Britain’s EVIL War Against Pirate Radio

[@JimmyTheGiant]

📣Join my Discord! discord.gg/6W6HURBD

[@RetroLodge]

1ST

[@tommy2nes]

Well done for skipping the whole 90s you doughnut

[@PetrBelohoubek-ot5ok]

Its good that certain amount of fame serve as protection, and you are still not in jail :-)

[@mishkatown8625]

Pirate Radio stations were the lifeblood of the youth, especially during the Illegal Rave days.

[@killerdoug20]

Semi-automatic blap blap blap North, south,east, WEST If u love drum and bass say we do. Do u love drum and bass WE DO!

[@MrRickytuk]

Don FM was all me and my friends ever listened to in the early 90's. Good times.

[@killerdoug20]

I miss the Fabio and groveriders show on one extra I live in the sticks so couldnt get the stations

[@JB9000x]

​@MrRickytuk yes mate BE DON OR BE GONE

[@JB9000x]

Don, Flex, Ice, Dream

[@def_not_dan]

Thank fuck someone's still making decent videos about interesting things. Good lad.

[@grandmastarflash]

True that, quite the challenge to find decent stuff on youtube these days

[@dennis8196]

But so many errors.

[@def_not_dan]

@@dennis8196 He's young, got to give him some slack.

[@dennis8196]

@@def_not_dan if not informed you don't know what you can improve on. I certainly dont mean it unkindly.

[@Chief24.7]

@@dennis8196point me to a better one

[@Remake5182]

I guess "People just do nothing" about these issues.

[@GaminGit]

The rest are irrelevant

[@callumtindal9856]

Kurupt FM that’s the family

[@ew_delilah]

kurupt fm the rest irrelevant

[@hit0that0shit]

Nice one, turn up the bass

[@nickdavison9771]

Mmmmm... Peanut Dust 🥜 (May contain glass) 🤣

[@Snarffu]

Maaaate! These deep dives on British culture are utterly fantastic!

[@Saturn_2138]

Real

[@Zebbie22]

A quick note about caroline, the boat shown in the video is the Ross revenge, Radio caroline began on a smaller boat called the Mi Amigo which sank whilst trying to escape police boats, Ross Revenge came later and for most of its life has been immobile in the middle of the Blackwater estuary, also caroline was raided by Dutch police at one point in which alot of records and machinery was destroyed. (source - i know people who ran/helped the boat during the pirate radio era)

[@YourHistory777]

You are on the right lines. The Mi Amigo sank in a storm in 1980 after drifting and hitting a sandbank. Caroline returned in 1983 on The Ross Revenge (originally a trawler for Ross Fisheries out of Grimsby) and that stayed at anchor in the northsea until 91 when it also broke anchor and ran aground on a sandbank. The Ross didn't sink, but was towed to Dover and then moved to various locations while various enthusiasts attempted to save the ship from the scrap yard. It found it's way to it's current mooring on the River Blackwater in 2014 and, all credit to the supporters and volunteers, she seems to be in great shape.

[@wellwonky]

yawn

[@StevenHawkingsSpitrag]

​@@wellwonky thats how women react when you show them your junk.

[@Zebbie22]

@@YourHistory777 I am not too well versed so thanks for the corrections

[@Julian-yx4we]

I love the way this channel explains culture in a larger societal/historical context. And it’s current focus on larger societal issues/divides. Keep up the great work!

[@HippoOnABicycle]

In Sweden private radio stations were legalised in 1993, and honestly they're absolute dogshit. Because they're for-profit companies, they only play the most popular stuff that the largest amount of people like, so all they play is current and former top 10 pop hits. It's actually the public service radio where you'll find some alternative stuff. Of course radio mostly irrelevant now that Spotify and podcasts are a thing.

[@saf99999]

Well it’s Sweden

[@binky_bun]

I find this is the problem with all commercial broadcast radio. It all tends towards the lowest common denominator and all you end up with is a cess pit of generic pop music, sport and talk shows. The only thing going for the BBC is that there are no adverts but the content is still junk. I refuse to pay the license fee because I refuse to be told what art and culture I should appeciate.

[@lesterquintrell4844]

Not if you remember Bandit Radio in the mid 90's.

