Pirate Radio Online

Mark Dezzani Comments

2005-05-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

"While the US has enjoyed privately owned commercial radio
since the 1920's, broadcasting in Europe & the UK was
monopolized by state broadcasters until in 1964 Radio
Caroline had to take to the High Seas to broadcast the UK's
first all day music station in defiance of that country's government
regulations. Caroline was instrumental in giving new bands
exposure, becoming a catalyst to the new wave known
as the Brit invasion in the US in the 1960s. Caroline also
introduced US soul, r&b and psychedelic rock to Europe for the first time.

Radio Caroline is more than music and money though. When
governments introduced new laws to try and silence her, the imitators faded away but Caroline always continued defying weathering storms, boarding parties and financial crisis. Radio Caroline is not in it for the money but to continue spreading our message of love, peace, good music and above all freedom of expression.
Even in these digital days when Radio Caroline can be legal, it is a non profit organisation with a belief that it is still relevant. With mainstream radio play-lists heavily restricted and controlled,Caroline's DJs have the freedom to say and play what they feel.
They stand or fall on the quality of their programmes. Radio Caroline,
the legend lives on!"

Mark Dezzani
Radio Caroline

Pirate Radio in the New Millenium

2005-05-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

There has always been a struggle in the world of art. The many that create are forced to compete for, and compromise with, the few that control access to the public. Nowhere has this been more evident than in the world of music. The business of recorded and broadcast music has consolidated itself into a small number of companies that exert a virtual monopoly on the marketplace.

In past decades, artistic renegades were forced to market their products in the back bins of mom and pop record shops. They were literally pushed onto the high seas to compete with state controlled radio. They were made to tailor their art to faceless entities more in tune with the bottom line than artistic expression. It is a kind of ironic justice that you now hear the likes of The Ramones and Iggy Pop daily on television and radio commercials. Yes, the same acts that were deemed unsuitable for the masses when in their prime.

Thankfully the playing field has been leveled. With technical innovations such as ProTools recording equipment, home computer CD burners and cheap efficient printers, an artist can create product that rivals anything the big corporations can manufacture. Through the power of the Internet and digital download services this product can find a market and prosper. Satellite and Internet radio, along with digital publications of all kinds, help spread the word. This is the pirate spirit of the new millenium.

The Ship That Rocked the World

2005-05-08T09:48:00.000-07:00

I was one of the founders of Radio Caroline, and a deejay, when in the 60s we broke open the British government's control of music, by putting a ship off the coast of the UK and broadcast 24 hours of rock 'n' roll. And now the music that those four years unleashed, still reverberates around the world today.

Names such as Jagger, Clapton, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, are household names. With 23 million listeners, Radio Caroline opened the floodgates, creating a stage for music, record companies, fashion, and above all the freedom to have fun. My book "The Ship That Rocked The World", tells my personal story of this outrageous adventure and is available at:

www.rockship.com

Keeping Music Free and Fun
Tom Lodge