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Radio 1 Magazine 15th Anniversary Edition

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And as we continue our stroll through this classic magazine, it's onwards to the ON-AIR profiles.  Our quotes continue....

BACK: Adrian Juste, Tommy Vance, Paul Burnett, Richard Skinner, Paul Gambaccini, Adrian John

MIDDLE: Tony Blackburn, Annie Nightingale, Andy Peebles, Steve Wright, Noel Edmonds, Jimmy Savile

FRONT: Peter Powell, David Jensen, Mike Read, Dave Lee Travis, Simon Bates, John Peel

People who don't know, think the life of a star DJ is an easy one, but when you work at it as hard as Mike does, it is no easy life.  Presenting the Breakfast Show daily requires tremendous stamina.  There have only been four regular presenters since Radio 1 came on the air, and Mike is the only one who refuses to let the fact that he has to get up at 5.a.m every morning make any difference to his lifestyle.  No-one quite knows how he does it but he is always ready to party, or take in a concert in the evenings yet he is never short tempered the next day.  Nothing seems to bother him and his happy relaxed temperament comes across in the delivery of his programme, which is why he is so popular.  He seems to have boundless energy.  Just recently in a couple of months, he had to complete a book on The Shadows, record for television a new series of 'Pop Quiz' programmes, compere the 'Battle of the Bands' and the TSB Rock School Contest, chair the Marathon Music Quiz, non-stop for 32 hours and 25 minutes and present the Breakfast Show every morning.  On top of that he plays a lot of cricket, tennis, and is working on an idea for a musical. 

When asked, Mike Read, Radio 1's popular breakfast DJ, said that his favourite artist over the past fifteen years has been David Bowie, and with hits like 'Jean Jeanie, 'Space Oddity' and 'Life on Mars', it's a tribute David well deserves.  Mike's favourite group of 1981 was the highly successful rock band 'The Jam'. 

The young David Jensen, aka 'Kid' who came from Canada to Europe in 1968 has grown into a mature presenter of a wide variety of programmes from Radio 1's B.15 on Sunday afternoons to his own Rock Show on Mondays to Thursdays 8-10pm.  Although David had worked for Radio Luxembourg and Radio Trent before joining us, he thinks it was the opportunities he had in American Television during a year's absence which gave him the ability to handle a wide variety of subjects in an interesting way.  Whilst in Atlanta, Georgia, David presented the hour long evening news show for TBS and also another series 'Nice People' which involved views with all kinds of personalities.  

Life in the USA did not really appeal to David and his wife Gudrun, and they both wanted to bring up their two children, David 'Kid' Junior and Anna Lisa in the UK, so they came back last year (1981).  Since his return, he has worked for BBCTV and TVS, the new commercial TV station serving the South of England, and he is constantly in demand for personal appearances and voice-overs as well as doing his daily Radio 1 programme.  'It's a busy life' says David, 'but I am glad we made the decision to come back.  I missed the British pubs, football and the rain!'.  David's favourite group of 1981 is Japan.  For 1982, David's favourite band is Sheffield's ABC.

He must rate as one of the newer fellas who has had a lot of success on Radio 1 in a short time.  He's only been with us for just over two years and in that time he has presented his own Saturday night show, had a spell on the Breakfast Show, is a regular host on TV's Top Of The Pops, does film reviews for Stayin' Alive on Mondays and now has his own show every afternoon from 2-4:30pm.

Born in Greenwich in August 1954, Steve Wright always wanted to work in the entertainment business.  he ran the radio station in Eastwood High School for boys in Essex then on leaving, did a variety of jobs before getting a job in the Record Library at the BBC.  In 1975, he left the BBC to gain more experience and worked for a number of commercial set ups finishing up in Reading at Thames Valley Radio where me met and worked with Mike Read on the 'Read and Wright Show'.  From there he moved to Radio Luxembourg for a year or so before coming to Radio 1 in January 1980.  He just loves New York and whenever he gets a few days off he buys a cheap ticket and hops across the pond to see what's happening on the radio front on the other side of the Atlantic.  He likes the pace of US radio and incorporates and adapts ideas he hears there for his own programme which does make him a very competitive and popular DJ with the audience.  Steve Wright is definitely one to watch, a DJ in a hurry who is going to go a long way.  Steve's favourite group of 1982 is The Human League. 

