主播大秀

Having come to radio comparatively late in life, I鈥檓 feeling slightly nervous as my interview slot with Tony Blackburn slowly ticks around. This is the man, after all, whose words, "... And, good morning everyone. Welcome to the exciting new sound of Radio 1" ushered in a new era of 主播大秀 radio 47 years ago 鈥� and whose knowledge of the medium is (I鈥檓 convinced) quickly going to leave my smattering of trivia, internet print-outs, and scribbled marginalia far behind.

鈥淚 joined on July 25^th 1964 鈥� Radio Caroline South,鈥� Tony says after introductions and my first question about his early days in pirate radio. 鈥淚 read an advert for DJs in the paper, went up to Caroline House in London, 6 Chesterfield Gardens, and just did an audition. That was on the Friday, and I was broadcasting on the Wednesday.鈥�

Those familiar with the history of UK pirate radio will know a thing or two about Caroline House 鈥� the address in Mayfair that became the base of operations for the foremost station of the pirate radio mythos. It was here, and subsequently the Mi Amigo 鈥� a three-masted schooner anchored in international waters off Frinton-on-Sea 鈥� that Tony made his first forays as a professional DJ.

鈥淲e used to go out from Harwich on a little tender boat, to Radio Caroline. And I remember seeing the Mi Amigo for the first time and thinking 鈥榯his ship is actually going to alter the whole of broadcasting in the country.鈥欌�� You can tell from the clarity of his account that these memories are still vivid 50 years on, such is their formative place in not just Tony鈥檚 own story, but the story of UK radio.

鈥淏ut it was another pirate station, Big L Radio London, that was really the first to bring in the top-40, American-style of broadcasting with the rotation of hit records and the powerful jingles. I learnt more there than at any other place, I think.鈥�

Was there a strong sense that something counter-cultural was happening? 鈥淥h yes. It wasn鈥檛 just for fun 鈥� it was to break the monopoly of the 主播大秀 and bring about commercial radio. The UK was about 25 years behind the Americans. There we were, floating three and a half miles out into the sea, flying the Panamanian flag, with a Dutch crew on board. I mean 鈥� it was immensely enjoyable.鈥�

As an employee of the 主播大秀 for nearly five decades now, and such a regular on 主播大秀 Radio, it鈥檚 interesting that Tony started out as a direct antagonist of the Corporation鈥檚 monopoly of the airwaves, with its Light Programme (later Radio 2) playing mostly music aimed at an adult demographic, as well as broadcasting mainstream light entertainment like variety shows, drama and comedy. 鈥淚t was nothing personal towards the 主播大秀,鈥� says Tony. 鈥淚t just wasn鈥檛 supplying music for youngsters. Radio Luxembourg would come on in the evening and play music for the kids, but during the whole day, I think the 主播大秀 were playing about three quarters of an hour of music. So there was nothing there for the kids. I grew up listening to the Northern Dance Orchestra 鈥� things like that!鈥�

It was a sort of perfect storm, then 鈥� an underserved young UK audience meeting a new and edgy means of broadcasting amid the backdrop of pop, rock'n'roll, and everything else the Sixties had to offer. 鈥淚t was the excitement of something new. Until then there wasn鈥檛 such a thing as the 鈥榯eenager鈥�.听 And the pirate ships were there at that time, with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones 鈥� it was a complete revolution in culture really. And we were part of that.鈥�

The crews of the pirate radio ships evidently had other storms to worry about. 鈥淚 remember once being shipwrecked in a 10-force gale. The coast guard picked us up on Frinton beach and handed us over to the police. I think they must have been listeners, because they gave us a cup of tea, dried us off and let us go.鈥�

I鈥檓 curious to know about Tony鈥檚 experiences at the 主播大秀. How did he end up here and does he have a particular fondness for the place?

鈥淚 started on the Light Programme doing a show called Midday Spin, choosing all my own records. And then they offered me the job as the first voice on Radio 1 鈥� on the Breakfast Show. They asked Kenny Everitt and me how we wanted the studios built. They said they鈥檇 been listening to the pirate radio ships and could learn from it. So it was a lovely transition.鈥�

Looking back through photos of the original Radio 1 studios it strikes me there must have been some changes to get used to over the years. 鈥淲ell I鈥檝e changed what I do quite considerably from the early days. I use Twitter now to get requests for my programmes on Sunday. The audience interaction is not just on the radio anymore 鈥� I can come home after Pick Of The Pops and see all the comments that are coming in. You can get a real sense of what people like and don鈥檛 like. I鈥檝e always been interested in new technology. We live-stream my soul show on Sunday too, and we鈥檙e picking up a big audience on that.鈥�

To mark Tony鈥檚 50 years in radio, he鈥檚 hosting a one-off anniversary show to broadcast from the 主播大秀 London 94.9 studios to all 主播大秀 local radio stations across England. 鈥淲e鈥檙e recording a secret gig in the original Radio London studios tonight,鈥� he tells me. 鈥淎bout 30 listeners are coming down with their partners. They had to write in with memories of me - it wasn鈥檛 my idea! We鈥檝e got some special guests coming down, and I鈥檒l be on stage having a chat with the listeners.鈥� The live show itself will include interviews and performances from Smokey Robinson, Beverley Knight, Jaki Graham and fellow Radio 1 presenters Noel Edmonds and Pat Sharp, among others. Tony has also had his portrait painted in celebration of the milestone.

It鈥檚 clear from our hour together that Tony has a vast and vivid memory of his last 50 years in radio - from stories of those nautical early days, to later experiences, like when Stevie Wonder turned up at a Radio London live show to thank him for his promotion of soul music. But what does he look forward to over the rest of his career?

鈥淚 don鈥檛 ever want to retire. I鈥檓 really privileged to be a part of radio 鈥� it鈥檚 such a wonderful medium. You know 鈥� it鈥檚 not a God-given right for me to broadcast. I have to work hard for it. I get immense pleasure out of it - and I work with some wonderful people. In terms of the future 鈥� well, in three years it鈥檒l be the 50^th anniversary of Radio 1!鈥� He laughs. 鈥淚鈥檇 really like just to go on the way it is now. I couldn鈥檛 be happier. I had to turn down a programme last week because I鈥檇 have been competing against myself on Pick Of The Pops. So really, I just feel very lucky to be doing what I鈥檓 doing. And it鈥檚 not impossible we鈥檒l take another look at doing a special edition of my Soul Night Out, which a few people have asked me to bring back.鈥�

Finally, I ask Tony what advice he鈥檇 give a young aspiring DJ of today.

鈥淭ry to get in at the 主播大秀, where you can develop your own personality. Just be yourself, keep at it, pester controllers and don鈥檛 give up until they hear you. And most of all, have fun with it. I鈥檝e had an immense amount of fun.鈥�

is Digital Content Producer for the 主播大秀 Media Centre.

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• 主播大秀 Local Radio will mark the 50th anniversary of Tony Blackburn鈥檚 first radio broadcast with a one-off programme across all local 主播大秀 stations tonight, Friday 25 July, at 7pm.
• Read a press release about the anniversary show at the .

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