Radio Rock Revolution (The Boat That Rocked)
Da ist endlich der Film, der uns die Geschichte eines "Piraten-Senders" (Offshore Sender) erzählt und das auf äußerst unterhaltsamer Art, wo zwar nicht alles der wahren Geschichte entspricht, aber das eine oder andere Teil könnte sich so abgespielt haben.
Auf alle Fälle spielt der Film auf DEN Piraten-Sender und seinen Inhaber: Radio Caroline und seinen irischen Betreiber Ronan O'Rahilly, an. Da trifft es sich gut, dass in diesen Tagen (Ostern) Radio Caroline seinen 45. Geburtstag feiert und dass auch BBC Essex nochmals über die Feiertage seinen Pirate BBC Essex aufleben lässt.
Ja, kaum zu glauben, aber Radio Caroline sendet immer noch, nicht mehr vom Schiff (außer bei besonderen Anlässen, wie eben an diesem Osterfest), sondern aus einem modernen Studio in Maidstone (GB) und auch nicht über die Mittelwelle, wie damals, sondern digital über Astra, Sky, Kabel und das Internet.
Und BBC Essex, der Lokalsender, hat schon desöfteren den "Piraten-Zeiten" gehuldigt, indem man über Ostern die Frequenzen splittete (auf FM lief das normale Programm weiter, auf MW und dem Internet aber Pirate BBC Essex). Bei Pirate BBC Essex, wie auch in diesem Jahr, treffen sich die Legenden der Offshore-Zeit: Johnnie Walker, Tony Blackburn, Emperor Rosko, Roger Day etc. etc.. Einmal sendete man sogar vom Senderschiff Radio Carolines, der "Ross Revenge". Da gab es plötzlich zwei Sender Tür an Tür auf dem Schiff: Radio Caroline (im digitalen, modernen Studio) und Pirate BBC Essex (im analogen, alten Studio mit Plattenspieler und Cardridge). Das war schon etwas Besonderes, denn bis noch nicht vor langer Zeit war der Name Radio Caroline ein Tabuthema in der BBC.
Damals, als die Piratensender verboten wurden, da ging ein Ruck durch die alte Tante BBC und man nahm die bekanntesten DJs der Piratenstationen unter Vertrag, wie eben Tony Blackburn oder Johnnie Walker.
Im übrigen, dieses Jahr sendet Pirate BBC Essex vom umgebauten Feuerschiff LV18, das in Harwich liegt, so wie Roger Day bei der Anmoderation sagte: "Wir senden einen Yard von der Küste Englands".
Die LV18 war auch die Kulisse für den Spielfilm Radio Rock Revolution (The Boat That Rocked). Der Film ist in Großbritannien und den Niederlanden schon einige Tage vor Deutschland angelaufen. Klar, dort ist auch heute noch das Interesse an den Piraten-Sendern größer als in Deutschland, denn schließlich gab es dort die Sender (Radio London, Radio Caroline, Radio Veronica etc.) und wir waren nur "Randhörer". Man versuchte nur einmal und dies nur kurze Zeit auf RNI (Radio Northsea International) ein deutsches Programm auszustrahlen. Dies dauerte aber nicht lange.
- Regie: Richard Curtis
Darsteller: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Kenneth Branagh, Nick Frost
Produktion: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Hilary Bevan Jones
Filmfotos: Universal
Nun aber noch etwas zum Spielfilm, einer amüsanten Komödie, die das Feeling der sechziger Jahre gut rüberbringt:
Eine hemmungslos witzige Komödie über eine Zeit, als Musikpiraten tatsächlich noch auf hoher See zu finden waren und als Sex, Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll nicht nur Worte waren.
Eine Handvoll Radiorebellen steht im Mittelpunkt der Musik- und Radiogeschichte in den wilden Sixties. 1966 kommt zwar der weltberühmte Rock aus England, aber selten zu den Hörern der BBC, die pro Woche nur zwei mickrige Stunden Pop über den öff entlich-rechtlichen Äther schickt.