Tommy, who presents the award winning 'Friday Rock Show' at 10pm on Fridays and the Top 40 at 5pm on Sundays, is one of the most experienced presenters in British Broadcasting.  He ran away to sea when he was only 16 and was bitten by the radio bug when he got to New York and heard veteran rock 'n' roll DJ Alan Freed.  When he landed back in Britain, the nearest he could get to being a DJ was to work as a jukebox mechanic.  From there, he went to Belfast where he worked as an assistant Stage Manager in the Theatre company run by James Ellis.  This was good experience but it wasn't turning him into a DJ so he went back to America where he drove across the continent to Vancouver. Eventually, after countless auditions, he got a job working in Washington State as Rick West.  Later with some experience behind him, he moved to Seattle where a job was going and the station already had a set of jingles for a DJ called Tommy Vance, so T.V on the Radio became a reality.  When he returned to the UK, it was to join up on the ships as a pirate until 1967 when he came ashore to work for Radio 1.  He also worked for the BBC World Service and still broadcasts regularly on the British Forces Broadcasting Service.  He left Radio 1 for a while to work for commercial radio, but came back again after four years to join Radio 1 as one of our best known voices. 

Peter Powell joined the station five years ago (1977) and his familiar cry 'hello mate' as he greets his broadcasting colleagues in Egton House is well known and frequently impersonated by his friend Mike Read.  Peter, always game for a laugh, or a dare, is known as Radio 1's answer to Superman.  

He is the one who always gets nominated to do the parachute jump out of an aircraft, climb up or down a mountain, or swim the rapids.  It it's dangerous, Peter will have a go, especially if there's a good radio piece and a photo for the local press in it.   He presents the popular 4.30-7.00pm Show Monday to Thursday as well as Top Of The Pops and his own Saturday morning TV series 'Get Set'. 

Currently he is driving either a new four door Range Rover or a Porsche.  The former is used to tow his power boat or sailing dinghy and the latter to drive up and down the country to the numerous personal appearances he makes.  Other hobbies are ski-ing, squash, tennis and football.  He supports Wolverhampton Wanderers.  He is popular with everyone and a really great guy so it was no surprise that he recently (1982) won the Carl Alan Award for being live entertainments best DJ.  

                                                                  'The Pied Peter of Pop' with Radio 1 chums >

Today's music and horses don't exactly go together unless you happen to be Simon Bates, he loves both.  The morning man on Radio 1 since 1977, Simon is a firm favourite with those who cannot get up early enough to hear the excesses of Mike Read, and those who are left behind after others have gone to school or work. 

By the time he has arrived at the BBC studio at 7:30am, Simon has probably been up for a couple of hours, mucked out and fed the twenty or so trusty steeds that he and his wife Carolyn breed on their farm in Surrey and eaten a hearty breakfast.  He's a regular Phil Archer, is Simon, for those that follow the everyday story of country folk and his car is usually full of bales of hay, riding tack and the latest record releases.  At Radio 1 we wouldn't be at all surprised to see him arrive on a horse one day and tie it up outside!  He'll be asking for a hitching rail to be installed in Portland Place soon.

All of that contrasts with his DJ work, listen to his superb delivery each day, the Birthday File, Our Tune, and all the other items of information he mixes in with his music.  He is a great professional in every sense of the word and it should be no surprise to listeners that this year (1982) Simon will be seen a lot more on BBC Television.  Already a success on Top Of The Pops he has a new series coming up later in the Autumn which looks like being a winner.  Joan Armatrading is Simon's favourite artist this year. 

                                         Mucking out, and mucking in - Simon Bates for Radio 1 >

Back from the USA for a springtime session on the station where he first appeared when it opened on September 30th 1967.  Rosko, alias Mike Pasternak, now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Heidi (Baroness von Thiel) and their two dogs.  He went back there to live when his father, Hollywood film Producer Joe Pasternak, was taken ill. 

Nowadays, Rosko is an international commuter being in demand in countries as far apart as Norway, France, South Africa and the UK. His international Roadshow is seen in clubs and discos around the World.  Presenting this and his DJ shows on various radio stations means that he doesn't get much leisure, but when he does have time off, it's spent camping and hunting in the Arizona Desert.  'Nights in the open air, under the stars, keep life in perspective', says Rosko. 

In March 1974, we decided that Radio 1 couldn't exist any longer without the services of a young man who was making a name for himself on Radio Luxembourg.  His name was Paul Burnett.  He had started broadcasting overseas with the Aden Forces Broadcasting Association but by 1966 had decided to quit the RAF in order to become a pirate.  He joined Radio 270, then Manx Radio before moving to the Continent.  It was in Luxembourg that he met Nicole, an air stewardess who became his wife.  Noel Edmonds and David Jensen, who are his closest friends. 

