Did The Queen & David Bowie Use CB Radio?

[@classicgrooves]

Tony Blackburn was on CB in the early eighties,he mentioned the fact a few times whilst presenting his radio shows.

[@jameshill3165]

And shortly afterward was quoted as saying "It is the worst thing he'd ever been involved with" 😂😂

[@islingtonfreenewsmedia]

Did he go on about his failure with Tessa Wyatt there too :)

[@radioboffinG8KNF]

He often said that "The people I speak to on the CB radio are the sorts that if I saw them on the street I'd cross the road away from them".

[@johnnymossville]

At the height of the cb radio craze in the 1970's as kids we used to request songs on a radio station 30 miles away. We lived on top of a big hill and my brother erected a tall antenna over the house. Had great range. Fun times!!!

[@DjNikGnashers]

I copied the Queen back in 1978, on 27.395 AM a few times. She seemed ok at first, then she started mike keying over me and my mates, playing music, and when we called her out, she started bucket mouthing at us. We were going to fox hunt her out, but my tea was nearly ready and I decided chips & beans was more important.

[@almostfm]

Back when I was in radio, I worked at an AM/FM combo, with the AM being news/talk, and a lot of the programming coming from a syndicated satellite service. The overnight host was a guy named Ray Bream, and he was an enthusiastic amateur radio operator. One night, he talked about having had lengthy conversations with someone in Jordan, whose call sign was "JY1". The man said he was with "the Jordanian government", but he was always quite reticent to say what it was that he did. He finally told Bream exactly what he did with the Jordanian government. He was the King. Apparently his wife, Queen Noor was also pretty active. I can understand it-you deal with lackeys and "yes men" all day, every day, and it's nice to have normal conversations with normal people. I've seen it a lot with actors and singers who drive race cars-in the pits and garage area, they're not constantly treated like stars.

[@g0fvt]

JY1 was pretty active on amateur radio, I used to live near Heathrow Airport and spoke to him a few times on 2m when he was in the UK. He also donated a full Drake line -up to the club I was a member of at the time.

[@g1fsh]

Hussein of Jordan was really active on amateur radio

[@bbbb98765]

I can't quite explain why but I love this story 😀

[@fredhinck9685]

My dad had a qsl card from a King of one of the sand castles. Also one from Michael Landon, Little Joe of Bonanza.

[@VickyGeagan]

I know of three famous cb radio operators here across the pond in the states. One a former US Senator. That had a station built in the Building of the US federal government. The late Senator Barry Goldwater. The station is still their and in use. The Senator Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio station as it is now currently called. Also the late American comedian TV and Movie actor George Lindsey. When he retired he was often operating on the free band with a Moon Raker antenna, and finally the world famous John O' brien radio DJ Wolfman Jack. Used to talk to him on his way home late at night early in the morning from the gigs he used to work.

[@GordonHudson]

Princess Anne drove an HGV horse box and it's possible they used CB on the Gatcombe Park estate, as many farms did.

[@SteveInScotland]

I was a kid back then but my boom box type radio cassette used to pick up CB so I used to listen in of an evening.

[@rippspeck]

If I were born a couple of years earlier, I could totally see my child self doing that. I bet you felt like a spy of sorts, listening in on conversations without people knowing you're there.

[@SteveInScotland]

Yes, it was fun and getting to know the voices and handles too. It got a reasonable range from home as well.

[@Mike-H_UK]

I think Bill Clinton also had a CB radio while at The White House. Apparently, the handheld transceiver called the ''President Randy' was named after him, but I am not 100% sure about that.

[@RCAvhstape]

Can you imagine where that microphone has been? Ewww.

[@LukSter18998]

@@RCAvhstape oh i don’t need to. bowie on the other hand…

[@LukSter18998]

@@RCAvhstape oh i don’t need to. bowie on the other hand…

[@Mike-H_UK]

@@RCAvhstape I once flew to San Francisco airport, and when I walked through the arrivals area where the drivers had board with people' names on them, I noticed one for 'Monica Lewinsky'. With hindsight, I wish I'd waited a few minutes to see if it was the same person, but I was knackered and wanted to get to me hotel room!!!