Genauso unermüdlich wie illegal legen dafür die DJs des Piratensenders Radio Rock ihre Platten auf - mitten in der Nordsee, um nicht von der Regierung abgeschaltet zu werden, und mit einer gigantischen Fangemeinde. An Bord von Radio Rock Revolution" sind Oscargewinner Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans und Nick Frost als Radiohelden auf hoher See und Kenneth Branagh als Staatsvertreter, der dem drogenverseuchten, kulturlosen" Treiben ein möglichst schnelles Ende bereiten will.
Seit Vier Hochzeiten und ein Todesfall" und Notting Hill" steht Richard Curtis wie kein anderer für das britische Erfolgsmodell der romantischen Komödie. Nach Tatsächlich Liebe" geht es in seiner zweiten Regiearbeit um eine etwas andere Liebesbeziehung - ein aufsässiger Spaß über die Lust auf Rock, entfesseltes Radio und den wilden Sound der Sixties. Was will man mehr?
Hier nun eine Auswahl von interessanten Links zum Thema und zum Spielfilm. Außerdem einige Infos zu den wichtigsten Pirate-DJs damals.
Spielfilm
Trailer des Spielfilms hier.
Sountrack zum Spielfilm hier
Film Website hier
Pirate Radio
Radio Caroline (auch Live-Stream) hier
Pirate BBC Essex (über die Ostertage Live Stream und Live Kamera) hier
Interessante deutschsprachige Website zum Thema Offshore Radio. hier
Hier kann man mp3 Files der Programme von Pirate BBC Essex runterladen.
Einige DJs der Offshore-Ära
Dave Cash *
Dave Cash was one of Britain's pioneering pirate broadcasters, making his debut on Radio London, off the coast of Essex. 'Kenny and Cash,' his show with the legendary Kenny Everett, was loved by millions of listeners and set Dave off on a career that's lasted 40 years. Dave was one of the launch presenters on Radio 1 in 1967.
In 1973, he went independent, becoming the lunchtime sound on Capital Radio in the 70s. More recently Dave has been working for BBC Essex and Saga Radio and can be heard each weekend evening on BBC Radio Kent. Dave was born in England and spent part of his childhood in Canada. He's also a novelist and a keen Chelsea fan.
Keith Skues *
Keith Skues began his career in 1958 with the British Forces Network in Germany. In 1964 he returned to Britain and joined Radio Caroline, followed by Luxembourg and London. He is a founder member of the http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/music/nfk_musicians/skuesville.shtmlRadio I DJ team (1967) and went on to become editor of the award winning series The Story of Pop.
He moved into commercial radio in 1974 where he spent 21 years as director of Radio Hallam in Sheffield. Keith began his associations with BBC Radio Norfolk and BBC Eastern Counties in 1995. A former RAF squadron leader, he is the author of several books and is a Freeman of the City of London. Hobbies include collecting gramophone records - he has over 250,000 stored in his home on the Norfolk Broads.
Emperor Rosko *
Mike Pasternak, better known as Emperor Rosko had his first opportunity to broadcast came whilst in the US Navy where he presented a show on an aircraft carrier. He then went to Europe and hosted sponsored programs in France and Belgium. He joined Radio Caroline in 1964 and there his pacey American style soon made Rosko one of the station's best loved DJs. He then was heard on French language stations Radio Monte Carlo and Radio Luxembourg.
As a disc jockey with Radio 1 at its launch in 1967, Rosko initially recorded shows in France for the Midday Spin programme. On his first Midday Spin show, Rosko introduced himself like "I am the
Emperor, the geeter with the heater, your leader, your groovy host from the West coast, here to clear up your skin and mess up your mind. It'll make you feel good all over." He highlighted the new Motown, reggae, and rock music.
Along with fellow DJ Dave Lee Travis he launched the first mobile discotheque, the Rosko International Roadshow. He stayed with Radio 1 until September 1976, when he left for America to join his father, who was suffering from Parkinson's disease.
