A Day In The Life Of Radio Caroline

The 1960's, 70's and 80's saw the evolution of a new type of radio broadcasting around the British Isles. With the BBC being considered as a dinosaur completely out of touch with the younger generation, a number of brave souls decided to do something about it. "Pirate Radio" was born.

[@hectorandjudidesautels1457]

What a great time to be alive. Listening to pirate radio late at night to hear the latest tunes as well as obscure ones that became our favourites. A time that we will never experience again or even explain you the younger crowd. Music appreciation at its best.

[@ronaldhall1237]

I wish I could return to those days,,,,the best days ever.

[@Onlinesully]

Ronald Hall They really were great days listening to pirate late at night on a tiny radio.

[@korky5214]

I listened from 1964 until Aug 1967 when they had to close, its good that Caroline is now on satellite although not the same.

[@maryrafuse2297]

Seeing the GATES equipment at work is a real treat. My husband was a DJ from 1976 to 1982. He worked at 900 AM CKDH Amherst, NS and 580 AM CJFX Antigonish, NS Canada. Later, after University, he worked in advertising sales at 1410 CIGO Radio Port Hawkesbury NS. He is now an Anglican Pastor. He still recalls the wonderful people he worked with and the adventures that go with being on the air. Radio now is a shadow of its former self and many stations are simply re broadcasters.

[@sdgakatbk]

As to Ronan O'Rahilly's statement that Radio Caroline is the only free radio station that exists on the planet, (free here meaning that everything was controlled by djs), I would maybe add some college radio stations to that too. He did a great service to the world setting up Radio Caroline btw.

[@Onlinesully]

feels like they really were better days. Remember listening to radio Luxembourg or Caroline on a little battery operated transistor radio, late at night, while everyone was asleep. and it was so nice. Feels like there is just way too much options now with total digital flooding of senses

[@danwaltz315]

what a time it was in the 1960's and 70s&80s when I was growing up.

[@alreadyou]

BRING THEM ALL BACK,GET THIS OTHER CRAP OF OUR RADIOS

[@bob4analog]

At 13:21, this is one of the DJ's/engineers on RC Blake Williams; a brilliant and friendly guy! He'd recently passed away here in abq. He was a local radio comrade, one of the voices on 103.7 - The Oasis... 1037theoasis.com/blake-williams.html - He will be sadly missed! RIP Blake!

[@victorjorge3949]

Dear VelvetvonDoff, I'm sure your uncle will never forget by working on Radio Caroline, I remember listen to it on an old radio in Lisbon, those good times. That was MUSIC !!!

[@hudois]

Those were the days my friends, we thought they'd never end...but...alas they did, all too quickly, unfortunately never to return again. But WHAT a party it was from Easter 1964 to early March 1968. RIP...British Music Radio. We will never forget you...We love The pirate stations,don't let 'em take them away (The Roaring 60s in 1966 on the Marmalade Label) (They turned out to be most of The Ivy League)

[@raymondrainbow9962]

Despite my advanced & decrepit years these days, I was too young to appreciate Radio Caroline in the 60's so this film bought back some happy memories of listening in the 80's. I loved the fact that they were there & was terribly sad when, eventually, they weren't.

[@sloopjohnrb]

Dear Velvetvon Doff, Mick Luvzit was one of the finest DJ's on-board Radio Caroline North. He briefly served on Radio Caroline South before being posted to the north ship. Mick received over 300 letters in his first week on board Caroline North (anchored off the Isle of Man) and the northern audience took him to their heart. Some years ago, I made some jingles and promotions for Micker. On Facebook, there is a page dedicated to the memory and promotion of, Radio Caroline North. Best wishes

[@philrobinson981]

Excellent documentary.. Not seen Emperor Mike Rosko for a very long time. I last heard him on Classic Gold around 2004. I also remember him opening up a new nightclub in Derby in the 70s and they named it Rosko's. It is still there but under a different name

[@stuartbrixton6260]

Didn't realise he was still alive cause I've never heard from him for years.

[@Chezzaohhhhhyeah]

Fantastic ! used to listen to this on my tiny radio hidden under my pillow at night :-0

[@PAULLONDEN]

Amazing...what an adventure that was, with those first little portable transistors......the importance of music can never be overestimated.........it gave colour to our drab 1950's economic recovery years.....

[@martynh5410]

I also had a tiny transistor radio, listening to pirate radio stations late at night. It was early 60's for me. Interestingly, it gave me a good insight to music and broadcasting. I work for a company that manufactures broadcast transmitters now.

[@colintowill5965]

Radio Caroline jingles

[@stuartbrixton6260]

That makes 2 of us

[@Pauldjreadman]

Him saying that radio only used to play an hour of music, it’s gone back to an hour with Radio Introducing which only plays an hour of unsigned music a week. BBC is always behind with the times, although introducing do events,but it’s not enough to get rid of the trash in the charts

[@boland1914]

good documenrery always a inspiration

[@retroelectrotech]

I have that exact Gates console (The one in the thumbnail image) on display when customers first walk into my shop, cool stuff! 🙂

[@Super8Rescue]

Rosko signed a 7" record for me at a disco back in the 60's

[@siriusjean-marie8032]

Rosko celui qui marche sur l'eau, ça nous rejaunit pas tout ça !