[@prizeking1647]

Lol

[@johne1793]

Per the Springsteen bio, Bruce stated that Danny Federici (late organist in E Street Band) was big into CB in the late 60s when they shared a house

[@CyclingSteve]

I can see how bands out on the road touring would find it useful for finding a good takeaway or a petrol station back in the day.

[@mlight6275]

peel introduced dave lee travis aka laurie lingo, and the dipsticks, on top of the pops with fellow dj paul burnett as plastic chicken singing a convoy parody they released

[@glennwillems9924]

And as for famous colleagues in the amateur radio society: there's of course Joe Walsh WB6ACU who is pretty active on 80m AM.

[@M0HKB]

I've got an autographed QSL from him

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

Cheryl Baker from bucks fizz was always on the cb back in the day, cant remember her handle though

[@damiengirvan5020]

She had a few handles..... If I recall correctly she had a problem making her mind up....

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

@@damiengirvan5020 🤣🤣🤣🤣 excellent mate, for the life of me I cant remember her handle , getting old

[@damiengirvan5020]

@@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069 one of them was just bucks fizz with the first letter of each word reversed....

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

In about 1969 while in Chicago, I heard a CB'er with the handle "Mountain Man" calling from the hills of Jamaica. Mountain Man sounded exactly like Johnny Cash. In fact Johnny Cash indeed had a villa on the north coast of Jamaica called Cinnamon Hill.

[@bbbb98765]

Didn't Brian May do his PhD in radio astronomy? I can see him playing with radios

[@glennwillems9924]

Yes he did

[@RevMikeBlack]

Dr. May's doctorate is in the movement of interstellar dust. Radio telescopes were used. However, the specific testing devices were home made, like Dr. May's Red Special guitar.

[@nowster]

John Deacon's degree was in electronics, IIRC, too.

[@drjase]

Brian May didn't get awarded his PhD until 2007, so it's highly unlikely he'd use the handle "Dr M" during the CB boom era

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Exactly. I can see him and his band members having radios for the convenience of it.

[@johnnywood8082]

Don’t forget about the rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot. AKA Prime Minister or Prime. He’s still very much active.

[@smallblocksadventures6008]

Cause there ain't no excuses on the bowl

[@RealWorldNLPAndHuna]

The country music singer Johnny Cash used the handle The Cotton Mouth. It's mentioned in is brilliant song, One Piece At A Time.

[@daveg8htfadlibaudio250]

Hi Lewis, maybe have a look at some of the well known personalities who have a proper ham radio licence, I think that your KZbin audience would be surprised, the first person that springs to mind to myself would be Joe Walsh from the Eagles. 😀

[@lukedavid4393]

Dave Lee Travis, the BBC Radio One DJ, was apparently a CB user.

[@bbbb98765]

Handle: Hairy Cornflake

[@nowster]

He did a parody of the song "Convoy" as Laurie Lingo and the Dipsticks.

[@peterh9238]

I'm sure DLT did an audio guide to CB radio back in the day. Have it on tape somewhere

[@battlestarone]

Yes he was

[@hullblerk9597]

Not on c.b. but I did work Brian Rix on 2meters when I lived in Hull.

[@g1fsh]

I do know that our new king was sent an Audioline 340 when cb was first legalised in the uk. Havent a clue if he used it. It was reported in one of the cb mags at the time tho. Dave lee Travis was also big into cb as well but his name isnt so pc any more. Interesting video mate. Hope u are well.

[@dannybrierley6832]

John Peel definitely used one in the UK. He would chat with truckers sometimes when driving home late at night from gigs he'd been too. He liked to talk about music we listened to while driving and once met him in an all night cafe just off the M40.

[@billmilosz]

I used CB in my home town of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the late 1960's. In a sense it was the SMS text of the day, especially for we teen-agers.

[@barrieshepherd7694]

I would think that HMQ and her family would probably have used radio to keep in contact around the estates but more likely a special authorised frequency, probably VHF. Lso probable that they had linked repeaters.

[@01cthompson]

I think people may have forgotten that CB was huge in the US during the 70s and a good part of the 80s. It's entirely conceivable that the rich and famous used it.

[@TELEVISIONARCHIVES]

Jackie Gleason did. MY dad actually talked to him when he was in Miami

[@islingtonfreenewsmedia]

You may find that David Bowie would more likely have used 'Sailor' as opposed to 'The Thin White Duke' - a moniker he reputedly DID use when later going incognito on internet chat rooms on his Bowienet venture.