[@willsonj]

@@binky_bunI strongly disagree about the quality of content. Radio 1 was excellent a few years ago. People like Annie Mac have been huge for bringing attention to many interesting and important artists. On TV they have also produced some of the best content in recent years. Disagreeing with compulsory licensing or the BBC’s political position is one thing - but I don’t think you can reasonably criticise the quality of production.

[@binky_bun]

@@willsonj maybe if you're willing to listen in the small hours of the morning you may have occasionally heard something interesting. John Peel in his day perhaps but if you listen any time between 8am and 8pm I wouldn't hold out much hope. Top Loaders version of Dancing in the moonlight came out in 2000 and it was still playlisted by radio 1 the best part of 10 years later and was played daily. They played stuff to death. Eple by Royksopp was another. You weren't getting anything interesting out of the likes of Sarah Cox, Chris moyles or Scott mills. Literally same old shit every day. On TV as soon as the digital channels came along the quality of output tanked. They used to make good comedy shows but after BBC 3 came along it was the old rehashed sketch show crap every week. Same jokes every week with a slightly different play on them like Little Britain. Now scanning through the guide on my parents TV it's all repeats my parents were flicking through the guide the other week and Morecambe and wise was on. That's older than I am.

[@TheKalaxis]

Squarespace would have been a good nickname for early BBC radio

[@reddwarfer999]

Nice one!

[@Dekoherence-ii8pw]

As Alan Partridge would say, "God that's good!".

[@theefishlippedone]

Lol

[@FakenameStevens]

I don't get it

[@earthtaurus5515]

@@FakenameStevens Because the BBC were run by bunch of uptight executives in box rooms ergo squares in closed spaces.

[@captain-hooked]

Another banger mate, great stuff! That Thatcher commentary was absolutely spot on! "go out and start a business", but not that type of business... such hypocrisy.

[@snowmanbuzzfm]

Great video. Well put together. So I can confirm that an officer from the DTI did die of a heart attack during a raid. This raid was taking place on a Manchester station called W.B.L.S. and the incident was around the late 80s early 90s. It happened in a tower block in the Hulme area. The officer was part of the team that took the stairs up to the top of the block rather than with others in the lift. He died of a heart attack before reaching the studio. The Manchester Evening News ran an article on his death at the time where it was suggested that the pirates themselves were something to do with his death, where as he actually died on the stairs, with none of the station staff aware they were about to be raided.

[@andrewreeves6198]

This is really cool, pirate radio might be the reason we have such a great UK music scene now

[@valley_robot]

Real pirate radio was the energy of the youth without all the nonsense of the mainstream. Pirate radio caused jungle and drum and bass and ragga, that's a good thing, this music wouldn't have been heard without it

[@quantumenergysolutions9128]

Yup! It was a perfect place for the white labels! F the mainstream!

[@mobyduck648]

Great video, pirate radio is such an underrated part of UK history. Radio Caroline are actually still about, they're still broadcasting from an old BBC AM transmitter ironically and you can go round their ship in Essex.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

Mast but not the actual transmitter

[@Howesenberg]

🎶 Original pirate material, you're listening to The Streets, lock down your aerial 🎶 that's what I immediately think of on this subject. Which btw kudos for covering such a niche topic and doing it well.

[@amazanta1605]

Wild seeing one of the best British film essayists

[@loolfactorie]

Was listening to this today funnily enough.

[@drummygooders]

Has it come to this?

[@AutoAndChill]

It probably shouldn't be as niche as it is when you think about it

[@Luke_275]

Niche? It revolutionised radio.

[@djwalker7823]

I was on pirate radio all through the noughties . It was great fun .

[@Aejixmusic]

Another great video! There's a good movie about the 60s British Pirate radio scene called 'The Boat That Rocked', also 'People Just Do Nothing' about Kurupt FM is gold

[@topherpie]

108.9 on your dial

[@wellwonky]

Kurupt FM is a parody - you know that right?

