Thurs Feb 8

1620 1717 Radio Marconist. Shadows "Apache," report to Digital. SINPO 34333.
1620 1807 Mike Radio. Jean Michel Jarre "Oxygene." SINPO 34333.
1643 1725 Radio B4. Dutch music. SINPO 34333.
3940 1700 Radio 319 (tent). Relay of Dutch station. Tumbleweeds "Sweet Memories." SINPO 34333.
6205 1710 Laser Hot Hits. Clive Brady show. QRM from utility on 6204. SINPO 23432.
6235 1635 Energy FM via relay. Dance version of "What A Feeling," SINPO 44433.

(via Barneys web SDR)

Email from Serbian medium wave pirate Romeo

I had an email from Serbian medium wave pirate Radio Romeo who sent me this photo and said he runs 1200 watts. I heard him on 1666kHz on February 6. He was  in Iann's pirate chat and greeting listeners. Address is jovicaromeo@gmail.com

Wed Feb 7

1625 2138 Radio Pandora. Polka. SINPO 44433.
1654 2103 Radio B4. Mel & Kim "Respectable," Midnight Oil "Beds are Burning." SINPO 34333.
3935 2125 Radio Batavia. Manhattan Transfer "Chanson D'Amour," ID jingle, some splash from 3930. SINPO 43433.

(via Kiwi SDR, Peterborough)

Tues Feb 6

1611 2115 Radio Zwarte Arabier. Dutch songs, Beatles "Yesterday." SINPO 43433.
1620 1705 Mike Radio. Tears for Fears "Shout," Nena "99 Luftballons." SINPO 35433.
1666 2140 Romeo Radio Serbia. Balkan music, greeting listeners in the pirate chat. SINPO 24332.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

A chance to remember Tom Taylor

Mark Stafford writes:

"TOM TAYLOR / BARRY STEPHENS

A couple of us radio guys were just discussing Tom and we had a thought.

Sometimes people’s families do not always realise exact why they put so much effort into this crazy radio life! In Tom’s case he (and EMR) were heard all over the world, but not necessarily by people close to him as he was on Short Wave and not FM.

Sometimes that leads to a situation where the family might just feel that someone’s efforts were not that well supported.

But, we all know better when it comes to Tom. He was a Pirate Radio Legend, both as someone who was the man who held together probably the best European Short Wave pirate station we have ever heard. On top of that, he was just a genuine nice guy who would (and did) do anything he could to help other radio people out with advice and direct technical help when things went wrong.

So, if you ever listened to European Music Radio or knew Barry, can I ask you a big favour?

Can you just take a few minutes to remember him by sending a Condolence or Sympathy Card to the Crematorium where Barry’s service will be held? These will then be forwarded on to his family.

The address to use is:-

Tom Taylor Service
12.15 Monday - 12th February 2018
West Wiltshire Crematorium,
Devizes Road,
Semington,
Trowbridge.
BA14 6HL

Please address the card EXACTLY like that to ensure delivery.

The vast majority of Tom’s friends lived in the London area and with Trowbridge being a very long distance away, very many may not be able to attend. So, the cards will have an even more important place in the remembrance of Tom."

(Mark Stafford, We Love the Pirate Stations Facebook group)

Mon Feb 5

1638 2103 Radio Bluebird. Polka. SINPO 44433.
1645 2110 Radio Quadzilla. Polka. SINPO 23432.
1647 2128 Radio Armada. Report to Kristel in Dutch. SINPO 44433.
1660 2115 Radio Kristel. Dutch songs. SINPO 44433.
*3975 1645 Shortwave Radio. Scaffold with the Liver Birds theme then Slade "I Luv You." SINPO 44433.
*6210 1620 Laser Hot Hits. Moved frequency no doubt to avoid strong carrier on 6204. REO Speedwagon, then Craig David. SINPO 54444.

(via Kiwi SDR, Peterborough/ *Barneys web SDR)

eQSLs from Premier Radio and The White Man

Two eQSLs which arrived in my inbox recently - one for Radio The White Man and the other for Premier Radio Int. Many thanks!

