A warm welcome to a kaleidoscope of the watery wireless era
This website is designed to evoke a variety of memories. This is best illustrated by Radio Caroline, the most famous of numerous offshore radio stations that played a crucial role in the European broadcasting landscape for over 3 decades. Caroline became known for its rebellious attitude towards the British government and was instrumental in the rise of rock and pop music.
Radio Caroline was founded in 1964 by the Irish entrepreneur Ronan O’Rahilly, who wanted to create an alternative to the state-controlled radio stations. From 1964 to 1990, Radio Caroline broadcast from ships in international waters to circumvent British and Dutch laws that prohibited commercial radio broadcasts without a licence.
In its heyday, Radio Caroline attracted millions of listeners who were drawn to its diverse music selection and charismatic presenters. The station played a key role in the success of bands such as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other greats of rock and pop music. Despite constant efforts by the British government to suppress the station, Radio Caroline has remained active to this day and can be heard through various media.
News
Recent releases - De nieuwe Veronica studio in een bekend gebouw18 april 1973: wie is dit?A brandnew Sealand video documentaryRecensie Paul Rusling: Online… ... Read more
Fleet
The Broadcasting Fleet - A large part of the texts published here are based on the great "Encyclopedia of Offshore Radio" by Jim Parkes.We… ... Read more
Memories
Teil 1: 1965 – 1974 - Ein nostalgischer Rückblick auf die Seesender von Martin van der Ven Bei diesem Icon hören Sie jeweils einen geeigneten Mitschnitt (nicht… ... Read more
Radio Stations
Radio Stations With Watery Background - Radio CarolineCaroline FlashbackCaroline Community Radio192 RadioVintage VeronicaLXClassics (Lex Harding)Radio VeronicaRadio AtlantisRadio SeagullRadio Mi Amigo InternationalLaser 558Radio HaurakiRadio JupiterQuasar The Album… ... Read more
Tunes
Radio Sets
Mijn transistor radio’s en de zeezenders - Door Martin van der VenRadiostations op schepen (altijd ten onrechte "piratenzenders" genoemd) boeiden in de jaren zestig, zeventig en tachtig… ... Read more
Memorabilia
New DVD/Bluray - The Glorious Madness - The Life of Ronan O'RahillyWhilst Ronan is remembered for his greatest achievement, the creation of the… ... Read more
Jenni Baynton
Radiolichtschip open voor publiek - www.radiolichtschip.nl schrijft:Radiolichtschip in Harlingen open voor publiekDe werkzaamheden om ons opvallende rode schip in de haven van Harlingen gereed te… ... Read more
“The reason for true ship based, and of course fort based, offshore radio has always been that it is free of governmental control and interference.” (Chris Edwards in Offshore Echo’s Magazine Issue 98)
“Als de autoriteiten tegen iets zijn begint het bij mij te kriebelen.” (Gerard van Dam, Radio Day 2012)
John Lennon on “offshore radio” (mp3)
“I can’t understand the Government’s attitude over the pirates. Why don’t they make the BBC illegal as well – it doesn’t give the public the service it wants, otherwise the pirates wouldn’t be here to fill the gap. The Government makes me sick. This is becoming a Police State. They should leave the pirates alone. At least they’ve had a go, which is more than the BBC has done…” [George Harrison in an interview with Ray Coleman in Disc (August 6th, 1966).]
“Die deutschen Sender spielten alle solche Musik noch gar nicht, das kam erst später. Und in der Nordsee gab es auf Schiffen Piratensender, die strahlten nach England und Europa aus. Die konnte man bei uns auch empfangen, da habe ich nachts dann ganz tolle Musik gehört in den 60er Jahren.” (Peter Urban im Interview mit der Neuen Osnabrücker Zeitung, 18. November 2023)
Photo credits for this site: Theo Dencker, Helmut Slawik, Rob Olthof †, Rob van Dam, Jeroen Knot, Noam Tal, Kees Pronk and Hans-Joachim Backhaus