[@Tngxh]

@@wellwonkyhe probably is well aware if he knows the name of the station mate

[@tziirkq]

My first time hearing pirate radio was also my first time hearing gangster rap. I would skim the stations as I went to sleep, and heard something new. The song ends, an American voice comes through (I was living in England at the time so it was odd to hear) and a clearly blasted fella says "That was uhh the uhh *sniff* uhh the D.O.C. Pretty good. This uhh this next song is called uhh... Just listen to the song" and I was completely baffled. I listened until I fell asleep, and when I woke up it was just static. I never heard that voice again. Pirate Radio was the best thing going, it'll never be equalled.

[@mysteryY2K]

this is how i found Jungle and DnB, but as an American!

[@Sergio-nb4hj]

​@@mysteryY2K fck man I wish that's how I discovered it

[@AutisticFloppa]

Sameee

[@bngt1dy816]

RIP Delta force Portsmouth using a lift sharft as an aerial late 80s early 90's x

[@Luukus]

I've never heard of that, I mean I'm not shocked cos I was only born in 93 and I live in Southampton, but that sounds really interesting, I might try reading up on it

[@bngt1dy816]

Rhino club in Southampton was awesome back in the 90's

[@upthebuffer1921]

There's some cracking recordings of Delta Force on the youtubes well worth checking out. But Id say that aerial was ontop of the lift shaft not actually using it as the aerial. The lift shaft would be grounded you would think so would be no good for FM.

[@jimbo4375]

I have a few tapes

[@bngt1dy816]

That's awesome

[@AdamOBrien29]

If anyone hasn't seen the film "the boat that rocked" get on it, it's great 👍

[@Dwh-h]

Incredible film and amazing soundtrack!

[@robpalwrites]

I was an Extra in the film, but haven't ever actually watched it.

[@mallettdw]

An entertaining film but full of inacurracies.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

It's total crap

[@craigburton4447]

Good video, bit disappointed that jungle was entirely missed out

[@williamcary2199]

My father was on Caroline and a few other stations that you mentioned! Always lovely to see people still talking about it

[@davidkgame]

All that effort Gordon Mac and Kiss went to in order to be legal, and what did they do? Sell out to Bauer and the whole station turned to garbage. The likes of Global, Bauer, Capital Group etc. have a lot to answer for. Fight for years to get independent local radio to the masses then decide that having (in some cases) 5-6 frequencies that hit a single area play the same damn station is a really good idea. Want local news? Forget it. It got to the point where the only local thing was the ads and even they got repetitive! Broadcast radio in pretty much most countries now is sadly a dead medium with the same few corporations holding all the power. The day of the decent local radio station is pretty much dead. We've recently got a proper local station back on DAB+ where I am, but many other areas of the UK sadly don't and are stuck with the generic crap from Global, Bauer etc. being fed to them from London or Manchester whether they like it or not.

[@richiehoyt8487]

Great point!

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

They just created national radio via a back door. None of that was the original plan for UK local radio.

[@brbbloke3223]

You’re talking 100000% truth sir. They’ve virtually destroyed any real choice of music genre on the airwaves to be replaced by generic commercial mainstream repetitive pop/ safe USA supposedly rap which is anything but actual hip hop. I hardly ever listen to mainstream music channels as all you’ll hear is the so called dj’s ( again which they’re not in majority of cases) playing the same repeated playlists chosen by station bigwigs made up of artists from the big record company corporations . So much independent produced music doesn’t get a look in unless it gets big on whichever underground genre scene then the corporate media wants to jump on the bandwagon to make money by finally giving it some airplay. They ignore all the music genres they deem unsuitable until they find out it’s produced a song with too big of a following among the youths too ignore ie say a reggae /afrobeat / grime/ house tune. Same old same old story if they can’t control they’ll try lock it down.

[@NewMinority]

I was a dj on risk FM in the 90.s was great times! We kept it clean no swearing! The big stations just hated the pirates! Commercial radio is state propaganda! It controls you with BS! That’s main reason pirates get clamped down on! A good pirate had a good reach! That scared the establishment

[@drifter402]

Funny thing is, I've never heard of any British pirates doing anything other than playing music

[@LeroybrownLR3mk02]

