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| Radio stations everywhere, but not a drop to rock..... |
Are you a rock fan, fed up with what's on radio, who wants to do something about it, but doesn't know how?
It's crazy, that the country that has spawned some of the world's greatest rock bands, has no rock radio! Others have radio they can listen to all day every day, so why not rock enthusiasts too?
What can be done about this appalling situation? Should rock bods protest outside the BBC, burn effigies of well known pop stars on bonfires, or storm Virgin Radio, and demand to be flown to Cuba? How about a pirate radio station?
But seriously folks� In desperate situations where there's no other way, some people go to great lengths in order to get their point across. Along those lines I've been involved with pirate rock radio for many years, including T1, Alice's Restaurant, HMR, Amanda, Andromeda, RFM, and Rock 106. Of all these, 80's station Alice's was the most long lived, and arguably the most well known. Playing 100% album rock, from AC/DC to Zeppelin, Aerosmith to ZZ Top, soft n' heavy, new n' older, well known & obscure, you name it Alice's played it. Alice's was described as a "rock giant" by Jonathan King in his Sun newspaper column, and has also been featured in The Times, Hard Roxx, Kerrang and Satellite Times. I've also spoken about Alice's on pan european satellite radio media program, 'Satellite Surgery'. The name Alice's and what it stands for has been well bandied about, is still well remembered by those in the rock and radio industries today, and also by the rock enthusiast in the street.
On Talk Radio a while back, our ol' mate Jonathan King said it was "criminal" that there were no rock stations. Rock IS a popular style of music, and BPI sales figures show this very clearly indeed. In second place behind pop's 40%, rock's 18% album sales are way ahead of the next category, easy listening - at just 11%, with other supposedly 'popular' styles lagging behind, mostly in the single figures category!! The fact that rock sells far more than most musical styles which have dedicated stations, like country, classical, jazz and easy listening, speaks volumes about the greatest music on the planet! Considering its popularity, a rock station is badly needed, and in these times of equal rights and opportunities, it's both unfair and undemocratic that there isn't one. |
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| The old school are still in detention.... |
There was a time when I thought that chucking wires over trees in fields, or clambering around on tower blocks setting up pirate radio transmitters at night in all weathers, was the only way to get rock on radio. Not any more. I've realised pirating doesn't get you anywhere, and is a waste of time, hard work and money � not to mention the risks involved. Okay, pirate radio gives many people a start in radio, but most have moved on to bigger, better and legal things. Off the air more than on, pirate radio's wasted effort time and money, could all be channelled into a legal station, which only needs setting up once, and would be on air 24 hours a day. Rock radio at the flick of a switch, all day every day. Isn't that what every rock fan wants?
I've put myself out to see what most others haven't - numerous legal stations staffed by people who just like me, were also clambering around on tower blocks and out in the fields in the past. These people don't need to do that anymore, they work in nice studios and comfortable surroundings � and get paid for doing it!! Having been involved with pirate rock radio and legal rock radio [Hastings Rock RSL], seeing both systems with my own eyes, this puts me in a fairly unique position, head and shoulders above most others, making me well qualified to say with absolute conviction that I know what I'm talking about. I've seen both sides of the rock radio coin � how many can say that?
After seeing legal rock radio, my views on how best to proceed with getting rock on the radio have changed forever. I got to thinking "what the hell am I doing, messing around with piddly little part time pirate stations, when I could be involved in a proper full time legal rock station, doing a far better job at getting rock on the radio"? In fact it's silly to carry on 'championing' pirating as some do, when there are now legal ways to do radio. Sure, pirating got many of us where we are today, but if those that want to carry on pirating had seen what I've seen, they'd realise the situation too � but they haven't!!
Sadly, some people are misinformed or have odd pre-conceptions about legal radio. They listen to other 'experts' who haven't been involved as I have in legal rock stations, and therefore don't know the real issues. Some people don't have a very high opinion of themselves, and are convinced they can't be involved in legal radio, while others come out with ridiculous arguments which hold no water at all. With silly ideas like these, it's no wonder we haven't got rock radio!! The facts are that radio is a rapidly growing industry, and there is a blatant & obvious huge gap in the market for rock radio, which people who are awake and on the ball will be aware of, and will want to get involved. Interested? |
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| Alice's is thirty years overdue..... |
For several years I've looked at ways to do a legal rock station, I know what needs to be done, and how to get Alice's back on. However, there's nothing I'd like more than to work with REAL rock enthusiasts � ex pirates or not, who know their stuff. I think pirate friends have earned themselves a break on easy street, from all their efforts over the years, but other non pirate types are also welcome on board too. Many other people are taking advantage of the legal radio scene � Greek, Asian, Turkish and Christian stations exist, why isn't rock getting a piece of the action too? I'd like to hear from people who want to get involved - I need to get a good team of people together that can help run Alice's. I'm not expecting people to be Tommy Vances or Alan Freemans, as long as you're keen on rock that's the most precious credential you'll need. A few records or CD's would help too!
Do nothing and you let your music, your culture, your side and yourself down, surely no real rock fan would do that? Do something positive � get involved, and help get real rock radio on the air 24 hours a day. DJ's and office/sales bods etc, drop me a line from...
www.rockradio.eu.com
Together we can do this; united we stand, divided we fall.
I'm standing. How about you?
Bear Freeman |
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Email me from:
www.rockradio.eu.com
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