Radio CLCG, Germany

CLCG stood for the Clandestine Listeners Club Germany and was also heard with Radio CLCG through the 1980s and 1990s. Here are two clips from late-1984.





(2.51 mins & 0.25 min)

KBC Radio

Here is a station that can still be heard on the airwaves, although now as a legal station via high-powered shortwave transmitters. Here is a clip of KBC from 1984 sounding much like they do today!




(1.40 mins)

Future World Radio

Here is a short clip from Dutch station Future World Radio, from 1984.



(0.36 mins)

QSL from http://www.radio-eulenspiegel.eu/

Radio Sound of Switzerland

Here is a station called Radio Sound of Switzerland making its first transmission in September 1984. Here are clips of announcements and signing off.




(2.45 mins)

Crystal Radio

Crystal Radio (not to be confused with another UK station, Radio Kristel) was a Midlands pirate from the 1980s. Here's a couple of short recordings from 1984.





(1.01 & 0.23 mins)

Radio Valleri & Misty Mountain Radio

Here a couple of short clips from 1984 of two stations from either side of the border in Ireland. Radio Valleri was a long-running station from Dublin while Misty Mountain Radio broadcast from Northern Ireland.



(0.54 mins)

A lot more information and recordings of Valleri at: http://www.dxarchive.com/ireland__sw_radio_valleri.html

(0.46 mins)

There's more about MMR at: http://www.dxarchive.com/shortwave_pirates_misty_mountain_radio.html

Radio 101, Germany

Here is a clip of Radio 101 from Germany recorded in 1984.




(1.56 mins)

More information about Radio 101 at http://www.radio101.de/radio101/index-e.htm

London Basin Broadcasting Company

Here is a clip from a London FM station which called itself the London Basin Broadcasting Company (LBBC) from early 1984, featuring Steve Davis, Graham Archer and Chris Miles.



(2.57 mins)

Radio Madison

Here is a recording from January 1984 of Swiss station Radio Madison, offering its own station badges. By the strength of the signal, probably via a relay in the UK or Netherlands.



(4.31 mins)

Spectrum World Broadcasting

Spectrum World Broadcasting was another UK free radio station heard in the mid-80s. Here is a recording made in 1984. Gerry Sinclair of SWB was also involved with a south west London FM pirate called Radio Suburbia.



(4.33 mins)

Radio Invicta & Horizon Radio

Two of the pioneering soul stations in London in the early 80s were Invicta and Horizon. Here are some clips from the two stations from 1983.



(1.29 mins)

There's a lot more audio and information about Invicta at these links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_Invicta_(London_pirate_station)
http://www.radioinvicta.com/audio/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Radio-Invicta-924/146169279003?ref=ts
http://radio.eric.tripod.com/radio_invicta.htm
http://www.thepiratearchive.net/invicta.html


Here is a clip from Horizon. The station formed in 1982 but in 1984 a revolt led to 11 DJs setting up a new station, Solar Radio.



(1.05 mins)

I did find clips of Horizon and many other London pirates at this site: http://www.amfm.org.uk/
There's a lot more about Horizon and more audio at the Pirate Archive: http://www.thepiratearchive.net/horizon.html

In 2017 a new Horizon Radio website was launched: http://horizonradiolondon.com

Radio Enterprise, Netherlands

Here is a recording of Dutch station Radio Enterprise from 1983, relayed by Radio Apollo.



(1.47 mins)

London Weekend Radio

One of the most popular FM stations in London in the 1980s was London Weekend Radio. The station also helped launch the careers of Radio 1 DJs Tim Westwood and Pete Tong.

There is more about LWR at: http://wikibin.org/articles/london-weekend-radio.html
There also a longer, better quality recording at: http://radio.eric.tripod.com/lwr.htm
Also here: http://www.thepiratearchive.net/lwr.html



(1.42 mins)

East Coast Radio, Ireland

Another of the many Irish stations on shortwave in the early 80s was East Coast Radio from Dublin. Heard here giving out address and looking for QSO with Prince Terry of Westside.