I remember me and a friend discovering pirate radio back in 1990. We were hooked instantly. Pretty much put me on the path to a lifelong electronic music devotee (after loving a lot of crossover tunes that made the charts and loving Art Of Noise and Paul Hardcastle as a kid), a DJ (for a couple of decades, before retiring for the final time..... kinda) and opened my mind to the fact that there was a lot more to the world than what we saw on the surface and in the mainstream. Whilst other kids at school were listening to Madonna and only just discovering house tunes that had made it into the charts, I was there using the tape player in our classroom to record tapes from pirate stations during class. Even as a kid, you felt like you were part of some kind of secret club. Despite being years off being old enough to go to clubs or raves, we still kinda felt part of the movement and knew all the tunes. Big up all ye olde pirate radio stations on Shefieldf (UK) Fantasy FM, Hardcore FM, Dream FM, Pitch FM, Dance FM, as well as all the others.... DJs like Astrix & Space, Face & Goosey, Solid State, DJ Dream, Kaotic Destruction.... The list goes on. ''0831 847 955''

[@7Lace77]

I thought you were going to say Art of Fighters, completely unrelated but it still popped into my mind lol. Great Djs.

[@Luukus]

In a sea of american creators that im subbed to i always love seeing your videos come up because it always gives me a feeling like I'm home 😂

[@jacekatalakis8316]

For needle time, it wasn't just 30 hours. It was they had to have cover musicians or in house orchestras as well to perform the songs, some sources state that only a certain amount of plays of a record were allowed per week, and then you had to get the cover band to do any other plays of the record or filling in time, along with in house orchestras. The other big issue was the shows were entirely scripted and the Top 40 chart rundowns were not a thing, that was an invention of pirate radio, so for the BBC you would often hear the same sorts of music every time that show was on. Johnny Walker stated in a documentary in 2017 that Radio Luxenbourg had Decker and EMI and Capital Records sponsoring shows but they were just as scripted, whereas Radio Caroline, you took the records you liked and more arrived while you were on the boat to be played, and since you were outside of the three mile limit, there wasn't much the government could do at that time. If they were spotted you just moved the boat and anchored somewhere else.

[@baileyboo9751]

I forgot when kiss fm radio was illegal. Thank you for taking me back to my youth! The 80's pirate radio for me was everything!!! Your vids are brilliant!!!

[@lesterquintrell4844]

Radio Luxemburg really brings back memories, listening to it under the bedclothes after being told to go to bed.

[@7Lace77]

You can't always use "Just doing my job". There's a limit doing things just because you have to, for monies.

[@KnightVisionBass]

I DJ'd on a London Pirate station for 5 years called Origin FM. I'm glad I got to be part of that generation!

[@rissonedacrissone]

Origin what a station probably the number one dnb of all time next to kool fm . I done a set there a few times the phone line was mad

[@regykb]

Smooth Balls Radio... I'm dying over here 😂

[@davehoward22]

Loads of big djs started on pirate radio,john peel,kenny everett.....tony blackburn

[@Alphoric]

It was either Greed from the government as they weren’t paying their licence or some dumb thing Or Regular people thinking ‘What’s the actual difference between them and mainstream radio stations’

[@ryanmcsweeney6147]

yes jimmy these nuanced topics are so great, can tell you're passionate for it.

[@ColaSpandex]

Playing the Pirate's Anthem right now. Thanks for this excellent video. Brought back some emotional memories to an old DJ. 🎶 💃🕺🏿

[@richiehoyt8487]