[@cainvanderheide2031]

I worked for the BBC world service I can confirm there was a multi HAM radio In the world News Studio. Studio 7 the rooftop Studio of BUSH house Aldwych London Also there was an Antron 99 on the roof. This was in mid 90’s I also remember a News reporter using the Radio on the London channel 35 fm. John Peel used that studio on occasions. Also the radio was possibly a back up for emergency communication for London.

[@jakehighgate6215]

Hello dear boy nice to see you on KZbin fella ( Jake LT01 )

[@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266]

I’ve heard Bob Marley on the radio, he was singing “Jamming” at the time.

[@SimonBlandford]

And I thought that jamming was a thing of the past!

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

@@SimonBlandford Gotta run those crazy bald heads outta this town!

[@damiengirvan5020]

@@SimonBlandford ooh yea.... We jammin....

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

Nice topic Lewis. I find it difficult to imagine her late EIIR etc doing something so '"common" lol. Gordon West,,in his famous study guides for ham radio, spoke of celebrities like Ronnie Milsay, Priscilla Presley, Paul Harvey, and a host of other celebs who had ham licenses.

[@baronedipiemonte3990]

​@Railgap Esoterica your unsolicited opinion is duly noted, and disregarded

[@mindblast3901]

Thatcher on CB Radio LOL 🤣 cheers Lewis good video👍

[@RCAvhstape]

Imagine turning on your radio and hearing Darth Vader calling. Screw up the conversation and get force-choked through the radio.

[@musicmanfelipe]

Sir Mix-a-Lot famously uses CB with the handle “Prime Minister.”

[@EJohnDanton]

Interesting. I randomly checked out Channel 6 (27025) And i heard someone call themselves the Prime Minister earlier today.

[@mikkohhh]

His youtube channel: www.youtube.com/@skullcracka1708/videos

[@VulcanDriver1]

John Peel worked for a Dallas radio station and was a reporter when Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby. He returned to the UK to join pirate Radio London. So I can believe he used CB whilst in the States.

[@VickyGeagan]

He was not the only one. Former pirate broadcaster. I know and used to chat with a few. They all went on to form ABBA in the states American Broadcaster Amateur Radio club. Also in the UK TAG Tames Amateur Radio Group. Yes they are tribute to their founders favorite music groups.

[@VulcanDriver1]

@@AnthonyAfrikaans en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel

[@VulcanDriver1]

@@AnthonyAfrikaans what is E-legal?

[@joeblow8593]

If you want to hear what CB radio sounded like in 1969. Just search for the video, CB Radio talk and disputes 1969 Philadelphia PA

[@PenryMMJ]

It's a great story, but I think it's mostly a story. The only one that I'd think likely to be true would be John Peel. He started on pirate radio, and was a big advocate of personal freedom, so I think CB would have interested him.

[@boilerroombob]

Great vid Lewis don't forget yourself

[@rossssd4969]

James May has a pilot's licence so I'm not surprised that he's good at CB talk

[@micrashed]

Oh my word Plastic Pig - I knew a guy from Glossop whos handle was Plastic Pig back about 89-95 he used to live in Chorlton so I wonder if thats one of his cards?

[@RingwayManchester]

Was it Neil?

[@jakehighgate6215]

Hi Lewis Paul Harding AKA El Hornet from the band Pendulum was a regular on ch 35 in London for over two years he's a really nice guy really funny and witty and didn't take any shit from anyone he's also into ham radio as well He was on air from 2018 to 2020 a very entertaining chap (Jake LT01 )

[@SteveInScotland]

Some of the celebs are flights of pure fantasy but with how big CB was at one point and how big the movie Convoy became, I’m not surprised that some got involved though I think they might have liked the anonymity of it, maybe hid their regular voice a little. Totally see Bryan May doing it though.

[@Peter_S_]

In the 1980s the American comedy broadcast "Not Necessarily the News" opened one episode with film of the Pope using a C.B. as he rode in the Popemobile. I don't recall his handle.