(1.35 mins)

South East Sound

Another medium wave pirate heard in the London area during the early 80s was South East Sound. It also had a sister station, Radio Kristel International, which broadcast on shortwave. Here's a clip of South East Sound, made in August 1983.




(2.40 mins)


The station also has a Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/SouthEastSound and a website at: http://www.southeastsound.net/

Radio Daytona

Here is a recording of Dutch station Radio Daytona made in August 1983. They had a good signal and fast moving format.



(4.57 mins)

Free Radio Service Holland

FRS Holland can still be heard regularly, although the Dedemsvaart address on the QSL is no longer in use. Here is a short recording of the station from 1983.




(1.40 mins)

Radio Titanic International

Recording of Dutch station Radio Titanic International, from early 1983, being relayed via Radio Atlantis SW in the UK. I'm not sure if is it the same Radio Titanic as the Dutch station that can still be heard occasionally on shortwave.




(2.30 mins)

Radio Sovereign

Radio Sovereign was a popular medium wave station broadcasting daily to the London area in the early 80s as Britain's first golden oldies station. There is a lot more information and longer recordings at these websites:
http://www.bobleroi.co.uk/ScrapBook/Sovereign_UK/Sovereign_UK.html
http://radio.eric.tripod.com/radio_sovereign.htm
http://www.thepiratearchive.net/sovereign.html



(1.17 mins)

Mi Amigo Radio, Dublin

Another Irish station from the early 80s was Mi Amigo Radio. I don't seem to have a QSL for this one but here's a short recording.



(1.04 mins)

Starboard Sound

Here is a short recording of UK station Starboard Sound, which was relayed by South Dublin Radio.



(1.25 mins)

Voice of the Leek

There has never been much free radio activity from Wales, but in 1983 the Voice of the Leek changed this with a broadcast from there, with help from Radio Apollo. Here is an extract from the VOTL.



(3.16 mins)

Station 41

Here is another UK station called Station 41, recorded in March 1983, on a test broadcast on 7373 kHz.



(5.15 mins)

Radio Dublin

One of the best known of the Irish stations on shortwave during the early 80s was Radio Dublin, which was also on medium wave and FM. Here is short recording from the end of 1982 of Radio Dublin Channel 2 on 6280. There is lots more about Radio Dublin on the DX Archive website: http://www.dxarchive.com/ireland_a_to_z_irish_pirates_radio_dublin.html



(1.08 mins)

Radio Atlantis

Here is a recording of Radio Atlantis International from 1982 with a  live broadcast.





(1.55 mins & 3.19 mins)

UKR

When I came across this recording I thought it was UK Radio but reading the history of UK Radio on the Pirate Archive website I realised this was a different station, also around at the same time in the early 80s. Here is a short recording made of UKR on Boxing Day 1982 (hopefully I will also find some UK Radio recordings in my collection!).



(5.33 mins)

Radio Lynda

In early 1980s Scotland had quite a flourishing free radio scene with a number of stations on the air, including Weekend Music Radio, Radio Stella, Radio Woodstock, Radio Free City and this one, Radio Lynda.



(2.04 mins)

Radio Pluto

Not the Dutch station currently on air, but a UK station of the same name from the early 80s, heard here signing off.



(1.41 mins)

Anchor Radio

Here is a recording of a UK station called Anchor Radio, made on November 14, 1982. The signal and sound were both very good with a professional sound.



(4.51 mins)

Radio Hexagon

Here is a recording from a station called Radio Hexagon from 1982.



(1.30 mins)

Radio Avalanche

Here is a short recording of UK station Radio Avalanche making their first broadcast, relayed by the Apollo Radio Relay Network in late 1982.



(3.23 mins)

Radio Corsair & Skyport Radio

In the early 80s these two stations formed the Skyport-Corsair Network with Corsair on for the first hour and Skyport for the second hour. Here are some recordings from the two stations:

(3.01 mins)

(1.42 mins)

There is more information about Skyport Radio on the DX Archive at: http://www.dxarchive.com/shortwave_pirates_skyport_radio.html

Radio Cavendish

Mark Stafford, who is better known for Radio Caroline, these days, was involved with this early 80s station called Radio Cavendish, along with Atlanta Radio. Like Atlanta Radio, there was always a good signal and audio with this station.