Another great video, very comprehensive. Tiny technical point, the news broadcasts at 0:45 & 0:57 were actually on Irish television, referring to the Dublin stations Nova and Sunshine×. The Irish pirate scene in the 1970's & '80's was pretty mental, developing in a manner quite unlike its British counterpart and is worth a video in its own right. Admittedly were such a video to be made, it might be more within the remit of someone like RingwayManchester(?) I believe a TV programme called (I think) "Bring Back Radio Nova" may still be available on KZbin? Admittedly that programme focuses mainly on the eponymous and legendary/ infamous (take your choice!) 50kW behemoth, Nova, but it does give give a feeling for the times, when there were upwards of 70 stations operating with impunity (notwithstanding the raids referred to in the news bulletins), this in a country of barely 3 million people at the time! Every town had at least one station, with the bigger towns having several and dozens probably operating in Dublin - everything from hobbyists in barns with biscuit tin transmitters to multi~million pound outfits like Nova using top - of - the - range American built equipment and picking up audiences on the British West Coast. Actually, a little later, in the '90's, one station, the 'Border Blaster' KISS, pushing a reputed million Watts, and operating at the extreme fringes of the technical geographical capabilities of FM, was beaming Rave music into Belfast with a clearer signal than that city's own _legal_ stations... and this a station whose primary purpose (unlike, say, Nova) wasn't even to make money, though this they _did_ do, hand over fist, but reputedly to provide a beacon for the saucers!👽🛸 Yeah, F.R! In an atmosphere of complete government inertia, and indeed, indulgence (in contrast to the situation in the UK), these station were able to flourish over a period of a couple of decades, indeed it wasn't unknown for political parties to take out advertising with them, and for government ministers to give on~air interviews! Predictably the State broadcaster RTE, who was being beaten into the dust by the pirates on the listenership front, and not happy at the very food being taken out of their mouths, and observing the government inaction, went to war, undertaking a jamming campaign against their major competitors. This in addition to the usual criminal shenanigans between the pirates themselves, though notably these would rarely reach the levels of viciousness that one might encounter on the British scene... Along with increasing strife with trade unions and an emerging sense in government that the status quo had to change and something really, _actually,_ did 'need to be done' to regularize the situation, and finally by the late '80’s, there really was the sense of the ending of an era. With the promises of licences, the plug was finally pulled in June of '89, leaving the airwaves a virtual desert, but for the odd die~hard. This is where the script would meld with the British version, with the government reneging on promises made, media conglomerates taking over, bland music and blander opinions becoming the order of the day (not that the pirates had particularly made waves musically here, with 1 or 2 honourable exceptions), the creeping automating out of human voices at night, and so on - until now we find the clock has gone back to 1989, with little to nothing being to hear on the bands _at all,_ especially on Medium and Long Wave. It's just different times, now... Why would you listen on radio when you can pick what you like on a streaming service? Still, I like it that there are still a few DJ's out there who feel like company and are allowed to play music of their choice, music that might be new & interesting to me! I know, fossil or what?! Sorry about the essay, "Tiny technical point", lol! I honestly hadn't any intention of waffling on for an age like this! ×No relationship with the current Dublin stations using those names.

[@AlcoholidayHHH]

Slightly surprised you didn't mention the film, The Boat That Rocked, when going over pirate radio in the 60's. I'm still waiting to see your take on the Hash House Harriers subculture.

[@darkerarts]

Used to love the pirates in the 90's. I was more into punk and metal, but there was something magical about tuning in at 2 in the morning and hearing hardcore and jungle pumping out that speaker. I ended up getting to know quite a few dj's who played on London stations including Kool, Rude, Weekend Rush back then, and some of them still do. Lots of respect to all the people involved

[@cburton99]

Jimmy about to be one of the best documenters on youtube

[@spangles365]

Caroline started on an ex Danish ferry called The Frederica later renamed Mv Caroline. The Mi Amigo was the home of Radio Atlanta, both stations later merged and the Caroline ship sailed to the Isle of Man and became Radio Caroline North and the Mi Amigo stayed of the coast of Essex and became Radio Caroline South.

[@robinhazell6019]

In the 1970s when I was just getting into rock music, it was very rarely heard on mainstream Radio. There was a progamme called 'The old Grey Whistle Test' which was Brilliant, but not much else. So, in the evenings, wE LISTENED TO A REAL pirate radio station calld RADIO CAROLINE. broacast from an old Trawwler ( if I'm not mistaken ) and it wa anchored in the North Sea, outside of Britains Territorial water.

[@NeverLucky1765]

My grandad was telling about radio Caroline months back, he's still got old newspapers about it.

[@Zebbie22]

it was anchored out past the blackwater estuary in essex, and yeah its on a old arctic trawler called ross revenge where it still lives

[@robinhazell6019]

@@Zebbie22 Thank you. I knew it was a Trawler, but thought it wasoff the coast of Norfolk, but out of British Waters. It was the BEST Radio station ever.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

​@@robinhazell6019yes correct ,has only been anchored in the Black water estuary for past few years

[@cristeab1]

Another great documentary from Jimmy The Giant - Thank you soo much 🎉🎉🎉

[@PAEz...]

I finally understand an episode of The Goodies, thanks for that.

