If you’re old enough, you may recall the revolt against the evils of “Rock & Roll.”
Movies like Footloose (1964) & Don’t Knock The Rock (1956) and Juke Box Rhythm (1959) tell the story.
Back then, governments dictated what could be broadcast – especially NOT Rock and Roll! So “Pirate” radio stations were born! In the UK, Radio Caroline led the charge and began transmitting tunes over AM radio from ships anchored offshore in international waters (Movie to watch: “Pirate Radio – The Boat That Rocked”)
USA broadcast rules were challenged when XERB, just across the border in Mexico, fired up a powerful 150,000-watt AM signal (three times the USA limit). Hosted by the great Wolfman Jack, un-censored pop and rock had come to California – and to listeners thousands of miles away.
(As a side note, I spent a very long night back in 1973 with Wolfman, Evel Knievel and a few girls who worked at the Classic Cat, at Filthy McNasty’s on Sunset Strip… but that’s a whole ‘nuther story.’)
In 1960, Captain Dan was crew aboard SV Ramona, a 45 ft wooden ketch, making a voyage from Puerto Rico to Hawaii via the eastern Caribbean, Panama, and French Polynesia – ending in Honolulu. As a 20-year-old, Dan was dismayed that not a single radio station (AM only in those days) played anything but local music. Cruisers just traded 45 RPM disks! – Remember those?
Captain Dan became a full-time liveaboard in 1996 and returned to the Caribbean. He opened The Business Point in St. Maarten to provide mail and Internet services to fellow cruisers. In 1999 he launched “Island 92” Classic Rock. It had the Island flavor like the newly popular Jimmy Buffet, classic Marley, and some pan for flavor. The station provided local and Caribbean weather, including ‘windows’ for fellow cruisers. Island 92 was the first in the Tradewinds Radio network, which expanded to Anguilla (Organizing the Jimmy Buffet Concert. (JB’s Album “Live From Anguilla” is a best seller.) and to Turks & Caicos, obtaining FM Broadcast licenses in Dominica and Grenada. Dan is pleased that these stations are now all locally owned.
In the early 1990’s Captain Dan and Bob Bitchin joined forces to set up and program a radio network for the cruising community, worldwide, that became Pyrate Radio. (Dan messed up here, as he put Bob on the Board Of Directors for Pyrate Radio. (What was he thinking’)
If I recall correctly (It was a rough night!), this conspiracy started at the awesome Cruiser’s party held on the beach in St. Maarten! Music, dancers, booze – you know the drill.
Captain Dan Horn has been “doing Radio” since the 50’s, and Bob Bitchin actually did his first radio gig in McKinney Texas back in 1963. Paul Francis, a veteran of the Radio Caroline Pirate days, directs Pyrate Radio Limited in the UK. Pyrate’s great music mix is the work of Program Director, the talented broadcast veteran, JP Pierce (aka pirate “Barbarossa”). Pyrate also has a capable IT staff in the USA and UK that keep the music playing worldwide.
Pyrate features a range of music, especially for the marine and cruiser community, Enjoy Eric Stone, Bob Marley, and Jimmy Buffett, along with age-appropriate classic rock, and musings from yours truly. (Catch my show on Pyrate Radio at noon Saturday, with a repeat on Wednesday night.)
Pyrate Radio broadcasts 24/7 to over 30,000 listeners in a dozen countries, since HD digital streaming has largely replaced FM broadcast. Pyrate transmits CD quality stereo that is compatible with all cellular networks, including 5G; satellite, and terrestrial phone lines.
Check it out at www,pyrateradio.com. It’s free!