[@radioboffinG8KNF]

I worked on the Popemobiles in the UK and they did not have any CB kit, however, they did fit a small low-power PA system in them. The only two-way radio was force-wide police radios in the glove boxes. This was on both the Popemobile lorry and Land Rovers.

[@Lurker1979]

There were radio personalities who used cb and ham radio here in the USA. Like Art Bell.

[@timtom1320]

Sir mix a lot was and I think still is a user going as the prime minista

[@TheSillyshyguy]

Love this!

[@cubwolf]

Edith Bowman formally of Radio 1 was Bo Peep on cb

[@dieselbushcraft1299]

Well I know that a tv personality from yesteryear called Brian Rix was a UK licensed amateur and I think there was a weatherman possibly Jim Fish that was a ham too. I reckon some of those names reportedly using CB would of been a little tongue in cheek Lewis but entertaining video nonetheless.

[@M0HKB]

Jim Bacon the ex Anglia TV weather man is a ham. I've worked him on 2m

[@radioboffinG8KNF]

I spoke to Brian Rix on 2m on one occasion as he was driving into central London prior to a stage performance.

[@EmperorMingg]

Maybe in the land rovers on their estates in Scotland, but I very much doubt that royals would have been allowed such open comms

[@battlestarone]

Well they we allowed analogue mobile phones back in the 80s

[@Handlebar-MustDash]

'Blue One' I believe was Prince Andrew referencing his pecker as he choked the chicken. He came up with the 'Prince Andrew Award for Young Girls' but no girl ever returned to collect the award😂😂😂. The award is the World's Rarest Medal, even Virginia Giuffré didn't get one, and she completed the full program.

[@peterweaver2170]

Fergal sharkey from the undertones was a ham

[@aevoguitars2576]

The thin white Duke was my neighbour so couldn't have been Bowie🥳

[@keefsmiff]

My mum was "eyeballed" by George Michael on the M1 lol no idea of his handle though

[@GoSlash27]

Why were CB radios illegal in the UK?

[@lukem9962]

Uk sucks everything is banned

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Security. You cant have bank burglars on CB hand helds conducting a dig outside a bank using radios to coordinate. This actually happened.

[@damiengirvan5020]

@@lukem9962 you can't say things like that about the UK on the internet.... If you live in the UK and somebody takes offence to that statement you made you can be arrested and fined.... Ask Count Dankula.... But also just me telling you this.... Somebody could be offended by this....

[@islaws4589]

Given how distinctive their voices are it would seem obvious to think that they would be easy to spot on the airwaves but then again cb was extremely busy so maybe not so much! That, and trying to imagine King Charles asking for a rig check 😹

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

"Ewwwyyessss rig check, rig check - any oiks out there who can give me a rig check?"

[@Handlebar-MustDash]

Prince Charles was more likely to ask for a 'Rag Check'. His and Camilla's pecadillos knew no bounds, radio hams were shocked at the time 😂😂😂.

[@deansmiley8221]

Sir Mix Alot" is a big DXer.Even made a rap song about it .And also heard rumors the guy the dies the Motel 6 commercials "We'll leave the light on fir ya" Dude.

[@smallblocksadventures6008]

You are correct about sir mix a lot.... A k a prime minister on ch 6. The superbowl

[@deansmiley8221]

@@smallblocksadventures6008 Forgot his handle Thanks!

[@huwkelvinmorgan3575]

( off topic ) back in the 90's i always had 2 meters on in the back ground there was a few times i swear to god there was a guy on that sounded exactly like the Australian comedian Barry Humphreys and his character voice of Les Patterson that he does on stage, it was so funny and professionally done I'm talking side splitting, language was totally gross and off the wall it was really really funny we are talking the 90's when you must not swear and abide by the license OR ELSE lol, i live in south wales and the M4 was just a few miles away and at the time the local 2 meter repeater GB3BC was extremely good. ..who ever he was he was brilliant with answering the hardest trolls and hecklers that were coming back at him he was slicing them up with a verbal very very quick witted jabs with no apparent delay just professional hence the reason i my self believe that it was the Australian comedian Barry Humphreys 100%

[@bbbb98765]

It's never the ones that you suspect is it? 😀

[@Seasonstobecheerful]

How about C W Mcall ? Probably not though he convinced quite a few people it was cool at the time 😅

[@wanderingancientpaths9037]

Johnny Cash was known to use CB as well as Elvis

[@EdwardGriffin]

Betty Ford's use of CB happened when she was still addicted to pills and booze.

