Radio Caroline: The True Story of the Boat that Rocked

by Ray Clark, Emperor Rosko (Foreword), Keith Skues (Foreword)

Radio Caroline was the world's most famous pirate radio station during its heyday in the 1960s and '70s, but did the thousands of people tuning in realise just what battles went on behind the scenes? Financed by respected city money men, this is a story of human endeavour and risk, international politics, business success and financial failures. A story of innovation, technical challenges, changing attitudes, unimaginable battles with nature, disasters, frustrations, challenging authority and the promotion of love and peace while, at times, harmony was far from evident behind the scenes. For one person to tell the full Radio Caroline story is impossible, but there are many who have been involved over the years whose memories and experiences bring this modern day adventure story of fighting overwhelming odds to life. Featuring many rare photographs and unpublished interviews with the 'pirates' who were there, Ray Clark, once a Radio Caroline disc jockey himself, tells the captivating story of the boat that rocked!

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Biography, History

568 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 3, 2014

About the author

The British Fantasy Society published Ray Clark's first work in 1995 - Manitou Man: The World of Graham Masterton, was nominated for both the World and British Fantasy Awards. In 2009, Ray's short story, Promises To Keep, made the final shortlist for the best short story award from The Tom Howard Foundation. Ray is based in Goole, and has set his Gardener and Reilly crime series in nearby Leeds.

Reviews

[Own Timis]

My copy of this book came from my late father's house as I was clearing his possessions. Born in 1954, he was a lifelong fan of Radio Caroline and spoke effusively about listening in his youth. Ray Clark offered a fascinating insight into the Caroline story, of which I hardly knew anything. I only wish I'd read it before my dad passed so I could talk to him about it. But if anything, it certainly made me feel a bit closer to what my dad knew and experienced in the 60s, 70s and 80s.

[Andy Moss]

Provides an overview of the history of the station but is very, very boring to read. It also feels like a history as seen through the eyes of the people who he could interview rather than being an authorities tome.

[Eric Sharpe]

This is the story of pirate radio in the 60's. Full of factual information on the shops in the North sea. They set the pathway to the plethora of music stations that are available to us today. A five star read.

[Ingrid Hughes]

It starts a little slow and technical but it soon picks up and so many exciting things to the Pirate radio ship that it is quite exciting indeed. My parents are true Anoraks and it was lovely to read about this amazing historic story!

[Fred]

I read this book because I lived through it at the time. Fascinating to read how economics played as big a part in the history as the music.

[Andy Harper]

Excellent account of Radio Caroline and life aboard the pirate radio ship. Well worth getting and of course Ray still broadcasts on Radio Caroline online.

[Michele Brooker]

Had no idea that Radio Caroline was now available online.

[C A Ward]

Nostalgic

Amazing story that takes you back to the sixties with great music, happy memories and long hot summer days and then radio 1 spoilt it all

[Hans Hulswit]

Ray Clark has written this history of Radio Caroline when there are already quite a few other attempts at this. He quotes lots of people invloved, and that makes it an interseting read.