[@voice.of.reason]

The British government and Dutch PTT together actually forcibly boarded Radio Caroline in August 1989 and raided it, removing and smashing up studios and transmitters, records etc. This occurred in international waters. The raid was later deemed illegal and equipment returned but not until Caroline was long off air due to running out of money and a new law that actually did ban transmitting in international waters. My point is that if the government can stop a pirate radio ship in international waters, then why can't they stop migrant boats? The answer, they don't want to.

[@jonathaneastwood2927]

Bcuz they in love with the cheap labour it brings.

[@LDN_KMT]

Funny how I randomly type in uk pirate radio & you upload a video about it 18 hours ago

[@itsPenguinBoy]

Worth saying there was old money going into Radio Caroline to promote the idea of Free Market economics, which is of course political... In other parts of society, such as housing that has had a negative impact long term. I am very sad to hear FM stations die out and that the government plans to turn it off permanently so they can sell off the bandwidth. There are some sick internet radio stations but man, let's keep real radio going and fire up pirate radio again.

[@leonburns4634]

Well done Mr Giant, I don't know how you do it, but all your videos are extremely informative and also great fun! Keep up the great work! Thanks for the time 👍

[@esmelouise2317]

Great vid, your stuff's been getting really good recently

[@GullyFootTony]

I DJ’d on various London pirate radio stations during the 2000’s, what a brilliant time it was. One day I’m gonna format some of the crazy & insane scenarios that happened during those years. Thanks for making this great video 🙏🏾👊🏾

[@DDGXMUSIC]

I think speak to anyone involved in the 'land' pirate radio era 80's to 00's and there are some mad mad tails to be told! Someone should think about collating it into a book. I've got some good ones and would love to hear from others like yourself. Were you in London or home counties?

[@charliezobel511]

Unity 88.4, Defection 89.4, Rush 92.5, Dance 93, Centreforce 88.3, Sunrise 88.7, Kool 94.5, Friends 107, Pulse 90.6 and the mighty mighty Fantasy 98.1 📻 still remember the frequencies more than 30 years on, great times I feel blessed to have lived through.

[@reece3163]

Pirate radio and the rebellious power of music go hand in hand together perfectly

[@xXxKAMIKAZExXx]

I'm so glad I watched this. Had it saved for a while. This was very interesting and informative. Good job!

[@brittadueandersen2519]

Pirat radio "Radio Mercur" was a Danish advertising radio which broadcast in the period 2 August 1958 to 15 August 1962 when the government banned it. Radio Mercur was broadcast from a ship in international waters in the Øresund.

[@christopheralbright9650]

Thanks,Jimmy! Greatest story that needs to be told!

[@dlan8770]

I was lucky enough to be part of the pirate radio DJ family in Essex. Being a female dj at raves and on air , are the best memories! Running from DTI with studio equipment-EPIC ! Big up Cyndicut 100.4

[@BillyTheKidsGhost]

You were considered an adult at the ripe old age of 14... ''Her is your pick axe, now get to work''.

[@loolfactorie]

I remember this, and there were pirate stations I'd tune into like coolfm and such in south london. It is a fucking joke that our government enforce licenses on every faucet of our lives.

[@upthebuffer1921]

*kool fm - there was a new interview recently with one of the founders of that. Good interview will edit this comment if I can find it :/

[@loolfactorie]

@@upthebuffer1921 I've got a few koolfm-recorded mixes from the mid 90's if anyone is interested.

[@loolfactorie]

@@upthebuffer1921 I got some mid 90s recordings from Koolfm if you're interested

[@cameronhall6733]

Atlantic 252 was what we listened to in Scotland in the 90’s. Locally it was more popular than BBC……. Fire up the Prelude mum. Great videos by the way👍

[@scottic_wss]

Rave FM Notts Power 101 Derby Radio Freedom Derby Undercover 108 FM Derby … just a few close to my heart Wasn’t even born then & I know those times will remain so much better and unable to be replicated

[@Nature_Inna_Box]

Idk what it is but sometimes its just really relaxing to zone out and have @jimmythegiant teach me random stuff in a chill UK accent Please keep up the video bro!

[@RockyScorcese]

Another great doc Jimmy! Keep ‘em coming

[@illumindonnaughty]

Tower Block Dreams is a documentary worth checking out about pirate radio, Charlie sloth is in it before he was famous.

