Hans Knot's International Radio Report - January 2008
Hello everybody and
welcome to the first issue of the report in 2008. Therefore first I want
to wish you all a very happy, useful and healthy year. Also in 2008 I
want to bring you as much joy as I did in the past years. Although I
must warn you on forehand that probably there will be a few lesser
issues than last year, as I’ve some other commitments to do this year.
Well let’s first go to an internet site where more info can be found
(with thanks to John Piek) about a book on the illegal landbased
radiostation from the seventies, where also some offshore jocks were
active in radio.
http://jackiebooks.com
Talking
about
pirate radio on land I remind you on a review I wrote a couple of years
ago on a documentary which was sent to me about the Free Radio Scene in
England in the seventies. Now on internet a site brings you all about
‘the making of the Free Radio’. Have a look at:
www.radiokaleidoscope.co.uk/makingof.html
Talking about internet we know already there are special pages about the
Radio London Fabulous Forty as well as the Caroline Countdown of Sound.
Since a couple of weeks Frans Elbertsen opened a new site on which he
presents results of his intensive research on the
RNI Top 50. He has
specialised himself on the charts of the Dutch services. He also makes
links to the Veronica Top 40, the charts of the competitor station
between March 1971 and August 1974. Have a look on:
http://home.planet.nl/~elber875/chart_noordzee.html
The very first RNI Top 50, way
back in February 1971
Some other plugs starting with the later December update from Mary and
Chris Payne at the Radio London site: ‘A bumper Christmas update
of
the Radio London website includes some very special memorabilia kindly
supplied by Caroline's onshore agent, George Hare. Caroline North was
involved in the relaunch of Liverpool's Cavern Club in 1966 and George
has kept the press release, official invitation and Programme of Events.
George has also sent us some great photos of both the Mi Amigo and
Fredericia. We also have
our review of a brilliant year of radio events and Robbie Dale's
personal photos from the Radio Academy Celebration of Offshore Radio.
We've also heard from a lady who was named after a Big L commercial -
and it's not Weetabix! Greetings to all our site visitors. Mary and
Chris :
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk
One of the many rare shots made by
George Hare in Greenore 1964 (thanks to Mary Payne)
Glenn Jarnold wrote the following lines to me: ‘Hi Hans, Glenn the Laser
anorak here! Well I finally achieved one of my great ambitions on Sunday
(16th December). My mum and myself were staying in Kent overnight. Where
we usually stay is one of Johnny
Lewis' local drinking establishments. I've been in contact with
Johnny for quite a while now by e-mailing himself or his shows on
Caroline, and had e-mailed him to say I'd be down. Anyway, we were just
finishing our meal during the afternoon when who should walk in but
Johnny himself! Of course, most of the remainder of the afternoon was
spent talking all things Offshore Radio over a few pints of good beer! A
great guy with some fascinating tales of the halcyon days of Offshore
Radio to say the least. The Punch Tavern (as it was) in Whitstable (Paul
Rusling's old stamping ground) got a mention...in fact one of the lads
with Johnny actually ran it for a short while too. A thoroughly
enjoyable afternoon needless to say! Anyway, best regards to Jana and
yourself and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, Glenn.’
Well wonderful you’ve met Johnny in Kent. I do every year when over in
Kent and mostly we do have some pints in a local pub in Whitstable. And
yes the punch, I do remember very well from the early eighties when Paul
Rusling was landlord there.
*********************************************************************
Now time for another
plug, this time for Tony O’Neil from Harwich Harbour. ‘’We have just
launched the 'Save the LV18' campaign and will hopefully be able to
raise the £150,000 to keep this classic Light vessel in her home port of
Harwich. Following the great success of the 'Pirate BBC Essex' broadcast
in August, we have pleasure in announcing that the new DVD film, 'Pirates
Waive Goodbye....?'
It's 108 minutes long and is available online at
WWW.LV18.CO.UK
- price £15.00 including package and postage. OR by mail from: 'Pirates
Waive Goodbye....?' , THE HIGH LIGHTHOUSE, HARWICH, ESSEX, CO12 3HH.
Cheques
payable to 'LV18'. The film includes an exclusive interview with Johnnie
Walker, our new Patron of the charity. In addition we are releasing 2
further DVDs of this event. These are:
'An Audience with the Pirates' - Highlights of 3 afternoons at the
Electric Palace Cinema, Harwich. Price: £11.00 incl. p+p.
