Still Making Waves

As the ’60s started to swing, radio in the UK remained a little staid – with just rare bursts of energy on your tranny from the old BBC Light Programme with such programmes as Saturday Club or Pick of the Pops.

There was Radio Luxembourg, of course, beaming in the hits in the evenings on 208 from a far-off land but, otherwise, excitement was rare.

The pirates changed all that – as buccaneers established highly popular stations on rusty ships and sea forts just far enough off the coast to be out of reach of all the regulations.  It was these stations which brought the UK its first real taste of day-and-night music radio, with all the new releases on Motown – and from Dusty, the Beach Boys, the Beatles and the Stones.

The presenters too were different from those on the BBC. No longer scripted and parental, but people like us, seizing every ounce of opportunity the sixties offered – and leading a mischievous life.

Many of those presenters enjoyed life-long careers in radio once the pirates were closed down by a government none too keen on their exploits.

20-something Roger Day was one of those on-board Radio Caroline, Radio England – and later, Radio Northsea International (RNI).

These days, Roger, now aged 79, broadcasts on Boom Radio, the UK station for baby boomers, available on DAB and via Alexa. Unlike many stations, it draws upon a huge record library, including many of the treasures not heard since the heady ‘60s days.

“Boom really is the most fun I’ve ever had on the air since the pirates”, says Roger.

Boom Radio may not broadcast from a ship, but there are echoes of the pirates as its presenters broadcast not from studios – but from their own homes. Disturbed by the postman and Amazon deliveries rather than by the little boat bringing out the mail!

There are other similarities too as co-founder David Lloyd agrees: “In the 60s, the pirates represented a generation which felt that broadcasters did not understand it.  Similarly, we responded to those who told us they felt that radio seems to be ignoring their appetite. That same generation – our generation – had been once again forgotten”.

Boom broadcasts a mix of ‘60s and ‘70s music, spiced with some older favourites and just a little newer material – hosted by a range of ‘grown up’ presenters like David Hamilton, Simon Bates, Jenny Hanley, Graham Dene, Nicky Horne and Rob Jones.  It’s emerged as one of the UK’s fastest growing radio stations.

You can find Boom Radio on your Alexa – just say ‘Alexa, play Boom Radio’. And you can hear the station on your DAB radio across much of the UK too, if it’s enabled with DAB+.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HOW TO LISTEN HERE

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