History - Laser 558

When Radio Caroline's ship Mi Amigo sank during storms in March 1980, many people thought it was the end of offshore radio.

Soon after the Mi Amigo was lost, plans were launched to start afresh with a new ship. There were many delays and difficulties, mostly legal and financial.

By the time Caroline eventually relaunched - over three years later - in August 1983, the original group had split. One part set up Caroline, the other went on to set up another offshore radio station.

The other station was to become Laser 558. Only a short while after Laser's official start in May 1984, the station had become cult listening and before long it seemed as if every shop, house and car radio was tuned to Laser.

After only a few months, Laser was claiming an audience of 10 million people in Europe. The stations success was also to prove it's downfall.

In the first part of the Laser story, we look at how it all began with a telephone call ....

Part One

On the 11th February 1983, John Kenning (John Ashley) phoned Paul Rusling about setting up a new offshore radio station. John called again the following day and a meeting was set up in London for the 16th, in the Pizza Pie factory in Hanover Square.

Paul Rusling meet John Kenning on the 16th and John hired Paul as consultant for the new station.

Paul and John flew to New York on the 28th, to spend a few days trying to find radio airtime salesmen interested in the project.

They flew to Fort Lauderdale on 1st March, to negotiate with a company called Transcom for broadcasting equipment. After being wined and dined, Kenning would not sign any contracts to supply equipment. Paul Rusling then realised that Kenning did not have the backing he'd claimed.

The next day, Paul Rusling formed an alliance with Bernard Gelman, President of CSI and his counter part at Transcom, Martin Cooper, to establish a similar station.

Over the next few months, plans were put together. In August, Roy Lindau, President of airtime sales company Music Media International, flew from New York to London.

Meetings were arranged and the idea ofa radio station broadcasting from the ship was put forward. By the end of the meeting, the station name had been chosen - Laser.

THE GARDLINE SEEKER

On the 31st August, Paul Rusling made enquiries about the availability of the "Gardline Seeker", a ship that they'd looked at earlier. It was still available for purchase, as the previous potential purchasers had not come up with the money.

The next day, Paul took two TV's and a collection of books to Lowestoft Docks. After a meeting with Gardline Survey he was given permission to instruct the captain to sail the ship to Port Everglades, Florida, USA.

The TV's and books were put on board the ship, the TV's were needed to obtain news from the BBC & ITV teletext services for use on the stations news reports. Supplies were taken on board, and despite storm force winds the Gardline Seeker set sail.

The "Gardline Seeker" was sold through the Swiss law firm of Ivan Cohen and Company of Geneva to Deka Overseas Ltd of Madison Avenue, New York. Before handing the ship over, Deka asked for her to be delivered to Florida.

After the twenty-five day crossing, payment of 3513 Pounds was made with two cheques to Gardline at the Barclay's bank branch at Mile End Road, London. Both of these cheques were stopped. The payment was for the ship, installing a satellite receiver, fuel and labour charges for sailing the ship to Florida. Gardline claimed that they were owed an extra 1408 Pounds.

The Gardline Seeker arrived at the Tracor Marine quayside at about 08:00 local time on 28th September. An office was made available and the stations first telephone number became (305) 463 1211 extension 327. The next day the ship was moved into dry dock number four to enable the hull to be cleaned.

The fully cleaned ship was removed from drydock on 10th October after having her hull cleaned. The name "Communicator" had also now been painted on the ships bows and stern.

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