'40th Anniversary Pirate Party' - Highlights of the 2 evenings at the
Park Pavilion, Harwich with Johnnie Walker, Dave Cash and Emperor Rosko.
Price: £11.00 incl. p+p. More details on the website:
WWW.LV18.CO.UK
Tony O'Neil. Trustee, Pharos Trust, LV18 Project,
Harwich Harbour. Registered charity No. 1090325.
Tony O Neil in his Harwich museum
(Photo Chris Edwards)
**********************************************************************
I have to announce the death of another key role player on the station
we loved so much in the sixties, Radio London. Neil Spence, better known
as Dave Dennis for the
listeners, died just before Christmas. For more information and tributes
go the Radio London Site.
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/jocks/dd/daveobit.html
Alan
Bailey went to his funeral on January 7th and sent me the next report:
‘The Funeral took place in Grantham Crematorium at 9.30am today and was
attended by a small party of friends and family. On entry there were
high winds and driving rain but at the end of the Service it gave way to
glorious sunshine although bitterly cold. Among his friends attending
were John Peters of Smooth Radio, Alan Bailey, Martin Campbell of Ofcom
and his wife Jan. Roger ‘Twiggy’ Day made an astounding effort to
attend. He traveled all the way from Maidstone and then drove all the
way back to be on air tonight. One very touching moment was when a
recording of Neil was played giving an Easter reading which I recorded
with him in 1978 at Radio Trent.’
Swanet Vink recorded the in memoriam which former Radio London deejay
Ian Damon spoke in his program on Big L. "It's Sunday with the Wombat
and just a little sad thought. It's one of the originals from the Big L,
Dave Dennis, the Double-D, Neil Spence by real name, he died just a few
days back over Xmas into the New Year and his funeral is tomorrow
(Monday Jan.7 2008). But (I'm) very saddened to know that's the eighth
of the jocks that I've worked with out on the North sea all those years
ago, who've passed the Great Music shop and Radiostation in the Sky and
we'll miss him that's for sure too. Although he hasn't been a
broadcaster for many years, Dave Dennis is no longer with us. But we
would like just to say to the family, if anyone is listening over there
in Grantham in Lincolnshire, there is eeehm, a great songs, great songs
of course that he did, he did one song as a matter of fact: Virginia is
there a Santa Claus round about the end of 1966. Dave Dennis who was one
of the original jocks as I say from 64 through till 66 out on the Galaxy
so R.I.P from us to him, a big hi-there-you-there up in the sky."
We all love medium wave radio, don't we? Well reader Herman Content from
Belgium advise all readers in Western Europe to have a look at the next
site on internet:
http://www.mediumwaveradio.com
From Herman in Belgium we go to Philip Cadenet:
‘Dear Hans, Just to wish you a very happy Christmas and to thank you for
producing your report. We have corresponded in the distant past. Some
nice photo's of Sietse Brouwer his radio ship via your latest report
that I had not seen before. My company supplied his 1Kw transmitter for
his main landbased site. He has another transmitter on the ship. Regards
Philip de Cadenet Transmitters 'R' Us
http://www.transmittersrus.com
Well Philip it sounds like a free transmitter plug!
Next
one from Australia and Colin
Nichol: ‘Hello Hans, I've been rather busy, especially because of
Christmas (it comes earlier here than there, remember!) and a bout of
illness - now well gone - so have to catch up on the news. Thank you for
your Christmas wishes and my very best to you and Jana. I agree with Ron
O'Quinn's comments in your latest newsletter that Pearl and Dean were
the wrong choice to handle radio advertising - they were in cinema
advertising, a big business in those days before there were many other
advertising options, but unsuitable for radio and I said that at the
time. Also, Tom Lodge hits the nail on the head with his comments about
Radio Atlanta / Caroline South music output - influenced by the records
from Allan Crawford's company. We all knew at the time that we were very
much on the wrong track and it was very frustrating. After all, I had
been in commercial radio and a programme director as well as DJ for over
five years by the time I started on Atlanta and had some idea of what I
was doing. However, it must be remembered that pirate radio was started,
with the concept of Radio Atlanta, not for the sake of setting up a
radio station, but to provide a means of promoting Allan's records. It
was not the complete radio station. In fact, not playing the records we
should have been, or anyway interpolating inferior discs into
programming, influenced the advertisers in the end as well and caused
financial problems. Then later, Phillip Solomon came along to Caroline
itself and Major Minor Records etc were being pushed to the exclusion of
major discs, which hardly helped. When Ronan came along, Caroline showed
up Atlanta by playing the original version records of the day and broke
new artists. I often wonder how things would have worked out if Caroline
had not come along. No doubt one of the later stations would have done
the same as Caroline. On the matter of simultaneous broadcasting by the
two Caroline’s, that's not a complete furry. It was discussed at the
time, but technically and physically was tricky and anyway, the two
audiences were believed to be different and the personal touch was seen
as important for each area covered by the ships. Best wishes to you and
Jana, Hans, and all of yours and to your readers and my fellow pirates!