When Rosko returned to Europe, he was heard via recorded shows on Radio Luxembourg. In 1982 he returned to Radio 1 for a 13-week Sunday series of shows, and continued to broadcast at weekends on Radio 1 during the summer for four years. In 1992 he helped celebrate the station's 25th birthday with a special broadcast, before joining Virgin Radio in April 1993. He is currently running Rosko Radio, his own soul station on Live 365. Rosko also broadcasts a programme called "The LA Connection" from his studios in California and can currently be heard across Europe on several stations including Central FM in southern Spain, and Radio Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
Johnnie Walker *
Johnnie Walker made his name in the 60s with the pirate ship Radio Caroline. His night-time show was essential listening for 86% of the night-time audience, which increased to over 20 million Europe-wide on the night of 14 August 1967, as Walker and 'Caroline' continued in defiance of Government legislation which silenced all the others.
During his first period with Radio 1 from 1969 to 1976, Johnnie Walker established a reputation as a DJ who accorded more importance to the records he played than the chat in between. He is often referred to as "The Alternative John Peel" in recognition of his knowledge and love of music, and his championing of new artists.
Johnnie was front page news when he described the Bay City Rollers as 'musical garbage', and his outspoken views and insistence on playing album tracks led to a showdown with his Radio 1 boss and a move to San Francisco in 1976. In California he recorded a weekly show which was broadcast on Radio Luxembourg.
Johnnie returned home in the early 80s, and following stints with ILR stations Radio West and Wiltshire Radio in the West Country, he returned to Radio 1 to present The Stereo Sequence. Over 30 years of music fandom was then channelled into Radio 2's Drivetime show which he hosted until March 2006. He now presents a Sunday show specialising in rock documentaries, and occasionallydeputises for other presenters such as Terry Wogan while they are on leave. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours List.
Roger Day *
Roger Day was working as an accountant by day, and at night was a part-time DJ. Roger’s good friend Dave Cash found out that some Americans were in London, recruiting for a new radio station, so they both went to meet them. Roger was invited to join a new venture called Swinging Radio England, and one of the original team from the outset, Roger was the only DJ to remain with the station during its turbulent months on air. He was then offered a place on Radio Caroline South, so in July 1967 returned to the sea. Then known as ‘Roger “Twiggy” Day, the thinner record spinner’, he opened every show with the catchphrase “Hi, hello, how are you?”. After the Mi Amigo was towed away by creditors in 1968 he worked for Radio Luxembourg and RNI, and since the days of piracy ended has been heard on many stations, and is now on BBC Radio Kent and Smooth FM, where he has a sixties Saturday show.
Tony Blackburn *
Tony began his career as a singer, then worked as a DJ for the offshore pirate radio stations Radio Caroline and Radio London, before joining the BBC in 1967. He joined the Caroline South ship in July 1964 and at that time he was the youngest DJ on British radio and rapidly won an enthusiastic teenage following. He was the first DJ to be heard on BBC Radio 1 when it was launched on 30 September 1967, and presented the breakfast show until 1973.
Kenny Everett
In 1962 Kenny Everett declined a job as a presenter at the BBC in favour of Pirate Radio. He began his career as a DJ for Radio London.
He then went on to team up with Dave Cash to create one of the most popular radio programmes ‘Kenny & Cash’ until 1965 when he was fired for outspoken remarks on religion. Kenny was then given his own show by Radio Luxembourg where he interviewed The Beatles and previewing their new album ‘Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. He also produced their 1968 and 1969 Christmas records.
After the legalisation of commercial radio stations, Kenny started working at Capital Radio only leaving for a 2 year stint at Radio 1 in 1981.
In 1978, he was given his own television show ‘The Kenny Everett Video Show’ performing his many characters and sketches. His Television career was hugely successful and his show was on air until 1988. Kenny Everett died in 1995 at the age of 50.
* mit dabei bei Pirate BBC Essex 2009
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