(3.02 mins)

Radio Concorde

Here is a short recording from a Dutch station called Radio Concorde, made in 1982.



(2.08 mins)

Zodiac FM

Some of you might remember the shortwave station Radio Zodiac. After it closed it reappeared on the FM band in London. Here is a recording from the early 80s of the station signing off during a Christmas broadcast.



(3.48 mins)


The shortwave version was featured last year on Pirate Memories. http://piratememories.blogspot.com/2010/05/radio-zodiac.html

Sunrise Radio

Sunrise Radio was a Swedish free radio station using a Dutch mailing address. I heard this station on 11410 kHz in Jan 1982. According to the Free Home Scandinavia website, the station broadcast between 1981 and 1985. More information at http://www.srs.pp.se/fhs/index.php



(1.20 min)

Radio Stoke Poges

This station took its name from a village in Buckinghamshire and used to start and end its programmes with a tolling bell. Here is a recording of Radio Stoke Poges.



(4.24 mins)

Radio Mi Amigo (UK) & Southern Radio

Tune around the medium wave any weekend in the early 80s and you'd find plenty of pirate activity. In the London area there were quite a few stations around. Radio Floss has already been featured on this website. Two others were Radio Mi Amigo and Southern Radio. The Southern Radio clip is very short but I've got a QSL from them so thought I'd include it.





Mi Amigo (2.16 mins), Southern Radio (0.18 mins)

Capital Radio Int, Dublin

Another of the many Irish stations around in the early 80s was Capital Radio International from Dublin. It used to put out a good signal, using 180W. Here is a short recording of the station.



(3.04 mins)

More information on the DX Archive website. Click here

Radio Gerona

Here is a recording of a Dutch station from the early 80s called Radio Gerona.



(5.01 mins)

Radio Freedom, New Zealand

Radio Freedom from New Zealand was heard in the Northern Hemisphere thanks to a relay from Radio Apollo. Here is an audio clip. Thanks to Dave Valko in the USA for the QSL.



(1.44 mins)

Radio Delta

Radio Delta is a popular name for Dutch pirates. There are still two Deltas broadcasting occasionally on shortwave. I don't know if this Delta is one of those two ... maybe someone knows. But in this clip he says it is his first time on shortwave, recorded in the early 1980s. The QSL might also be for a different Delta ... sorry to be so vague!



(1.59 mins)

South Dublin Radio

Another of the Irish stations around in the early 80s on medium wave and shortwave was South Dublin Radio with its signature tune "Aint No Stopping Us Now." Here is a recording of the station signing off:

More information on the DX Archive. Click here



(2.17 mins)

Weekend Music Radio

Last year Weekend Music Radio from Scotland celebrated its 30th anniversary. Although the station has not been air for a while now, it still has a website with everything you want to know about the station. The address is http://www.wmrscotland.com/

Here is a clip from 1981.



(1.56 mins)

Radio Kristel International

Here is a short recording of Radio Kristel from Easter 1982, who if I remember also broadcast on medium wave to the London area.



(3.05 mins)

Thameside Radio

One of the most popular stations on FM in London in the early 80s was Thameside Radio which had a loyal following of listeners. Even today, there are several websites devoted to the station plus it has its own Wikipedia entry! Here is a little extract from the station but plenty more can be found elsewhere.

(2.49 mins)

Other links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thameside_Radio

http://www.thamesideradio.net/

http://fmthen.com/
http://thamesideradio.wall.fm/index

Westside Radio

Westside Radio was a familiar sound on 48 metres during the 1980s with Prince Terry who then went on host Radio Ozone, with Garry Stephens. Here is a bit of Westside from the early 80s.



(4.32 mins)

There's more about Westside on the DX Archive website.

WLS

Here is a station called WLS which broadcast from central England in the early 80s, with a slick presentation.


(3.14 mins)