Colin Nichol’
Well thanks for your long mail Colin and believe it or not Pearl & Dean
are still making money after all those years. Hope health problems won’t
occur to you in 2008!
Radio can be extremely interesting to listen to. We all know that, but
as a radio presenter you can also make some terrible mistakes. Ingo
Paternoster from Bavaria sent us the address of a internetsite with rare
and humorously mistakes. Just a tip for those who know the German
language! www.radiopannen.de
Here’s the next e-mail from Stephen: ‘Good afternoon Hans; Thank you for
your e-mailed newsletter. Just have to find time to read it all. I
reckon it was about this day back in 1964 that I first heard Wonderful
Radio London on 266 metres with one of their first broadcasts. The like
of which I had never heard before. I must have driven my family mad that
Christmas by having Big L on the radio whenever possible. One disc they
played that sticks in my mind was 'Amen' by the Impressions. I don't
think it had been released here at that time so I imagine they brought
it with them from the USA. It all seems so long ago but still a vivid
audio memory. With best wishes for Christmas and the New Year. Stephen
Raindle.’
Thanks a lot Stephen for this memories from 43 years and more ago.
Looking in my bible on the British Music Industry I can’t find any
listening of a chart success for ‘Amen’ by the Impressions. When
thinking back to the December days of 1964 I do remember listening
several times to Paul Kaye and he had always the girl group from
Philadelphia Candy and the Kisses and the song ‘Do
the
81’ in his program. A couple of years ago I finally succeeded to get a
copy of a song on CD. Who has more songs to mention from those days,
which were special?
Some sentimental reasons to have a look at all the
Fabulous 40’s ever
broadcast on Radio London, just go to:
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk/rl/scrap60/fabforty/index.html
From Scotland the next mail came in: ‘Hi Hans. I thought this links
might be of interest for the next report. Cheers ! Graeme:
Unlocking Audio: Sharing Experience of Mass Digitisation Conference held
at The British Library, 26-27 October 2007
The conference programme, speaker profiles, selected abstracts and
recorded presentations are now freely downloadable from the Unlocking
Audio website: www.bl.uk/unlockingaudio Experience the British Library
online at www.bl.uk
The British Library’s new interactive Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07
: www.bl.uk/mylibrary
Late August issue had the request from Mandy in England to get into
radio again. Meeting here in London at the early August reunion she
loved to be in the radio industry again. And I can now announce she did
it:
‘Hi Hans: ‘I have been extremely busy recently with my Radio show and
writing articles for magazines. I am delighted to be a new presenter
welcomed aboard Radio Seagull
(‘Jenni Baynton’ Harlingen) in the Netherlands, working with a dedicated
and professional team that I very much admire. My weekly show is
broadcast every Friday 21.00 -00.00, C.E.T. My very good friend Elija
van den Berg also delighted as she used to work on the original Radio
Seagull! I have a very busy start to 2008 as I will also be working on
Spanish Radio and I am considering an offer to present a programme on a
Station in the UK. Wishing you and your family a very Happy New year.
Mandy Marton.’
Well Mandy good luck with the radio shows and stations, thanks for the
nice report on the Radio Day which you wrote for the Horizon Magazine
and keep us informed!
Now over to a question from
Clive Warner: ‘Since there are some who read the Knot Report
cognizant of the Irish scene in the good ole days, I wonder if anyone
recalls the small pirate AM station just outside Dundalk, by a peat bog?