[@DDGXMUSIC]

Tower Block Dreams is incredible for both good and bad reasons. Unfortunately captured the face of some of the people who were in radio for all the wrong reasons. A lot of influence on the 'people just do nothing' universe.

[@alwoods8010]

The correlation between pirate radio and drugs is the government made both popular

[@jujutrini8412]

Correct. 👏👏

[@nathangreig5884]

That's crazy how recent some of these law changes were, when I was younger I used to love listening to late night radio in the 90s but years later I again liked to listen to late night radio when they would play dance tracks and electronic by djs It was good stuff

[@fromtheroottothefruit]

Steve devonne on INVICTA fm,with the mastermind roadshow,the first hip hop show in the uk.

[@JackWiddaPack]

Radio Caroline now resides in the water between Felixstowe, Shotley and Harwich. seen it so many times growing up. really fancinating

[@HippiePajon]

Amazing report

[@19822andy]

Pirate radio was the only reliable way to get underground and urban music especially the burgeoning garage scene. They would even censor swearing in music until after 9 p.m. Aspiring M.C.s and DJs had the opportunity to showcase their talents too. A lot of British talent got their start on pirate radio. Local black businesses would advertise on them too like hair salons and fast food places. One advertisement for a place called Tennessee Chicken was that much of an earworm I hear it in my sleep. Tennessee Chicken has bullet proof glass to protect against robberies as it was slap bang in one of the worst places in Birmingham. The girls that served you were big Jamaican women who had the worst attitudes and customer service skills I've ever seen. They would suck their teeth when you ordered and stomped about like they hated you. The food was so amazing that I would put myself through that misery just to savour that chicken, ribs and fries combo. It wasn't a race thing either, I am white but they had disdain for everyone. Never once saw those women smile.😂😂 One of the biggest in Birmingham was Passion FM. They were putting across a good message with a diverse range of music. The mornings were reserved for soul and easy listening and the evenings were for the youth. It was such a shame when it vanished one day. Passion was attracting the youth with a shared interest in music and broadcasting. Shutting that down probably pushed a lot of young people involved back onto the streets. Passion had a good run of a few years I suppose and I thank them for playing the music I loved so I could tape and keep them. That music encapsulated my youth. That's one small story about a listener in the late 90's and early 2000's about the good a pirate station was doing for their community.

[@RandallSlick]

Happy days. Always played tapes in the car back in the day, but coming close to a town, tuned to 99MHz, or just up from Radio 4 to find a pirate. Weirdest one was in Tavistock, Devon in the early 90s. They were everywhere. All crushed by Thatcher of course, along with the New Age Travellers and the outdoors ravers. Down with that sort of thing.

[@charliezobel511]

She resigned in 1990 but don’t let facts get in the way of a good story eh 🙄

[@RandallSlick]

@@charliezobel511 You funny little man. What an oddball idea that her legacy outlived her. Statues , Truss etc.

[@charliezobel511]

@RandallSlick you must be some proper lump if you reckon I'm little or it's just another load of inaccurate pony you're spouting off more like 🙄

[@Oomzilla]

You've just got better and funnier, content still very original. Writing style has matured as have I. Great effort mimickery, all the enchiladas!

[@JimmyTheGiant]

Thank you man!

[@charlesachurch7265]

Fascinating presentation thanks xxx. A great history lesson in state propaganda and class war.

[@ThePoushal]

Karl Pilkington's ham radio was legendary back in the day. Sad that we did not record it.

[@jamesdeanseternaldreams2232]

i love radio caroline, good to see people my age are talking about it more

[@rosswilliams3310]

Jimmy, absolutely amazing video! The way that you handle delicate issues like the race solutions in the '80s. Not just on this vid but other things as well like the riot vid, you really are one of the most underrated KZbinrs going!

[@Alo4321]

My fav pirate shout out ... "This is a shout out to James at the suchandsuch factory. You couldn't go out the back there and let John out of the bin!!!, he's locked himself in"

[@rover908]

I love turning on my old cheap am/fm radio at night and looking for the last pirate stations

[@Steve147-v8f]

Mate, your catalogue is incredible. Such high quality videos - always interesting, genuinely funny, and uniquely presented. Hope your channel blows up soon.

