Pirate Radio Podcast

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 19 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/19

Martin Spencer, Mark Dezzani plus others. Radio Zodiac, Phoenix Radio, Alice's Restaurant Pt.1

In the first part of this two part special, they get four old pirates in a studio and light the anorak touch paper and stand well back! In this four way conversation between Lawrie Hallett (Brian Marshall), Martin Spencer (Dave Lane), Mark Dezzani (Rodger Vosene) and Mark Wakely (Steve Justin).

They talk about how they got into pirate radio and the first tentative steps into broadcasting and why they got involved in this illegal activity. There's plenty of radio talk and some insights into the beginnings of Radio Zodiac, Phoenix Radio and Alice's Restaurant. The second part of this epic will be out in two weeks.

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 20 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/20

So, here we have the second part of their chat with Mark Dezzani, Martin Spencer and Lawrie Hallett.

They get through plenty, including talking about the contribution of some well known (and some not so well known) pirates, where, when, why and how some broadcasts took place and plenty of stories about some near misses with the authorities.

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 21 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/21

1984 Land Based Pirate Documentary whit Lawrie Hallett

Something a little different this week. Lawrie Hallett has given them a documentary he made for LBC in 1984.

It was never broadcast by them because of the lawyers, but you can hear it now as part of the podcast series.

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 22 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/22

Chris Cooper - Empire Radio (SW), EST (Birmingham), Voice of Peace and Radio Caroline

This time they chat to Chris Cooper from Birmingham. He was one of the people behind Empire Radio, the short wave pirate, then went on to found the Birmingham FM pirate EST before going on to The Voice of Peace and Radio Caroline.

He can now be heard regularly on Radio Seagull. He is a great story teller with a great memory of his pirate days.

https://www.thepiratearchive.net/est/

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 23 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/23

Ian Harling - Radio Cavendish (SW), South Coast Radio (MW & FM)

This week they are again outside London. They're off to the south coast with Ian Harling from Radio Cavendish and South Coast Radio among others.

Here how they smuggled a FM transmitter from the Netherlands and another transmitter across to France for a one off broadcast back to the UK.

Tales of cat and mouse antics with the authorities and once again Nick Catford pops up in the story. Great stuff from Ian.

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 24 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/24

1984 Offshore Documentary with Lawrie Hallett

This time they have been given permission by Lawrie Hallett to play out his other pirate documentary.

You may remember episode 21 where he talked to some of the London Land Based Pirates of the early 80’s. Well, this time he covers the offshore pirates up to 1984 and includes exclusive interviews with Ronan O’Rahilly, Tony Blackburn and John Peel about their time with the ships.

[Gary Edwards]

Episode 25 now available:

https://piratepod7080.transistor.fm/25

Arnold Levine - Radio Concord, Dynamite 235

In this new episode they're talking to Arnold Lavine from 1970’s station Radio Concord.

They chat about how Concord started and how it went on to be the radical voice of the 1970’s counterculture in London. They also talk about his excellent book, “Banned by the BBC”, and finally what he has been doing since the end of Radio Concord.

[matt_tee]

I really enjoy these podcasts. It would be great to hear some more people from the West Midlands on there. We have a lot of people here who were involved in land-based pirates in the 80s, any volunteers?!?

[fm man]

i agree i listend to a few on here very good podcasts about various stations, would be good to have some more about land based stations, i.e super stations lol. the reggae rave dance soul scene stations from the tower blocks from the 80s - 90s 2000s would be a good listen,

[Dave]

The "banned by the bbc," book is a great read. I got through it in an afternoon; those guys had balls of steel