History
- Laser 558
NINE MILLION LISTENERS
On 28th July, Music Week reported that Laser claimed an
estimated nine million listeners in Europe. "When advertising begins Laser 558 hope
it will be for generic international products such as film, records, soft drinks and
cars". according to Roy Lindau, who added "nobody has signed yet". A new
voice was heard in late July, that of Michael Dean. Around this time it was also announced
that the station was now owned by "Eurad SA"
On 5th August, The Observer newspaper featured radio pirates
and wrote about Laser, saying that "it revives memories of the first generation of
pirates in the 1960's". Life on Laser is cramped and spartan, but the disc jockeys
who work two months on and one month off say they havn't yet got bored. "There's no
traffic, no bills and no phone" said Charlie Wolf.
Outside their four hour shows, the DJ's, three men and two
women stay busy preparing material, reading, listening to music and sunbathing. Tommy
Rivers spends his time writing up his Masters thesis on audience research and radio
stations for the University of Wisconsin.
The monotony is occasionally broken by the sight of an RAF
Canberra swooping low over the ship presumably to photograph any boat that goes out to it.
A police launch occasionally has a look and at weekends boatloads of "anoraks"
come out to cheer on their latest hero.
Laser 558 appeared on BBC TV news bulletins on 17th August,
when reporter Philip Hayton visited the Communicator and was shown around the ship. The
report concluded how established radio stations were losing listeners to the new wave of
pirate broadcasters, both offshore and onshore.
The Mail on Sunday, for 19th August, continued on the same
theme. "What we are facing is anarchy on the airwaves" said John Baldwin, the
IBA's Deputy Director for radio and their pirate specialist. "It is a nightmare and
the authorities seem to be doing nothing to put it right. A time is rapidly approaching
when we will have to find a way of dealing with the major operators ourselves".
The Kent "Evening Post" for 23rd August, reported
that Laser's deejays had been appearing at the Laser Lover's roadshow, a contravention of
the MOA. Maidstone based agent Bob Steptoe denied this, saying "there have been no
DJ's from the boat appearing at any of our disco's". The Post revealed that Holly
Michaels, David Lee Stone and Ric Harris had all sneaked ashore, avoiding passport control
and appeared at the roadshows handing out publicity photo's.
The shows attract around 500 fans paying 3 Pounds each, and
the American DJ's can earn 200 Pounds a night tax free for their appearances. They return
under cover of darkness through Kent ports. The Home Office and Police are investigating
Laser's activities concerning possible illegal immigration.
Mighty Joe Young made his debut at 19.30 on Tuesday 4th
September, taking over the last hour and a half of Jessie Brandon's show. Jessie was
feeling unwell.
As well as the Laser Lover and Communicator Roadshow, with Rob
Day, operating during the Summer in South East England, Laser announced on 6th September
that the roadshow was now operating in Holland and Belgium, and that listeners could
contact Frans van der Drift Produkties.
Music Week reported on 15th September, that despite statements from the Department of
Trade and Industry that investigations into the supply of Laser were underway, no
communications had been received. "I'm hoping no news is good news" said Laser's
spokeswoman Jane Norris.
COMMERCIALS
October saw the arrival of the long promised adverts, the
first aired being for "Ski" magazine and later in the day for Aswin fire
extinguishers. Also aired, was the first of many plugs for "The Lost Opera" by
Kimera and the Operaiders. Kimera was reportedly an opera trained Korean princess and the
Operaiders, the London Symphony Orchestra.
The Sun newspaper carried a full page article about Laser on
5th October, when reported Sue Carroll visited the ship. More adverts heard during October
included Marlboro cigarettes, Rolling Stone and Ritz magazines, USA Today newspaper,
Kon-tiki holidays and Bose loudspeakers.
AERIAL PROBLEMS.
On 23rd November, Laser 558 left the air at
18.30 during Jessie Brandon's show for urgent maintenance to the aerial system, due to a
force nine to ten storm. Jessie announced "I am checking out, we've got some weather
problems out here as you can doubtless hear and it's a real shame because I was going to
do the best show you have ever heard tonight. But stick around your radio, we'll be back
as soon as we can. Laser 558 All Europe Radio". They returned at
16.30 on the 25th November.
Laser 558 had more problems on 3rd December,
when their transmitter broke down at 1045, normal programmes resumed at 16.30. There were
more difficulties on 6th December, when Laser announced that they would have to go off air
for technical reasons. They left the air at 14.37, returning at 15.05.
Music Week for 8th December, reported that in the first
audience survey, Laser had nearly five million listeners, eleven per cent of the
population over the age of fifteen. Roy Lindau, MMI President said "The findings of
the MRIB survey are incredible when you consider that Laser has never been promoted or
advertised in any medium but its own airtime". A new advert was aired for Verbatim
Datalife floppy discs on 16th December.
On 22nd December, the station closed at 23.00 because of
fuel shortages. The next day the generator broke down at 09.48, Laser returned by 10.08.
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