Sun Feb 4

*1611 2143 Radio Technical Man. Corona "Rhythm of the Night." SINPO 33333.
*1637 1732 Radio DB. Polka and Dutch songs. SINPO 34333.
*1647 2135 Radio Witte Tornado. Dutch songs, talk in Dutch. SINPO 34333.
*1655 2127 Radio Relmus. Mavericks song. SINPO 44333.
6205 1015 Laser Hot Hits. A-Ha, then Racey "Some Girls Will." SINPO 44433.
6210 1003 Radio King Shortwave. Billy Joel "She's Always A Woman to Me," SINPO 33333.
6255 0958 Radio Zwarte Panter. Latin American music. SINPO 54444.
6260 0953 Radio Thunderbird. The Animals "House of the Rising Sun," SINPO 33333.
6265 1026 Radio Thunderbird. Move from 6260. "Mustang Sally," talk in German. SINPO 24332.
6265 1424 Radio Mexico. Schlager. SINPO 34333.
6283 1353 Radio Dolfijn. Dutch songs. SINPO 34333.
6290 1348 Radio Skywire. Guns N Roses "Knocking on Heavens Door." SINPO 34333.
6295 1412 Radio 102. Patrick Hernandez "Born to be Alive," SINPO 34333.
*6305 1540 Radio Merlin Int. Signal skipping over England most of today. But faded in with Toto "Africa." SINPO 34333.
6315 1437 Radio 102. Move from 6295 to avoid Reflections Europe. Bowie "Jean Genie." SINPO 34333.
6325 1405 Radio Skywire. Move from 6290. Blues music, ID. SINPO 34333.
*6885 1500 Radio Nova Int (tent). Bob Marley "Buffalo Soldier." Fair peaks. SINPO 24332.
*6940 1045 Premier Radio Int. Survivor "Eye of the Tiger," Earth Wind & Fire "Fantasy." SINPO 44433.

(via Barneys web SDR/ *Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Tom Taylor tribute programme set for February 18

Mark Stafford writes about the planned tribute programme in memory of Tom Taylor, founder of European Music Radio:

"Plans are now well under way for a one off Tribute Programme for Tom.

It will be broadcast on Sunday 18th February 2018, the symbolic 3rd Sunday of the month. It will go out via a High Power Short Wave Relay on 6070 khz, In addition it will then be streamed for the next three days on a special EMR Tribute Stream.

We have so far got guaranteed contributions from many people from the radio world who knew Tom well and who worked with him or were fellow pirate radio operators.

To many of us, Tom was very generous with his time and help and I think it is fair to say that if you were involved in running a short-wave pirate station (as I was) in its late 70's heyday, then you would have had some help and a lot of advice from Tom. I certainly did.

There was no Pirate Radio Academy to attend, for us that was a visit to Tom's house!

The Short Wave broadcast will be funded by Herbert Visser and narrated by Steve Silby, I will be providing the streaming side of things and doing the production work on the tribute.

So far we have guaranteed contributions from:
Cliff Osbourne
Pat Edison
Mark Dezzani
Peter Verbruggen
Stuart Clark
Steve Silby
Herbie Visser
Ian Biggar
Ian Harling
Mark Stafford

Plus we are very likely to have contributions from...
Nick Catford (Mike Knight) the man behind Radio Jackie.
Andy Green
and Paul Graham."

(Mark Stafford on the We Love the Pirate Stations Facebook group)

Sat Feb 3

3920 1705 Radio Mexico. ID and contact details, "Bad Moon Rising." SINPO 24332.
6205 1005 Laser Hot Hits. Mike Andrew show. Phil Oakley & Giorgio Moroder "Electric Dreams," news headlines, Roxette. SINPO 44444.
6265 1510 Radio Mexico. Schlager. Utility QRM. SINPO 33333.
6265 1630 Unid. EMR programme. SINPO 34333.
6285 0855 Radio Melkbus. ID, easy listening music. SINPO 34333.
6290 1635 Panda Radio. Electro music, utility QRM. SINPO 33333.
6291 1420 Radio Goofy. R&B music, IDs. SINPO 24332.
6305 1455 Radio Quadzilla. Boney M "Brown Girl in the Ring," fair peaks. SINPO 24332.
6305 1643 Panda Radio. Move from 6290. Sigue Sigue Sputnik. SINPO 44444.
6320 1655 Radio Joey (tent). Dance music. SINPO 55444.
6325 1617 Radio Skywire. Dutch song then Shadows "Apache," SINPO 34333.
6380 1010 Radio 319 (pres). Radio Caroline programme. SINPO 34333.
6940 1622 Premier Radio Int. Men At Work "Down Under," Petula Clark "Downtown." SINPO 44433.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Peter Verbruggen remembers Tom Taylor of EMR

Peter Verbruggen of FRS Holland writes: "I have just uploaded my personal Tom Taylor/ E.M.R.
memories. Special thanks goes out to Ian Biggar!
Surf to http://www.frsholland.nl/20-latest-news/116-in-memory-of-tom-taylor-and-e-m-r.html .

Just for your information:
There will be a tribute on SW late February. Many radio people who know Tom from past and present will participate. Of course you will be informed about time and frequency.
Apart from that (and before I heard about this great initiative from Herbert Visser) I had already decided there will be a  tribute from us at FRS as well. Hopefully in February.
Soon I hope to publish a number of reactions I have been receiving in recent days from both radio people as well as listeners.

Feel free to share your personal Tom Taylor/ Barry Stephens/ E.M.R. memories. We appreciate any contribution!

