The Last Pirates: Britain's Rebel DJs

                                                                       

                                                  Dread Broadcasting Corporation flyer 1982
                                                    Credit: Dread Broadcasting Corporation




"The Last Pirates: Britain's Rebel DJs" 
2017, BBC, Director: Jaimie D'Cruz



 You may already know about pirate radio in the UK, whether from reading about it, or maybe you saw movie dramatization such as the 2009 film: "The Boat That Rocked." But that's not even half of the story. The first pirate station, "Radio Caroline," was broadcast from a boat sitting in International waters, (which meant regulators were unable to shut them down) yet, they were close enough for radio transmissions to reach the mainland. "Radio Caroline" went live in 1964; by 1967, there were no less than ten pirate radio stations doing the very same thing. Even decrepit anti-aircraft bases, standing on pylons in the English Channel or North Sea, had been commandeered and used to broadcast music that was unavailable to the UK at the time. At least not without purchasing expensive imports meant solely for at-home listening. Much of the music was American Rock and Roll, Motown and R&B, or bands from the UK that the BBC refused to grant airtime to. After the passing of the Marine Broadcasting Offences Act of 1967, which granted regulators the ability to circumvent the international waters loophole, most of the pirate radio stations were snuffed out, leaving a void for the new and exciting music that was then no longer available over the airwaves.

 This led to many home-made medium and short wave transmitters in the 70's that were usually powered by car batteries and deployed in Urban areas to broadcast the music that the people actually wanted to hear. Pirate Stations such as "Radio Invicta," began playing soul music, (it is regarded as the first station dedicated solely to Soul music in Europe) Soul and R&B wasn't being played on the BBC; unless it was sterilized by white artists who had covered the songs and transformed the into easy-listening drivel. The people had now heard Soul and R&B that was performed by the original songwriters and artists... and they were hooked. The cat was out of the bag.

 In the early 80's, FM transmitters became affordable and portable enough to be "installed" atop a tower blocks and apartment buildings quickly; and removed just as quickly... if the regulators were onto them. From a height of 15 stories, a portable FM transmitter could broadcast in a forty mile radius. A game of cat and mouse between broadcasters and regulators had begun in earnest. Those tasked with "regulating" (read: destroying the broadcasting equipment) would drive around with FM receivers that they used to home in on illegal broadcasting equipment. This was more than just a game to the broadcasters, though. They were fighting to get their music and voices heard in a country that all but outlawed their community's music.

 The documentary has tons of archival footage mixed with contemporary and modern day interviews with those who were engaged in this cultural war. Whether they were placing the equipment, sourcing the music or taking the fight to the government; it's all there, laid bare for the world to see the UK's shame. They visit some of the DJ's and locations that were used by the pirate stations; they show regulators raiding suspected broadcasting locations, (literally barging in, swinging sledgehammers and trashing said equipment) and they talk with some of the biggest names that were involved with liberating their music and fighting for their right to be heard.

 The documentary is extremely well-paced; it has its fair share of laughs and heart-ache and it does an amazing job of transporting you to that time and place. It makes you feel like you're on the ground and part of the fight. This one is not to be missed if you love music, history, music history or simply sticking it to the man. (or woman; Thatcher was behind the push to eradicate and silence the voice of the people; because, of course she was) In the end they finally win the right to have Soul, R&B (and by then Hip-Hop) broadcast in a legal and legitimate fashion. Of course I won't spoil the ending, but let's just say the British government was about as keen to fulfill their side of the agreement as the U.S. government was in honoring treaties they signed with Native Americans. 

I give this one a 5/5. This is one of those documentaries that sucks you in and makes you feel as emotionally invested as those they are showcasing were.