It had a 1KW Marconi solid-state transmitter. I got sent there to fix it
once by Marconi, since I lived near Liverpool and could simply take the
next car ferry. I seem to recall it was named Radio Telstar. I went over
there and discovered that one of the output modules had burnt out. The
VSWR meter was near the end-stop. I went out to inspect the aerial and
one of the guys told me that in the night, the opposition radio station
had sent someone out; the night watchman was kipping in the building and
didn't hear the almighty thud of the tubular steel mast coming down. The
intruders used an oxy-acetylene cutting torch and sliced it up into
several parts. Since then the transmitter had been radiating out of the
remains and part of an ingeniously-connected barbed wire fence. I was
about to investigate it but decided against the idea upon learning it
was a bog. The opposition, I was told, had a 400 watt transmitter
broadcasting from over a supermarket and using the shop's metal ductwork
as an antenna. Of course there were no spares with which to repair the
RF amplifier, but the following day I located a Radiospares branch which
amazingly had the required semiconductors, so it was possible to fix it
up again. Best wishes, Clive Warner.’
Well
there are a few readers who have worked within the Irish scene who are
reading the report so let’s see if your question can be answered with
another memory. All readers can respond on
hknot@home.nl
By the way I had already response from Robbie Robinson, aka
Robbie Dale: ‘Good
afternoon Hans, I remember Telstar from Dundalk. Circa 1982/85 not a bad
station. The other station you mention in the Dundalk shopping centre
was Carousel run by one of the so called tuff guys of Irish radio Hugh
Hardy. In fact Hardy was a hard working free radio enthusiast and very
positive about the roll Carousel played in Louth and adjacent county
Meath. I recall, he came down to Dublin to see me on a couple occasions
in the early Sunshine days. He may have ended up in the successful LM
Radio application of 1989? Greetings Robbie.’
Hugh Hardy from the Irish Radio
Era Archive
From
Germany a happy reader who bought Johnny Walker’s book at the Radio Day
in Amsterdam, last November: ‘ Hallo Hans, hallo Jana, first of all a
good start into a successful year 2008. Or saying it in simple way: the
beat goes on!
After been short of sleep for a while , I would like to write about the
reason for this in a short book review:
Johnnie Walker, The
Autobiography. This release of 2007 is one of the most personal
books I have read, until now in relation to the broadcast industry. I
use the term ‘industry’ here, as is common in English language
countries. But reading Johnnie’s book, I got convinced, that the
sometimes behaviour of certain, even public-owned, managements described
here, would ruin an industrial enterprise. But pirate radio was pirate
radio, and Johnnie’s later consequence of insisting on personal freedom
of choice in programming, was before it got branded ‘Jack’. The bio here
describes really a life on the borderline, especially fascinating. I
found the chapters of the period in the US, only these would have made a
good book by itself. The smaller or bigger scandals are not left out. If
anything, I only missed the sailing into London on board the Ross
Revenge and the mid - august night on Merlin Network . In summary, this
book is a must for anybody seriously interested in music radio. I do not
say this, because I had Johnnie on the phone when I called in during
that night on Merlin Network. And I do not say this, because I have
bought the book in Amsterdam from the author himself, having a very nice
chat with him and Tiggy! Best regards, Jan Sundermann
Thanks Jan for this very nice words about Johnnie’s book. Sailing into
London will be remembered with the next photograph which I got from the
Caroline people in those days.
The latest edition of Tune into
Yesterday newsletter is now available. Included in the new
edition are articles about the US Army station at Linz in Austria in
1945 (plus members can hire recordings of this station transferred by
Dave Goldin for us from the original discs), the first part of an
article by Bernard Wichert about OSS programmes beamed to Germany in
1945, AFN Berlin remembered by German listener Dieter Salemann, and a
1934 article about the BBC's blattnerphone recording system.There are
also many old programmes available for members to hire on tape, CD and
mp3 CD. To obtain a sample copy of the newsletter send a cheque for
£1.50 to: John Wolstenholme, Old Time Radio Show Collectors Assoc. PO
Box 1922, Dronfield, S18 8XA, England.
Graeme Stevenson Editor: Tune into Yesterday
Sometimes strange things are happening. For instant when an empty e mail
was received from Beckenham in Kent: ‘Hans; I do apologise! I meant to
be wishing you a Happy New Year and above all many thanks for the
amazing Reports you send. I pride myself in being a typical anorak with
good knowledge of the magical years, but it's great to read and learn
more. Incidentally, as you are well aware,
March 2008 marks the 40th
year since the end of the first era of broadcasting from Radio Caroline.