For now...have a good weekend!

73s  from all at FRSH,
Peter Verbruggen

No sign of the IRRS EMR broadcasts announced for last night and this morning. Peter also announced Laut.fm programmes. Is there are a link?

Laut.fm
Saturday February 3rd
07:00-10:00 CET          E.M.R. May 1979
10:00-11:00 CET          E.M.R.  May 1980

Sunday  February 4th ( E.M.R.'s final six broadcasts)
07:00-09:00 CET          October 16th 2016
09:00-10:00 Uhr          December 18th 2016
10:00-11:00 CET          January 15th 2017
11:00-12:00 CET          February 19th 2017
12:00-13:00 CET          March 19th 2017
13:00-14:00 CET          September 17th 2017 (final broadcast)

Fri Feb 2

*1624 2120 Radio Verona. "Barracuda," greeting Beta in Finland, then Hawkwind "Silver Machine." SINPO 23432.
*1625 2305 Radio Monte Carlo. Polka, QSO with Meteoor & Verona. SINPO 34333.
*1625 2310 Radio Meteoor. Reply to Monte Carlo. SINPO 34333.
*1646 2255 Radio Vrolijke Mijnwerker. Schlager. SINPO 54444.
*1658 2110 Radio Relmus. "War of the Worlds," "Barrels of Whisky," ID. SINPO 34333.
3920 1645 Rock Radio Network. "On the Border," "You Can Do Magic", ID just before off at 1750. SINPO 54444.
6205 1623 Laser Hot Hits. Erasure "Chorus," and Matt Bianco "Half a Minute," SINPO 44444.
6265 1630 Radio Mexico. Schlager. SINPO 34333.
6295 1615 Radio Pioneer. "Silver Lady," then polka. SINPO 34333.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England/ *Peterborough)

Thurs Feb 1

3975 1650 Shortwave Radio. Mark Stafford playing Dan Hartman "Instant Replay." SINPO 43433.
5825 1619 Radio 319 (pres). Relay of Dutch station (Mi Amigo?). Martika "Toy Soldiers." SINPO 44444.
5840 1700 World Music Radio. African music. SINPO 34333.
6265 1628 Radio Mexico. Schlager. SINPO 34333.
6298 1610 Unid. Yodelling, fast talk in Dutch, sounded like relay of FM station. SINPO 43433.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Final broadcast from European Music Radio

From Alfredo Cotroneo:

"Hello there from IRRS/NEXUS-IBA in Milan. We are back after a while, with some very sad news. Tom Taylor, also known as Barry Stephens, former founder of European Music Radio, and passionate shortwave radio enthusiast heard many times over our station, has died.

"We exchanged emails last November with Tom, and he wrote me about his illness. Tom was extremely eager to return to the air in 2018. I thought that these days he would be able to recover quickly. However, I was wrong.

"I am losing a very good friend and a passionate radio lover alike. We are all going to miss him greatly at NEXUS.

"We scheduled the last EMR program that Tom sent to us for a special broadcast over the weekend on:

i.) Friday, Feb 2, 2018, 1900-2000 UTC on 7290 kHz (150 kW to EU) and 846 kHz MW
ii.) Saturday, Feb 3, 2018, 0900-1000 UTC on 9510 kHz (150 kW to EU)

Also repeated at various other times on 846 kHz during all next week from 7PM-01 AM CET on 846 kHz to Southern Europe, and available via streaming at http://mp3.nexus.org:8000/irn.mp3.m3u

Hope Tom will be enjoying good reception from the heavens.

Keep listening to Shortwave.

(Mauno Ritola, WRTH Facebook group)

Wed Jan 31

1625 2130 Radio Pandora. Dutch songs. SINPO 44433.
1636 1818 Radio De Derde Man. Polka, ID, greetings in DT/EG. SINPO 34333.
1645 1830 Radio B4. Country music. SINPO 34333.
1665 1840 Radio Zwarte Panter. "The Night Chicago Died," SINPO 34333.
3920 1743 Mike Radio. ID, instrumental tune then a Dutch song. Powerful signal. SINPO 55544.
3935 2105 Radio Batavia. IDs, "Listen to the Band," "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes," SINPO 44433.
6205 1730 Laser Hot Hits. Mandy playing OMD "Enola Gay," The Cure "Friday I'm In Love," SINPO 54444.
6265 1748 Radio Zwarte Panter. Greetings, Dutch songs, signal at its peak before the fade. SINPO 55444.
9290 1737 Radio Spaceshuttle. Finnish music, ID. SINPO 25332.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Tributes paid to Tom Taylor of European Music Radio

Tributes have been paid to Tom Taylor, the founder of European Music Radio, who has passed away.