When David and his wife lived in Atlanta, USA, Paul and Nicole, with their two boys Darren and Philip, went to visit them for a holiday and they all went to Disney World in Florida.  Paul loves the USA and most of his holidays are spent touring there, usually in a large motor home.  His other hobbies are the cinema, he is an avid fan of old movies, and swimming - he has his own pool at the rear of his house in Windsor. 

On weekdays, he does voice-overs for Radio and TV or makes numerous personal appearances up and down the country.  He drives more miles than almost any other DJ as he tries to get back on the same evening and no matter what time he arrives he always makes a cup of tea before going to bed.  Quite an advert for the 'T-set' is Paul.  On Radio 1, he can be heard regularly on Saturdays from 10-1pm, and during the Summer on the Radio 1 Roadshow.  Paul Burnett's favourite artist over the past 15 years (1967-1982) has been Elvis Costello. 

In Radio 1's first fifteen years, one name stands out.  Tony Blackburn's.  He's been there since the start and in the interim, has had a go at nearly every programme.  he made his name on The Breakfast Show with his cheerful delivery, lots of gags and jingles, a tightly formatted blend of music oldies, "revived 45s", hits, "chartbound sounds" and a few '"newspins".  He did this for six years until 1973 when he was moved into the mid-morning slot.  Later he did the afternoons then the Top 40 on Sunday.  He frequently appears on the Radio 1 Roadshow for the Summer Tour where he is one of the most popular performers.  His particular brand of warm-up never fails to get the audience going, his ploy is to stand on stage and tell them how lucky they are to be able to see him, and photograph him, in the flesh!  In other words he is not afraid to send himself up and the audience love him for it.

Nowadays he is the regular host of his own Saturday and Sunday morning shows aimed at the younger audience and this together with a daily afternoon show on BBC Radio London means that he is on the air seven days a week.  On Radio London, he interviews a wide variety of guests from Tony Benn to Andy Williams and it is in this direction that Tony sees his career progressing.  On his weekend shows, he has recently made some changes, formerly known as 'Junior Choice', they were simply request programmes for youngsters, but Tony felt quite rightly that they had become rather dated, so at his instigation, the format has been broadened to incorporate visits by interesting guests, phone calls, listeners correspondence and assistance from Keith Chegwin, Maggie Philbin, David Rider and Toni Arthur.

As far as hobbies are concerned, Tony doesn't have all that much free time.  When he has, he likes to spend it with his son, Simon, or if he is in his car, he can be seen still at the microphone, broadcasting in an amateur way, via his C.B rig.  'Jockey One' is his handle and he is a real fanatic.  If you've got a C.B yourself, and you can see him on the road, call up for a quick 'copy' - he may be 'reading the mail' and you can arrange an 'eyeball' to collect an autograph or two.  He has also recently opened a shop in Kensington selling C.B rigs - or if you go in there, you may find him serving behind the counter.  One thing Tony believes about C.B is that it should be fun to use and people shouldn't be put off by all the jargon.  He thinks a lot of people don't have a 'rig' because they don't know the meaning of expressions like those printed above - he is all for plain English being spoken on the airwaves.  Tony's best group of 1981 is Bucks Fizz.

Andy Peebles is a London lad who left town to find his radio future on the airwaves of Manchester's Piccadilly Radio.  From there he came to join us in November 1978.  He has presented a number of different programmes on Radio 1 but his biggest, and saddest, scoop was the last interview with John Lennon just before his murder in New York in December 1980.  It was subsequently broadcast, with music, as a tribute to the ex-Beatle and heard not just on Radio 1 but around the World.  

Andy also interviews the subjects picking 'My Top 12' as well as narrating the 'Record Producers' series.  His regular weekly shows are 'Stayin' Alive' 7-8pm on Mondays and his special blend of music and sport for three hours every Friday 7-10pm.  Sport is not just a job though it is a major interest for Andy who follows cricket, Rugby Union, football and Manchester City.  He is also a very keen photographer who takes his Olympus with him to all his sports matches and recording locations.  Andy Peebles' favourite band for 1982 is Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.  