Like so many, I recall tuning into silence from the Mi Amigo and
initially assuming it was a technical problem. Little did I know both
ships were being towed away. So Hans, thanks again compiling such good
reading.
Every good wish to you and yours in Groningen. John Allen. Beckenham,
Kent.’
Thanks a lot John for remembering it’s 40 years ago. But there are more
things to remember, for instance it will be 30 years ago this year that
the Freewave Media Magazine was started and still is
published
in Holland and Belgium. Also the Foundation for Media Communication with
Rob Olthof from Amsterdam will be 30 years. This year we also remember
that the big convention Zeezenders 20, which was organised by Music
Radio Promotions in cooperation with RadioVisie and the Freewave Media
Magazine was 30 years ago. From then on we did our regularly Radio Days
in Holland on a more than yearly base. But above all it will be July the
11th that we celebrate the fact it will be half a century ago
Radio Mercur started her
broadcasting off the Scandinavian Coast. Some weeks ago I did get by
Paul de Haan a rare photograph of the
MV Cheetah 2,
one of the radioships Radio Mercur used. Also later it was used by Radio
Syd and Radio Caroline as a standby radio ship. Here we see the ship in
earlier days as a passenger ship.
The monthly plug for Bob Le-Roi
is next: Welcome to 2008 & the January Update: Double bubble in
Scrapbook. At last it’s the final part of the Radio Tower TV story Part
5 “Sunk Head Reflections” along with details of the stations primitive
transmission arrangement. Plus it’s Red Sands Radio - Part 4 “Welcome
Aboard” shows you around the Fort. Be sure to get a copy of our
Documentary CD “Life Live on Red Sands Radio” for the broadcast tour of
the Fort available from the Offshore Shop. ”One Subject One Link” asks
is goodwill being taken to the limit as more and more contributors work
for free. In Sales more Music CD titles have been added. Enjoy Your
Visits & have a Happy 2008
www.bobleroi.co.uk
From one befriended site to another is a little step, so here we go±
Just a quick note to let you know that I have updated
The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame.
New this month: We have more fantastic pictures and press cuttings
courtesy of Radio Caroline's Alan Turner; Alan has also provided the
plans of the MV Fredericia, the original Caroline ship; as The Guardian
and Observer newspapers make all their back issues available on the
internet, we look back at how they reported the birth of British
offshore radio in 1964; throughout the site you will find new audio
clips and items of memorabilia; and a cat gets rescued from a burning
building! The Pirate Radio Hall of Fame received more than 283,000
visitors in 2007 - a new record. My thanks, as ever, to everyone who has
contributed, helped or supported the site. I hope you have a very happy
new year. With all best wishes for 2008, from, Jon
www.offshoreradio.co.uk
And
also don’t forget to look at the most recent update from Mary and Chris
Payne, which has also some remarkable surprises, as ever:
http://www.radiolondon.co.uk
An E mail from a very small place in the south west of
Holland,
there were the former Radio Antwerpen ship,
Uilenspiegel, has been on
the beach for a long time after it flooded in December 1962: ‘Hello, and
all best wishes for 2008. Keep up the good work! I would love to know if
there’s any reader living in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux. Maybe there
is a change that in the local archives the original plans can be found
back from the building of the ship and maybe photographs. The story of
the building as well as the maiden trip can be as interested as the
story of the stranding. With many greetings from Retranchement, Henk van
Hanegem.
Thanks Henk, I know we have a lot of readers in France but I’m not sure
if there are any in Bordeaux or surrounded places. Anyway for those who
don’t know the story the MV Uilenspiegel was a former French Navy supply
vessel known as the MV Crocodile. It was a bout 70 foot, 585 ton and
purchased by the 73 year old Georges de Caluwe. Already in 1922 the guy
got a licence to set up a small commercial radio station getting the
call ON4ED. It became popular as Radio Kerkske as the aerial was placed
upon the tower of a little church. When the German intruders arrived in
May 1940 the station was destroyed by the enemies of Belgium. De Caluwe
came back on the
air
with a then new transmitter when the German left Belgium again. The new
Belgian government however decided that at a certain stage all radio
stations would be state controlled. De Caluwe went on with transmissions
and even listeners gave him a hugh support. However authorities decided
to confistigate all equipment and transmitter. De Caluwe did all he
could to get back his licence, but in vain. So he had to go illegal in
international waters.