[@ash19981]

mr jimmy man i dunno what to say fam, you come up with the raddest fucking case studies bro, please man never stop creating bro, big ups g, sick video again

[@DowntownPaco]

Hello from the other side of the pond! as always, your videos are epic and this one is particularly interesting because of my experience with the local radio station that used to promote up-and-coming local talent. Now they’ve been regulated to a poor excuse of a jazz station with no talent on air. That station is called KUNV Radio.

[@CraigMilesYoutube]

Different world back then. Most people could only communicate with people outside the UK, by telephone. No internet until mid 90s. Want to order something, 'please allow 28 days for delivery ' was common on adverts. Radio was a way to talk to people outside of your street or pub. People go on these days about their freedom of speech being suppressed, but we now have more freedom than any time in UK history!

[@gerbenbeuling]

Funny thing is that pirate radio is in other countries some alternative music genre that is seen as inappropriate by the middle class. In my country (Netherlands), Pirate music is made by alcoholic farmers (which I'm one of) who play a debatable quallity folk music about Truckdrinving or Farming or that woman on the corner of the street. A bigger contrast couldn't be possible.

[@chrishenniker5944]

Back in the post-punk era, you had excellent services like Alice’s Restaurant, Dread Broadcasting Corporation, Radio Phoenix. The latter was broadcasting post punk, hardcore punk, goth, death rock, indie rock and indie pop. I wish there was something like Phoenix playing the more underground garage rock, punk, indie, post punk, goth, death rock, dark wave and psych.

[@owenmcgheeandbdawg]

Excellent documentary, looking forward to the next one.

[@IainFrame]

I was with you until the very end where you said "I really do love Radio 1" 🤣

[@IfthiAli]

Literally binging this channel it's sick

[@greenockscatman]

Man, I had zero idea pirate radio went on as long as it did, or that Kiss FM started as one. What a video!

[@charliezobel511]

Why the muggy sarcasm?

[@greenockscatman]

@@charliezobel511 I wasn't meaning that as sarcastic in the slightest, sorry if it came off that way

[@Auntie_entropiah]

What a lovely Jamaican dutch bit at the end 🫠

[@thx134]

Radio in general is pretty underrated. there's so much you can do with a radio signal.

[@wafi84]

Kool FM 105.6 and then 92.4 Birmingham D&B Those were the days!

[@benroyal83]

Bros really on the way to a Mil and we’re all here for the ride 😎

[@authornigelbeckles4496]

Brought back some memories as I was a pirate radio DJ back in the 1980's so know all about being chased by the DTI!

[@BritishStud]

I had to study Pirate Radio for GCSE media, wish you posted this one a few weeks ago 😂

[@Dekoherence-ii8pw]

11:10 Oh TONY BENN, you disappoint me. Playing people's records on the radio was like an advert for buying their records.

[@Chris558576]

I loved the offshore stations. They got treated terribly by successive governments with lies & bullying. So the fact that land based pirate stations happened & it annoyed those in authority pleased me very much.

[@Xaid0nTT]

Used to love blaring out a bit of Mystery FM on 87.5 at the local Halfords in the early 2000s as a kid 😏 those were the days of pirate rave tunes 😂

[@chantsmantrasandrelaxation5079]

Very different in Aus. For a while (pre 60's/70's) 'new' music was only heard as covers OR if a friend brought a record back from a trip overseas it would be played at a party. (according to my parents). 1975 in Sydney we got a government run radio station specifically for the 'youth' crowd 2JJ later becoming 2JJJ then just JJJ which because it was and remains non commercial actually always played and continues to play the indie/alternative/rock music that mainstream and commercial stations won't touch for another 10 years. A few pirate stations in the 70's, but not big like the UK (my knowledge - someone may know more).

[@oliverjenks]

What a good documentary style video. Really liked this. Well done.

[@themagnificentone4743]

Nahhh mate it’s not just doing there job, if there job is to enforce the government’s will at the expense of the people, there job is immoral and it’s our obligation to stop them.

[@nehemiahpouncey3607]

We had a pirate radio station in Winston called free radio. Last time I heard from them they wanted folk to give them music and No more.