[@plentygood422]

Karl pilkington is well known to of been on the CB

[@RingwayManchester]

I don’t know how I forgot this!!

[@plentygood422]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/onbdnIinnNp_lbc

[@plentygood422]

Pilky 1 I believe

[@arthurtwoshedsjackson6266]

That would be a fun QSO with him. He’d be moaning all the time 🤣

[@rippspeck]

Boxer Boy!

[@coolvideos8864]

II am pretty famous and I STILL use a CB

[@vanhetgoor]

What would her majesty and David Bowie talk about?

[@islingtonfreenewsmedia]

Being Under Pressure? :)

[@fredmorton1631]

surprised David Bowie's handle wasn't Major Tom 🤣

[@herby4215]

CB radio was cool

[@RevMikeBlack]

Queen Elizabeth using the handle Miss Liz sounds a bit far-fetched to me. Prince Charles and Princess Margaret were both young and adventurous during the CB era, so their participation is plausible. Princess Margaret would still do it because that's the way she rolls.

[@Ampelmannchen42]

I could totally see Brian May embracing CB radio.

[@Handlebar-MustDash]

Didn't Burt Reynolds use CB a lot? That's a big 10-4. Smokey and the Bandit, epic movie

[@SocialistDistancing]

Well, I can't say that I ever talked to anyone famous on the cb.

[@fabreezethefaintinggoat5484]

Proportional for drug deals or other ..

[@kevinmcm19]

princess anne could of had cb radio in her horse box

[@winstonchurchill6506]

There handles freddie murcury =rubber duckie.charles=tree hugger. The queen= corgi one, only saying

[@minibikemadman]

cb ant that bad...im a ham operator and love all forms of radio.

[@UCCLdIk6R5ECGtaGm7oqO-TQ]

Yeah, I remember hearing 'The Queen' once. Pretty sure it was just a gay truck driver passing on the Mickey 62 though.

[@numeristatech]

Well, for royalty, when you literally ARE the law, having a visit from men in vans with spinning roof racks is pretty much not gong to happen :)

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Exactly and I would bet the Post Office (OFCOM) would have had some radios from various manufacturers to hand out to dignitaries to get their opinion of the utility of the service. So the Royal Family having first dibs at the CB channels ? entirely plausible.

[@damiengirvan5020]

The Queen or King can't be arrested.... The police arrest people with powers given to them on behalf of the queen.... The police don't have the power to arrest the queen.... And probably noone in the police would even try to arrest the queen.... Remember that the queen didn't have a gun license.... But owned guns.... No driving licence.... But she drove cars on public roads.... She had no passport.... But she traveled abroad.... I don't know if she ever talked on the CB.... She probably did.... She did have a ham callsign.... I don't know if she took the test.... She probably did.... But she probably didn't have to pay the fees.... Some rules don't apply to the queen.....

[@pdsnpsnldlqnop3330]

Rosebud was Jimmy Savile, not that I 'eyeballed' him...

[@rippspeck]

Rosebud, huh? He was totally giving hints about his deviancy every chance he got.

[@orderofmagnitude-TPATP]

Ha, how would you know when the royals were using them and who would they talk too if all were bared from using it when they were there. That sounds almost petulant and child like.

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

Well it is a CULT!

[@TonyLing]

It is my guess that Top Gear used Simple UK channels whist in the UK and also abroad. Who gives a stuff?

[@battlestarone]

The royals on there estates pre mobile phone days i would say yes,,,,,cb eas such a craze may celebs must have had a try back in the day,,,chris tarant is a ham and so is fergal sharky and many others,,so why not cb.

[@Ghost_Makes_Noise]

I believe Brian May is active on social media, you should ask him

[@christopherlowe4264]

@@AnthonyAfrikaans Sir Brian Harold May CBE IS an English musician and astrophysicist. He achieved worldwide fame as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen, which he co-founded with the singer Freddie Mercury and the drummer Roger Taylor. Wikipedia- NOT DEAD

[@rhyoliteaquacade]

@@christopherlowe4264 He will be relieved to know that!