I’ve dived in my archive and the first photograph I did get in the late
sixties from one of my co editors of the Pirate Radio News, Dick van
Schenk Brill. It shows Georges de
Caluwe in his studio from Radio Kerkske.
The second photograph is from 1962 I think, You see that more concrete
will be brought into the vessel. The man left, with the hat on, is
Georges de Caluwe.
(Photo from the Jelle Boonstra
collection)
T
hese
photographs reminded me on the fact the Radio Antwerp is one of the
stations I never wrote about in one of my books. Therefore I decided
this very day, January 8th, to dive into my archive. A file has been
made early 1971 called ‘Uilenspiegel’ with some 300 documents and
photocopies. One day, I promise, will try to write a story on the
subject for the online Journal for Media and Music Culture:
www.soundscapes.info
One of the many documents featured a short story which was published in
1962 in a Swedish DX Magazine.
It was called ‘Radio Uilenspiegel is no pirate station, says De Caluwe.
And it’s to unique not to show it to you, so you can read what was
published more than 46 years ago:
But that’s not all as I also want to share from the same archive file
another document which shows a
program schedule
for Radio Antwerp from November 18th 1962.
More on this offshore radiostation off the Belgium coast at a later
stage. If you do have memories to the golden days of radio, and it maybe
more than only offshore radio, please don’t hesitate to share it with
our readers. Please send photos and other documents to
hans.knot@gmail.com and your
stories and questions to Hknot@home.nl
Well another site to have some listening pleasure is a site with a lot
of recordings from one radiostation, which is
WFMU:
http://www.wfmu.org/playlists
Go to the WFMU homepage and you find a download link to 80 pages with
some really strange mp3 recordings, for example you can find the theme
of Mr. ED –or 96 tears by ? & the Mysterians -and many more stuff. Even
Norwegian songs from the Rocky Horror Picture show.
Two former Offshore deejays now on Virgin Radio:
http://www.virginradio.co.uk/djs_shows/djs/francis.html
http://www.virginradio.co.uk/djs_shows/djs/jackson.html
Then a message coming in via Martin van der Ven: ´We are very glad to
inform you about our new radio show ‘Rudis
Radio Review’ with the music from the ships and many info about
the offshore radio stations and their deejays from the 60s on. This show
is hosted by Rudi Bittner, the man with the best vinyl archive I've ever
seen in my life. Our station is called ‘Der Sonnensender’, our live
streams can be heard in 128 kbps bandwidth quality and Rudis Radio
Review is on air Wednesdays at 10 pm CET and Sundays at 6 pm CET. We
would be very happy about some promotion on your homepage! Best Regards
Tom Kolbe www.sonnensender.de
Then a plug for the friends of
Offshore Echos Magazine in London. They came with the issue 150
in December last year.
In this issue a lot of stories and photograps, not forgetting the
governmental papers. Luc Dunne a lost name from Radio City days, tells
about his memories on Offshore Radio. There is also an interview with
Philip Solomon and it will bring the answer on the next question: ‚did
he or didn’t he dismiss Ronan O’Rahilly in 1966?’ Also it brings an
interview with Dave Rogers, who worked for RNI as well as Radio Atlantis
in the seventies. And there’s the story of the MV Emma, a ship what
would be a radioship in 1973 but the project failed. Nowadays the ship
is in use and has a radiostudio onbaord, the story is called: ‘At last a
dream came true’. For all information on the magazine and more of the
work from the people behind OEM go to:
oem@offshoreechos.com
www.offshoreechos.com
Sometimes I can surprise one of the readers with a unique recording from
the past, which features the person himself. Mostly I do this once a
month and early January I sent a recording by internet to
Ian McRae in Australia
from he program he did decades ago down yonder. And he responded with
the next:
‘ Hi Hans. Where in the world did you find that? I certainly didn’t have
the recording and, in fact, had forgotten all about it, it was so long
ago! It features a guy named Tony Langshaw (outrageously gay!) who used
to do midnight to dawn on Sydney 2KY. He would go to various opening
nights and industry functions and talk high profile people into coming
back to the studio and being guests on his show that very night. By
which time, of course, many of them were well and truly
relaxed by the alcohol drug! I'll add it to my archives. Thanks Hans. If
you also want to mention in the report that I'm now doing a Saturday
night show on Sydney's 2UE....6pm to midnight Eastern Australian
Daylight Saving Time. In the program we revisit a year each week from
the 60's, 70's and 80's and
spotlight the events and music of that year...plus calls from listeners.
