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Radiophonic Times
40 Years with the Radiophonic Workshop, In the studio and on the road
In a career which stretches from Dante to Doctor Who, Peter Howell has been a folk singer, author, lecturer, electronic pioneer and all points in between.
As a member of the legendary BBC Radiophonic Workshop, he recreated the iconic Doctor Who theme tune for the 1980s, and worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, composing for a wide range of programmes and projects. More recently, he has toured as a member of the Radiophonic Workshop live band, reaching a whole new generation of fans.
Over the years, people have suggested that one of the Radiophonic Workshop composers should write a book. I was always reluctant because there were already books out there that described the history of the workshop, and I couldn’t see the need for yet another. It was only when the Radiophonic Workshop formed a touring band, and when time after time the most bizarre things happened at our various concert venues, that I started to visualise how a book might work. It would be a way of recounting all those recent experiences alongside stories of my career in music for TV between 1974 and 1998. For those of us still promoting the Radiophonic brand, the ethos of the Workshop is still going strong, twenty two years after the BBC department closed.
In a career which stretches from Dante to Doctor Who, Peter Howell has been a folk singer, author, lecturer, electronic pioneer and all points in between.
As a member of the legendary BBC Radiophonic Workshop, he recreated the iconic Doctor Who theme tune for the 1980s, and worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, composing for a wide range of programmes and projects. More recently, he has toured as a member of the Radiophonic Workshop live band, reaching a whole new generation of fans.
Over the years, people have suggested that one of the Radiophonic Workshop composers should write a book. I was always reluctant because there were already books out there that described the history of the workshop, and I couldn’t see the need for yet another. It was only when the Radiophonic Workshop formed a touring band, and when time after time the most bizarre things happened at our various concert venues, that I started to visualise how a book might work. It would be a way of recounting all those recent experiences alongside stories of my career in music for TV between 1974 and 1998. For those of us still promoting the Radiophonic brand, the ethos of the Workshop is still going strong, twenty two years after the BBC department closed.
268 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 18, 2024
The BBC Radiophonics department was a unique creation, meant to produce sound effects and music for various English TV and radio shows. This is the story of it, from start to finish (40 years later) - and then how it has survived as a touring band. Amusing and fascinating, it's a great story written by an insider. A very enjoyable book.
May 20, 2022
Really good. I enjoyed the then and now format of the book and the way the jokes are in foot notes. I'm not a musician or an engineer but he kept it all within my understanding and gave some fascinating insights.
February 1, 2024
An excellent memoir of what it was like to work at the radiophonic workshop and how a BBC department morphed into a touring and recording band.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews