Peter Moors father Chris and Tom O' Rahilly. always about the records and concert halls never about the airtime. UMG record company international limited. London, LA, and New York. Queen Magazine National Billboard Magazine, Caroline's top 40 album countdown, and America's national billboard top 40 countdown. Not to mention Merlyn Communication Limited, Cobra Mist wireless networking and cable limited, Telos cable, westwood 1 radio network, premiere radio networks US , and clear channel communications, now I heart media. As, well as Walt disney entertainment enterprises international. Ronan worked for Walter Disney and his good friend Auto mobile sales entrepreneur Ernest Mortimore. As well as George Harrison of the Beatles.
Happy 60th birthday, Radio Caroline. 1 year longer than Radio Luxembourg's English service! Making it one of the longest-running English language pop/rock stations in the world, if not THE longest!
in northern France Caroline & Mi Amigo were THE rock & roll radio to listen to. Th U
March 20th, 1980, I remember as if it were yesterday - it was for me as if a family member had died. As I looked at the sunken mast a week or so, later, from the "Lucky lady" I knew what must be done, & with support from Ronan, Rob Eden, Albert Hood , Mark Mathews & others - "Freddie Archer" created RCSW (Radio Caroline short wave) Broadcasting on 6310khtz from Thetford forest & with help from (The late) Chris Reagan from Malvern, RCSW was there on sunday mornings, until August 1983. The listeners, were very supportive, both verbally & financially - we did get through some car batteries to achieve the result, that in that small way, "Caroline, did continue"
The Boat that Rocked/Pirate Radio in the USA was a great tribute film in my opnion
Great story.....Impossible to comprehend these days.......but then it was a big deal to be dialing on your radio and receiving great sounds. Caroline was popular in Holland too. These ships made our dreary post war lives bearable...
I used to listen to this - it came on after the top 20 Mi amigo Radio - lois lois lois for girls and boys !! loved listening , quite young at the time
Very sad day for a ship that had given such service to offshore broadcasting...... In retrospect they should have bought the Fredericia in 1972 as she was better built...... that said the mi amigo had the 50kw transmitter and they had limited money at the time.... the lady broadcast till the end though...... Great documentary....
Blimey! A very sad day when we lost the Mi Amigo. I remember it well. A Great film. Thank you
I was listening that night, fixing a Hillman Imp engine in my parents spare bedroom. A sad day.😢
Tony RIP, thanks for the memories
we love the pirates station
14:14 for the final broadcast words of the Mi Amigo, for those who were looking for it.
What an incredible recording. I do note at the end it states that the production was a free gift and not intended for broadcast or distribution?
Nonetheless, great to see this - and as a free radio fan - there is nothing more heart-breaking than hearing a silent carrier....then the static, as the carrier goes off.
It's dead. It's gone.
You know that is the end.
It is like losing a friend.
Unless you have lived it; unless you have experienced it; most people will never understand this.
thanks so much for this, as a 9 year old kid I used to nod off to Caroline every night, I was distraught when she went under!
Bloody get it up, its history
A great time that can never be recreated. The Great Mi Amigo provided so much happiness and I am lucky to have been there.
Such great days 💜💜💜💜💜
Thanks for that - brilliant!
At least they saved the Canary too.☺
I think someone should scuba dive the ship, and let's see what the studio looks like now.
There is an image of her from above on one of the BBC 'Coast' programmes computer image of the sea bed - often repeated
Tom I am so sorry for you loss. Allen misses Ronan too. Has a lot of memories. Love listing to them. Susie gale was just on Jeff's late night radio program with George Noory sharing memories of Malcolm and Angus young as well as Freddie Mercury. You can hear Allen real early Saturday mornings on his new used US made continental 500 transmitter. On one of his stations wbcq RNYI for 1 week later to become Laser 558. His other FM medium wave station is Main's classic country wxme. Around 7.495 khz international shortwave. His Blake Williams Art Bell memorial transmitter. He passed away in his home town of Akron, Ohio a couple of years ago of emphysema and lung cancer. Allen's new used transmitting equipment including the aerial is courtesy of the CBC former Nova Scotia transmitter. Barry Marsh came across the pond along with Andy I think to get it all installed. He is transmitting on 3 different frequencies on his arial Using the transmitter switch that he and Andy came up with. Not sure if that was on the Miamigo or the Ross Revenge. I know it was one of them so they could run Caroline and Veronica at the same time.
Radio Caroline and Mi-Amigo where in the eyes of the Britsch goverment and police verry loved. But why did they not let the generators and the transmitter on whit a tape ore wathever when the old lady was singking? They could have done this? Sorry for my English, il am Dutch, Belgium.
Any chance of one more Caroline Roadshow?
Does anyone know where Ronan O'Rahilly is nowadays?
Ronan is in Ireland. He is suffering from Vascular Dementia. He is being taken care of by family and friends.
Thank you for the information - I'm very sorry to hear that. He worked with some friends of mine, The Pink Fairies, at the time he intended to fly an aircraft over London and intercept the TV signal, and on the film of the Phun City festival. We have searched everywhere for the footage to no avail and would love to track it down. I'm sure everyone wishes him well, I hope he is, at least, comfortable.
he is di long tima ago
He must be 77 in 2017 ?
He pas the way,20.04.2020
salt water eating metal / gads yah shoulda known more to prep an ocean going vessel ... special protective painted layer etc.... arrgh '' shocked of that part..... yep costly and new hull totally needed ... such high risk taken ....lucky some lived.