The streamed program is at
www.2ue.com.au including studio cam (God I hate
that camera! Used to be you could wear any crappy clothes to work on
radio!)
Cheers, Ian McRae.’
Many of use remember the song
‘Peace’ by Peter, first intense used in the programs of Radio
Nordsee International (RNI) in 1970. Like many others I’ve always
thought the singer was Peter Gos(h)ling. More than 37 years later it is
Swanet Vink who comes with an interesting conclusion:
She has done some proper research including on the next site:
http://www.quizquest.fsnet.co.uk/Classics.htm
But Swanet found also the next information:
b) PEACE - Peter Sonet SON2012 (UK.1970); Polydor 2050 396 (NL.1976), BR
Music (NL.1991). CD single BR Music CDS5301 (NL.1991) Little is known
about Peter, except that his full name was Peter Gosling. He was seen on
children's TV in the 1970's, playing piano and singing! The song Peace
was also used in the early 70's in a 16mm educational documentary film
about NATO, showing the firing of missiles from underwater. It is a
track on the albums ‘ Free Radio’ and ‘ We Love the Pirates’ , see
details under RNI's Man of Action theme.
http://www.offshoreechos.com/offshorethemes/stations%20s-z.htm
Also she found a Peter Gosling in the line up (keyboard/vocals) in a
1965 recordings from the Rolling Stones 650920A 20th September: MOON'S
TRAIN. London, IBC Studios. Producer: BW &
Glyn Johns. Sound engineer: Glyn Johns. Recording of four tracks:
- Gotta Go Catch Me A Woman (BW/Peter Gosling)
- It’s In My Mind (Peter Gosling/Tony Chapman)
- Marriage Is For Old Folks (Carr/Shuman)
- Say What I Mean I (Peter Gosling/Tony Chapman)
Line-up: Peter ‘Moon’ Gosling (voc, org)/Peter Lynton (guitar
bass)/Peter Frampton
(voc, gtr)/Tony Chapman (dr)/Ken Leamon (sax, flute)
http://www.nzentgraf.de/books/tcw/1965.htm
About Singer Peter Hatllet she could find no more info. (He must have
been 18 year in 1970 = 1952).
Peter Gosling, vocals en keyboard, as mentioned before is probably the
songwriter for the number ‘ Peace’ .
Also she found the next information: When we announced the initial
R.N.I. revival, we received quite a few e-mails from people detailing on
their memories of R.N.I. and listing certain records (in same cases long
listings!) of records they hoped we would be playing. In all cases Peace
by Peter, very much an RNI anthem, was included. But who was Peter? Was
it Peter Gosling, who wrote it?. The record was originally recorded on a
KPM Library disc, from which the backing music for TV/Radio ads are
drawn. Also, at one time, Peter Gosling worked as a BBC announcer.
However, that’s about all I can offer, so it’s over to you. Do you know
anything more? Update: At last - I received an email confirming: Peter
Gosling wrote & produced the song, but the artist who sang the song was
Peter Hallett. I was also given his email address, so I sent him an
email, asking several questions relating to the song and his career, and
this was the reply that Peter Hallett so kindly forwarded: "Well, it's
taken me a while to get back to you so here goes. I was 18 years old
when I recorded ‘ Peace’ . Peter Gosling was the writer and the
arrangement was by Keith Mansfield, who at the time had had hits with
Love Affair ‘Everlasting Love’ and Marmalade ‘ Ob La Di Ob La Da’ . The
recording featured some top session players - Herbie Flowers, Alan
Hawkshaw, Maynard Fergusson and the backing vocals of Sue & Sunny.
‘Peace’ was a Top Ten hit in Holland and charted in several European
countries. It was voted record of the week by Radio One's Noel Edmonds &
Anne Nightingale, but sadly did not chart in the UK. In 1991, ‘ Peace’
was re-released in Holland to commemorate the ending of the Gulf War. It
was top of the radio playlist, being played every hour. It charted, but
only in the top fifty. I can only say that it was a privilege to be part
of such a great song - it deserved more!"
With these final words from Singer Peter Hallett we now know who has
song the so loved song ‘Peace’ . All with thanks to Swanet Vink.
