colby
Joined: 06 Feb 2009 Posts: 1216
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Posted: Sun Feb 22, 2009 9:57 pm Post subject: |
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There is nothing new in those so-called "revelations" at all, and I think the Torygraph is just whipping up a bit of PR in collusion with the film company's press office, perhaps? I think so...
The notion that the pirate operators like Ronan O'Rahilly were part of a concerted campaign to undermine the BBC's monopoly and challenge the british establishment was a well publicised fact (O'Rahilly always said so even as the Mi Amigo was being kitted out in his father's shipyard in Greenock back in late '63 and early '64).
As the pirates shut down on August 14th 1967 (well, apart from Caroline, of course - Johnnie Walker and Robbie Dale being the rebels they were), due to the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act coming into force, the BBC was already eying up the hugely popular ex-pirate DJs for a new service that was being proposed to "fill the gap" - and it was logical to do so. Hence, Radio 1 was created as the nation's premiere pop station.
Kenny Everett and Tony Blackburn had already left BigL and acted as consultants to the BBC on the planning of the studios in Egton House. That's why Radio 1's first studios were very similar to the main studio on the Galaxy (home of radio London). Never before had presenters "driven their own desk" and the Beeb was very reluctant to allow this, but Everett persuaded them that the whole station would fail if they didn't.
By the way, the ship for the film "The Boat That Rocked" is none other than the MV Ross Revenge, previously the home of Laser 558 and then the Radio Caroline of the 1980s and the "at sea" scenes were shot last summer off the coast or Portland, in Dorset. I believe, though I can't be sure, that Johnnie Walker was consulted on technical/operational details, as was Caroline's manager Peter Moore. |
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