Radio Caroline

The boat that rocked the airwaves


In the early 1960s, Britain didn’t have the roaring music scene that you might expect.

There was only one commercial television network online, and the airwaves were owned entirely by the British Broadcasting Corporation (the BBC).

Unfortunately for those in search of fun and frivolity, the BBC was committed to delivering some of the tamest transmissions it could find. Tuning into the BBC “Light” and “Home” channels would give you a reliable, but often bland stream of news, playful entertainment, and children’s programmes. In other words – we weren’t anywhere near the rock and roll revolution that was happening in the United States.

Fortunately, there were plenty of rebels in the UK, ready to shake things up.

A group of rock-loving disc jockeys refused to be held back by the legislation and regulations of the early 1960s. Many ambitious DJs decided that if they couldn’t do what they wanted with British broadcasting on land, they would take to the seas instead.

Anchoring on the Eastern coast of England, the pirate radio revolution was born, defined by the enigmatic hosts that committed themselves to broadcasting songs from illicit bands like the Rolling Stones.

This is where the history of Radio Caroline began.

More Here

It’s a bit before my time & I hadn’t really appreciated the role that pirate radio played in history till I watched Richard Curtis’s fond and long (2h15m) film tribute to it recently.

So you wont remember Radio Luxemberg jo anne

http://www.radioluxembourg.co.uk/?page_id=2

Radio Luxemberg was ok when it wasn't fading in and out

I heard of it but never listened, Tommytee.

British Pathe

https://www.britishpathe.com/video/pirate-radio-afloat

Used to listen to both back then, and it shows how archaic we were back then when BBC didn't broadcast what the people wanted.

A bit like parliamentarians today not doing what the people want.

We used to listen to it , for the modern music played on there and to the DJ's who were so far out , as we thought being brought up on " tame "BBC presenters . Also you may hear a request from a local . Once I heard a request read out for someone in " Bill ing , near Wigan ". hahaha.Happy daze .

I got my first transistor radio when I was fifteen, it would be 1961.

I used to listen to Radio Luxembourg it was quite exciting for a young teenager.

As has been mentioned, it was prone to a fading signal.

In Winter I would sit on the stairs listening to it, my bedroom was too cold and the stairs

got the rising heat from the living room, and it was far enough away so my Mum and Dad

could watch the telly without being able to hear the racket music.