Back in November Tom announced he was taking a break from EMR due to Non-Hodgkin Lymphona cancer. So this is very sad news to hear.

Mark Stafford wrote on Facebook: "Just got some very bad news, Barry Stephens (Tom Taylor) of European Music Radio fame has died.

"To many of us learning the art of Pirate Radio Broadcasting in the South East of England in the 1970's, Tom was "The Governor".EMR was a class station, probably the best Short Wave Pirate in the late 70's. Barry and his colleague Roger Tate were legends.

"Tom/Barry was also a really nice guy who helped us so much. He fixed our transmitters so many times for us and taught us how important good modulation was. Tom used to tell us "you have got to have hissing sidebands, mate"! By that he meant, lots of top end so that it cut through the noise and splashed audio on the next door channel!

"Tom had a famous three wheeler Reliant Robin that the he took the EMR gear out into the woods with! We will all remember that."

Peter Verbruggen of FRS Holland writes: "For many dedicated SW free radio enthusiasts, E.M.R. was the station in the late 1970s and 1980. As from 1980 onwards E.M.R. and FRS became sister stations.

"Within a few days a memorial with some personal memories will be put on the FRS site. We will inform you via mail when it will be online.

"All of us at FRS are shocked by Tom's death. He indeed was a short wave legend. May he rest in peace."

EMR was one of the first pirate stations I remember hearing when I started listening to shortwave radio nearly 40 years ago. In those days EMR was a pirate station broadcasting from the south of England and Tom used the name "Barry Stephens."

He had started the station in 1976 and began regular third Sunday broadcasts. After being raided in 1980 the station returned via relays from other pirate stations, before closing in 1983.

In 1996 EMR returned to shortwave through Dutch relays before switching in 2002 to legal broadcasts, although remaining a "free radio" station at heart. He would also help out other pirates with advice.

I enjoyed listening to EMR over the years. May you rest in peace Tom.

Many more tributes on Mark Stafford's Facebook page.

There is much more information about EMR on the station website at www.europeanmusicradio.com

Tues Jan 30

1629 1758 Radio Moonbreker. Dutch songs. SINPO 34333.
1653 1752 Radio Bandung. Smokie "Living Next Door to Alice," SINPO 43333.
5840 1746 World Music Radio. African music. SINPO 34333.
6205 1723 Laser Hot Hits (pres). Signal fading out but music just about audible. Whistle from carrier on 6207.5. SINPO 23432.
6235 1718 The White Man Radio. Polka, numerous IDs at sign off at 1730, fair peaks. Splash from utility on 6232. SINPO 23332.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Pirates for Peace

Dear colleagues!

Members of the MIGHTY Pirates for Peace!

Lots of public PFP media transmitted their peaceful messages last year! We also want to mention the anonymous media, which are not a public member of PFP.

Hundreds of free media on the airwaves, and internet, brought out their peaceful messages and news about wrong doing of dictators. 

In fact,  almost every day you see news items on your common channels which have a relation with PIRATES FOR PEACE!  Because of that,  we noticed that organisations and governments are listening to us! And changed their behaviour in lots of cases! 

Please continue what you are doing. Say something peaceful in your regular shows,   publish images about news in countries with dictators,  transmit free  independent messages as well in free areas as in troubled areas and help each other with that! Put the logos every where you can.

ALL THE BEST AND RESPECT AND GOODWILL IN 2018!!

https://soundcloud.com/pirates4peace     WWW.PEACEPIRATEMEDIA.TK 

Mon Jan 29

3905 2125 Radio Vonkenboer. Polka. SINPO 33333.
3935 2130 Radio Batavia. Testing new transmitter. Culture Club "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me," SINPO 33333.
3975 1655 Shortwave Radio. Rolling Stones "Little Red Rooster," announcement and request for reports played over record. SINPO 44444.
5840 1700 World Music Radio. Lively soca music, slight buzzing sound. SINPO 43433.
6205 1615 Laser Hot Hits. Madonna "Like a Virgin," Rockers Revenge "Walking on Sunshine," female DJ, called Mandy I think. Signal faded soon after. SINPO 54444.
6225 2117 Laser Hot Hits. New frequency. Elvis Costello "Pump It Up," splash from strong utility on 6220. SINPO 33333.
6239 1639 Unid. ELO "Don't Bring Me Down," Steve Miller Band "Abracadabra," signal just hanging on, no ID heard. SINPO 24332.

(via Kiwi SDR, SW England)

Sun Jan 28

1620 2125 Unid. "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," "Peggy Sue." SINPO 34333.
1629 2110 Snowman Radio (tent). "Bridge Over Troubled Waters," "On My Radio," talk  in Dutch. SINPO 23332.
1638 2138 Radio Jevenerstoker. Dutch songs, wobbly carrier. SINPO 34333.

(via Kiwi SDR, Peterborough)