Another internet tip, especially for readers in Holland and Belgium, is
to go to the update for the Stan
Haag story, which is edited by Jean Pierre Berckmans from
Belgium.
www.jempie.net/STANHAAG.htm63.htm
I was informed that just before Christmas one of the former VOP deejays,
Tony O'Reilly, died on
December 20th at the age of 73. His radio career started with the ILR
station Beacon Radio. He then thought to make success in the Middle East
by seeking almost non paid job with Abie Nathan's Voice of Peace. Coming
back to Great Britain he worked on a variety of radiostations including
Mellow 1557 and Breeze AM. He lived during the past years at Canvey.
Funeral Services have been held at Basildon's Pitsea Crematorium on
January 8th. 2008.
The newspapers also brought the news of the sudden death of the lead
singer of the Fortunes, we all known from the station tune from Radio
Caroline. Rod Allen was co-founder of the group. May Payne has made an
obituary, which ca n be found at:
www.radiolondon.co.uk/kneesflashes/happenings/janfebmarch08/Janfebmarch01.html#news
A special response on my article on the rescue of the 17 year old Mi
Amigo deejay Erik Beekman,
aka Bart van Gogh (my report from last month) came in from England:
‘Happy New Year, to you and your readers. I see in your recent
International Radio Reports that you have been looking back at events on
the Mi Amigo, in February 1977, involving the young Dutch DJ Eric
Beekman (Bart van Gogh). I just may be able to answer some of your
questions, as I was there, on my first visit to the Mi Amigo, from early
January till pretty much the end of March. I do indeed have lots of
memories of this period, on board, things were generally running well
for Caroline and Radio Mi Amigo. It was the period when we finally
changed wavelength from 259 to 319 metres, and I began to feel as if I
was part of the ship as crews came and went during that early part of
1977.
I
do remember young Eric, and I remember that we all became increasingly
worried about his state of health, it reached the stage where he was
clearly so unwell there was no alternative than to call for assistance.
Hans, the report from the East Anglian Daily times mentions two British
girls. Yes there were two girls on board, though not both British. One
was the very well known to Caroline listeners at the time, Dutch / New
Zealander the one and only
Samantha Dubois. I am fairly sure it was Samantha that asked to
accompany Eric on the Life-boat, I remember that she was particularly
worried about him. I remember her asking my advice when I got up that
day, I am no Doctor, but it was obvious that Eric urgently needed
medical attention. The other young lady, was indeed British as far as I
know. She was the cook on the Mi Amigo at the time, she became known on
air by the nick-name 'Linda
Lovelace', I believe her real name was Diane. If any one knows
where Diane is now, many of us old veterans of the late 1970's on the Mi
Amigo would love to know. During the run up to our reunion last year she
was someone that was mentioned, but nobody knew how to contact her. A
little while after this incident, we were all relieved and pleased to
hear that Eric had made a complete recovery in hospital, apparently he
had been suffering with pneumonia, so was just as well that we had
called for help. It was also good to know that the authorities would
help in times of dire need.
Now Hans, this next bit is even more amazing. When I read your report,
it jogged my memory. I had always been a keen photographer, so when I
stated working for Caroline, I just had to take a camera. I had little
time to prepare for that first trip, so I had just one roll of colour
film and one roll of black and white. I used to do my own B&W
processing, so when I was back on dry land I developed the B&W film but
only printed a few of the most obvious shots. The negatives have been
hidden away for over 30 years! Like I say your report jogged my memory,
as I could vaguely remember taking a picture, of the life-boat that
rescued Eric, but could not remember ever seeing it. you guessed it,
those forgotten negatives, revealed all, thanks to modern scanner
technology.
All the best, Martin Fisher.’
And at the end of this edition of the Hans Knot International Report we
finish with mentioning of an internetsite where, again in Dutch, but
also with many photographs, the story is told how in South West of the
Province Sealand an inshore radiostation from a ship was on the air
during Old and New Year. Fun from the lakes in Holland.
www.klompenboer.nl
This with thanks to my reader Louw Oosterhoff from Nijega.
Oké you all, hope you enjoyed yourself. For all memories please use
Hknot@home and for photos please
Hans.Knot@gmail.com
Till next time all the best to you all,
Hans Knot
Offshore Radio Programme Names - Programmanamen Zeezenders 1958-1990
Read Hans Knot's former report