[@albertodillon]

Nostalgia of the sixties radio

[@clairejensen4859]

Were it not for the pirates like Caroline we would still have the Home Service from the BBC. To compete with the pirates the BBC fought back with Radio 1

[@Pauldjreadman]

Claire Jensen Perfect example of how out of touch the bbc are. There would have been no Radio if it wasn’t for the pirates

[@PAULLONDEN]

I remember that "Loving Awareness" from the mid 70's Caroline, which had a nice vibe......

[@jeanlucettore5931]

radio caroline that is " the " Radio

[@VelvetvonDoff]

Does anybody know my Uncle Mickey? He went by the name Mick Luvzit, and he got married on the ship. I heard it was a big deal!

[@frankedwardcurry]

I think Radio Caroline will be back - broadcasting from the Ross Revenge ship.

[@johnwheatcroft6491]

It does on occasion just not on 50Kw from their BT-105 they use an RSL Licence usually on about 1W AM 1227AM in the South with a relay in the Isle of Man

[@johnwheatcroft6491]

You can always listen live at www.radiocaroline.co.uk

[@frankedwardcurry]

Thanks John, I know. Wishful thinking on my behalf I think. Would be nice to hear it from the ship though.

[@stevenroberts5814]

@@frankedwardcurry You CAN hear it from the ship, on 1968 kHz in the north west or 648 kHz , as well as over the internet. They run a live broadcast from the ship every month. They had one last weekend, but to fins out when they will be doing this in 2019 check out www.radiocaroline.co.uk, and you'll find the dates on the 'boat trips' tab.

[@frankedwardcurry]

@@stevenroberts5814 Thanks very much for the information Steven.Pleased to tell you that I know all this and did get requests played on the last two broadcasts from the ship. Yes they link up with Manx Radio for these events as Radio Caroline North. I get a good signal on 648 here in Towcester which is over 100 miles away from the transmitter at Orfordness. Bye the way the other frequency is 1368 AM. Nice to hear from another Caroline fan. Many Thanks Frank..

[@martynh5410]

LoL! The company I work for made the record players! 2:16

[@wildbill8635]

I had Radio Scotland with Stuart Henry (RIP). Caroline was the other side of the world, well North Sea, reception wise. Radio 1 now is a far cry from the Poptastic in my day. Its pretty boring & anodyne really, same with the music sad to say. Oh, lets not forget Radio Luxembourg. It wasn't affected by any ban. There it was from the 50s right thru til its fading demise. In the evening thats what I tuned into & we all luved the fade in & out. It made it spec.... .... ial!

[@TimHollingworth]

God bless Ronan O'Rahilly. RIP

[@radioarchives101]

My favourite bit starts at 13:22 Didn't like the sad story about Raffles at 21:06

[@Grimwriggler]

I have a Russco studio pro turntable as used by radio caroline . one of the best american decks, up their with Gates

[@JayWalkerTexasRadio]

We use to call Rusco turntables, "Rusco Rumble Masters" They came up to speed quick but that puck drive sure added rumble. With the release of the Technics SP-10 direct drive, Rusco faded away. But for the time Rusco were great.

[@Grimwriggler]

Cheersi have also owned a BBC SP10 and i have now an EMT 948 but i still find myself listening to the Russco more. it sits in heavy oak plinth, new, re rubbered idler and new desgined idler shaft plus a 4m lenth of shielded mains cable and a few other ´tweeks´to stop the rumble.

[@martynh5410]

Cool!! Well I actually work for Gates. The name has become GatesAir now. Alas, the turntable era is long gone but I have one (not a Gates or Russco unfortunately) and over a 1,000 records, mostly 45’s from about 1963 to early 80’s.

[@radiohamish]

Very good

[@john111257]

if it was wrong..why celebrate..these were great days

[@watlingfen]

The time has come in all reality for BBC Radio 'one' to release the funds it needs go off the air for good, the UK Government to give Radio Caroline a MW frequency at least for the S.E. of England and the present BBC Radio 'one' FM frequency for national coverage - the money wasted on Radio 'one' could then be used on BBC local radio to prevent them becoming 'regional'. There are now plenty of commercial pop stations in the UK there is no need for Wilson's answer to the pop pirates of the 60's.

[@trainmasterpat]

At 14:05, what's the tune after Eye in the sky??

[@trainmasterpat]

Finally got it: Ashes to Ashes from Bowie.... Thanks for the vid. Reminds me great souvenirs as I was also like Blake, DJ, Program Director and Engineer in a AM broadcast station more than 20 years ago!

[@woodleyuk]

Brilliant!

[@kevinbegley1098]

hi to Ronan o Rahilly the brain child of radio Carolina Ronan is not well pray for ronan his friend Kevin Begley

[@kevinbegley1098]

Chris L

[@jonathanstokes4783]

peter york?

[@michaelfraser5723]

1:07 AWESOME SIGNALLING HAND SIGNS

[@ravencontrols]

Mijnheer van Doorn, ik heb een bootschap voor u: Caroline blijft in de lucht!

[@marisemarisemarise]

than`ya

[@Poncho_tech]

What's the name of the song at 11:45?

[@arildoyen8705]

MASTER BLASTER by Stevie Wonder... kzbin.info/www/bejne/nXrOZqdre6iBqrM

[@towerpower6867]

Mike Aherne

[@thamesranger8990]

he was not very good Rosco.

[@JayWalkerTexasRadio]

A poor man's Wolfman Jack knock-off, but it worked for him..