Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
Radio Caroline, now a legal radio station, is still broadcasting to this day.
See also: 50 tracks that were 'banned' from American radio after 9/11
“Pirates can have a stronger, deeper focus on particular niche areas. They can show you the full spectrum of that music,” said producer/DJ Imaginary Forces.
“There always is and there always has been pirate radio. It never went away–people just lost track of it,” Imaginary Forces added.
The story of the “ship that rocked the world” inspired a 2009 movie called ‘The Boat That Rocked’ ('Pirate Radio' in North America).
Radio Caroline inspired many DJs to start land-based pirate radio stations. Pirate radios played (and still play) a massive role in a number of underground music scenes, and although not as popular and relevant as they once were, there are still quite a few out there.
The pirate radio station employed over 30 DJs. Other names include Tony Blackburn, Roger Gale, Tommy Vance, Bob Stewart, Ray Teret, Dave Lee Travis, Tony Prince, Spangles Muldoon, and Tom Edwards, among others.
There have been many famous DJs in Radio Caroline history, many of whom went on to have long, successful careers. Some prominent names included Chris Moore, Simon Dee, Tom Lodge, Johnnie Walker (left), and Robbie Dale (right).
It was not until 2017 that the UK's communications regulator Ofcom awarded Radio Caroline an AM community license to broadcast to Suffolk and north Essex.
It turns out it was not the end for Radio Caroline though. On August 19, 1983, Radio Caroline was back on air from its new ship, Ross Revenge, which would become the radio’s headquarters until today.
Apparently, Radio Caroline was named after JFK’s daughter Caroline Kennedy. Ronan O'Rahilly was inspired by a picture of the girl playing in the Oval Office. The story goes that instead of asking his daughter to stop, JFK took a break from the meeting to play with her. O'Rahilly wanted his radio station to be as playful and disruptive as little Caroline.
In 1989, authorities raided Radio Caroline and seized broadcasting equipment. The UK law did, however, change in 1990, and under the new Broadcasting Act 1990 offshore radio stations became legal.
On March 20, 1980, Tom Anderson and DJ Stevie Gordon said their last words on air from Mi Amigo's transmitters. The ship was literally sinking, but fortunately they managed to escape by lifeboat.
In 1972, MV Mi Amigo was bought and returned to its former broadcasting condition. Radio Caroline went back on air, though it did hand over some air time to Dutch broadcasters. The days were dedicated to Dutch programs, whereas the nights were for English ones.
Then in 1974 the Netherlands passed their own anti-pirate law, so Mi Amigo eventually anchored in the Knock Deep at the mouth of the Thames Estuary, where it stayed for a number of years.
On March 3, 1968, tugs approached the Radio Caroline ships, cut the anchor chains, and towed them to the Netherlands due to unpaid bills. Radio Caroline was officially off air.
The jolly image of pirate radio had been stained, and authorities now had something to hold on to. The government then passed the Marine, &c., Broadcasting (Offences) Act 1967, which made offshore radio stations illegal.
Radio Caroline inspired other pirate radios to appear shortly after, including Radio London, Swinging Radio England, Radio 270, and Radio Scotland, among others.
As more pirate radios popped up, tensions grew. Offshore entrepreneur Major Oliver Smedley (pictured) hijacked Reg Calvert’s Radio City. At one point, Calvert burst into Smedley's home, who in turn killed Calvert.
There was also Radio Atlanta, which was operating from Mi Amigo anchored in international waters off the coast of Essex and broadcasting to London and the South East. Later that year, both radios merged in Mi Amigo under the umbrella of Radio Caroline South.
The first song played on Radio Caroline was 'Not Fade Away' by The Rolling Stones.
In 1964, Radio Caroline was anchored in the Irish sea and broadcasted to the North of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
Crawford then also brought his radio ship Mi Amigo to be used as part of the operation.
“If after managing my own artists I have to create my own record label because nobody will record them and if I then find that no radio station will play their music, it seems that the only thing now is to have my own radio station,” he told one of the Radio Luxembourg directors. And he delivered on that promise.
Ronan O'Rahilly was at a party when a woman told him about 'Voice of America,' a radio station operating at sea from the USCGC Courier. O'Rahilly investigated further, and soon after he was visiting other similar operations, including the Swedish Radio Nord and the owners of the Dutch offshore radio station Radio Veronica. Could he do the same for the UK?
This is when O'Rahilly met Australian businessman Alan Crawford and started developing the idea of an offshore radio station that would not be affected by UK broadcasting laws.
O'Rahilly created his own record label, but he soon found that neither the BBC nor Radio Luxembourg would play his artists.
The pair bought an ex ferry called Fredericia, which was then renamed MV Caroline and converted to broadcast.
Irish businessman Ronan O'Rahilly was a man with ambitions. He ran a club in London and managed several artists and actors (including George Lazenby, who played James Bond in one movie).
Though British audiences started to tune in to other European radio stations such as Radio Lyon, Radio Normandy, Radio Athlone, and Radio Mediterranee, their popularity didn’t come close to that of Radio Luxembourg.
One radio station dominated the airwaves, and that was the BBC. As for the music? It was mainly classical and jazz, played by “presenters” rather than DJs.
In the 1960s, British listeners were not quite spoilt for choice when it came to radio stations and, most importantly, music.
In their early days, radio stations were not quite what they are today. Remarkably, only established artists and certain genres would be played. But all this changed in the 1960s, thanks to an offshore pirate radio station called Radio Caroline.
Don't be mistaken though: it wasn’t all smooth sailing for this iconic radio station, and in this gallery we bring you a glimpse of its tumultuous story. Click on and discover the fascinating history of Radio Caroline and how it changed airwaves forever.
How a ship kickstarted the pirate radio revolution
The fascinating history of Radio Caroline
MUSIC Radio caroline
In their early days, radio stations were not quite what they are today. Remarkably, only established artists and certain genres would be played. But all this changed in the 1960s, thanks to an offshore pirate radio station called Radio Caroline.
Don't be mistaken though: it wasn’t all smooth sailing for this iconic radio station, and in this gallery we bring you a glimpse of its tumultuous story. Click on and discover the fascinating history of Radio Caroline and how it changed airwaves forever.