Monday, August 13, 2007

14 August 1967: When the music died





A few disc jockeys on tiny ships like these brought exciting new music to teenagers in the 1960s and had a huge influence on a generation. In those days, for radio read BBC. Home Service, the Third Programme and the Light Programme. These were the sort of thing your parents listened to, and then only occasionally. The contrast between them and the bright, unscripted and free ranging output of the pirates like Radio London and Radio Caroline was remarkable. These were programmes that you would choose to listen to from start to finish. Jingles, adverts and entertaining intros from djs who played what they liked and knew about what they played. You could hear tracks from the American charts months before they'd ever get played on the BBC. You'd hear tracks that may never reach a Top 40 at all.

You got the feeling that no-one was making much money from the stations, that the individual djs were broadcasting from small boxes aboard an old boat some distance off the coast with little by way of home comforts for their several weeks at a time out there. They cared for the music and shared it with people like me.

The Labour government of the day hounded them and this brought yet another dimension to the huge divide between the generations. Your parents might mumble occasionally about some legislation but seemed always to go along with it. Not so the pirates and we realised that it was OK to object to government, that ministers had views but they weren't necessarily right. I was genuinely surprised that anyone should have been so offended by the pirate stations as to draw up legislation specifically to ban them. I have never believed that they interfered with other transmissions nor that it would not have been possible to permit them to broadcast under some approved licence. But no, on this day 40 years ago, Kenny Everett played the Beatles' A Day In The Life at the end of a brilliant three hour show on Radio London. I shall never forget the incredibly emotional moment as the track's crescendo faded, the needle scratched and bumped to the centre of the disc, a small click as it lifted then another click as the transmitters were shut down.

Radio Caroline bravely carried on with Johnnie Walker carrying the pirate banner high for a few more years but the killing of Radio London, Big L, my best friend and companion, was unforgiveable. I shall never forget.

Stone fish



That PP4 Poem

4 US

As I waddled round my field one night
I couldn't believe my eyes
Men with poles - what a sight
And a banner proclaiming a prize

With all the strength that they could muster
Their erections stood tall and proud
While Maggie went round with her duster
Muttering "Messy lot, this crowd."

The sign said knock twice for Sarah
But which one - one or two?
As the night wore on the knockings were rarer
They just grabbed one and said "You'll do!"

Imagine my shock when the pig arrived
Completely nude and headless
With a prong sticking out his backside
And scorch marks all over his chest

Piggy was sliced up and plattered
For a queue that stretched a mile
And they all just stood there and nattered
About the weather in single file

The Chairman showed us his organ
And bare feet tapped out the time
All thought of embarrassment forgone
Passers-by asked should they throw him a dime?

In the food tent the saladeers scurried
And laid out their wares in smart dishes
Rob looked decidely worried
He'd two loaves . . . but was short of five fishes

Penny and Sue remained calm, of course,
Everything under control
In its right place was every sauce,
Folded napkin and shiny fruit bowl.

Smoke rose from Andrew's fag and the fire
A grin spread on Adrian's face
Rob brandished his rod of desire
As if about to set fire to the place.

Selling tickets and counting the money
At the gate sat Chris with no shoes,
Crying out "That's ten quid, honey,
Go help yourself to some booze"

Darkness fell and a strange noise grew
Older people wished they'd gone
But the rest were pleased to listen to
Tom - and his band played on.

The crowd sure seemed pretty hale
And some were notably hearty
And apart from an occasional wail
It was an amazing Fourth Paddock Party.