Jimmy Savile was born the oldest of seven children in a terraced house in Leeds, Yorkshire. His father was a bookmaker's clerk, and Jimmy left school at 14 to become a coalface worker at Waterloo Colliery in Leeds.  In 1961 he became assistant manager of the Locarno, Leeds and made his first appearance as a DJ for commercial radio.  Jimmy Savile joined the BBC Radio 1 team in June 1968 with the very popular 'Savile's Travels' in which he toured the country chatting to people and playing pop records.  Jimmy Savile has his own show on BBC TV - 'Jim'll Fix It' and sometimes presents 'Top Of The Pops' as well as writing a weekly newspaper column.  

In September 1969, he presented 'Speak Easy', a one hour weekly discussion programme on Radio 1 preceded by the 'Double Top Ten Show'.  This chart programme - featuring records from the past - is now incorporated in 'Jimmy Savile's Old Record Club' which can be heard on Sundays between 12.30 and 2.30pm.  His favourite artist over the past fifteen years (1967-1982) has been Stevie Wonder.  

Richard Skinner was born in Portsmouth and went to the Grammar School there.  An interest in broadcasting developed whilst he was a reporter on the Portsmouth News and he became a founder member of the local hospital broadcasting service.  In 1971, he started working full time for the BBC as a station assistant on BBC Radio Solent.  

From there he joined the Newsbeat Team in 1973.  He now introduces the Radio 1 programmes 'Roundtable' (Fridays 5.45pm), which looks at the week's new record releases, and 'Rock On' (Saturdays 5pm) which features music, news, interviews and full coverage of the national and international rock scene.  

One of the pioneers of Radio 1, John Peel lives for his work.  Most of his waking hours are spent listening to music, preparing his programme or writing about it for the music press.  Any spare time he has is spent listening to The Archers, he is a founder member of the Eddie Grundy Fan Club, or more importantly, following the fortunes of Liverpool and so great is his love of the team that he named one of his sons after Kenny Dalglish - being Thomas James Dalglish II, the other two children are also named in honour of the club being respectively - William Robert Anfield and Alexandra Mary Anfield.  

His knowledge of his subject is encyclopaedic and his quite style of presentation is such a contrast to the other DJs that it may go some way to explain why he has been such a survivor.  Earlier this year (1982), after a 14 year absence, he was invited back to present an edition of Top Of The Pops - he brought to it such a fresh approach that he was an instant success with everyone and more bookings followed.  If he isn't careful, by appearing on television, he will destroy the very thing he has been anxious to cultivate, his anonymity.  His nature is such that he tends to find the idea of people asking for his autograph something of a joke, but with TV putting him on the show regularly, he may find he is not laughing quite so much.  It is no wonder that with so much talent and enthusiasm, he regularly tops music press polls as top rock music DJ.  

Adrian John came to Radio 1 almost via the back door - a home grown DJ who began his association with the station when he was spotted by Peter Powell at a gig.  Peter suggested Adrian sent in a tape and he started doing trailers for The Radio Times and moved on from there.  Apart from radio work, Adrian has been responsible for the National in-store promotion of The Burton Group of Companies.  

He can currently (1982) be seen during the daytime in the West One Shopping Centre in London's Oxford Street entertaining visitors to London.He loves swimming and music and when not working is out and about with his video camera making home made TV movies.  His Saturday morning show 7-8a.m contains non-abrasive music to start your weekend and looks ahead to some of the week's happenings.  

Anne Nightingale who hosts the Radio 1 programme 'Mailbag' (Wednesdays 7pm) has very strong views about radio.  She says "It's the best and simplest form of media communication.  There are no editors, no barriers to making a direct link with the person on the receiving end.  I love being on the air."  Radio 1 presenter Anne is in a good position to compare the relative merits of different media outlets, having covered just about all of them since beginning as a 'journalist who hated writing' with the Brighton Argus.  On television, he has hosted a pop request series for ITV, guested on 'Juke Box Jury' and 'A Whole Scene Going' and appeared on most of the TV talk shows.  She can now be seen on BBC-tv's 'Old Grey Whistle Test'.

Radio? 'I sort of fell into it, doing some short news pieces for programmes like 'Today', interviews for 'Scene and Heard' and eventually a magazine programme from Brighton around 1969 called 'Pop Inside'.  The only straight disc jockey experience she had on radio before her 'What's New?' spot for Radio 1 had been a few programmes on Radio Luxembourg.  She sent a tape to the then controller of Radio 1, Douglas Muggeridge, and landed a job and a title she didn't relish - Radio 1's only girl DJ.  She has a husband, 'Binky', and two children - Alexander and Lucy.  

Self described as a 'Radio Nutcase', Adrian Juste was born in Kirby Muxloe near Leicester.  He went to Guthlaxton Grammar School and worked as a motor mechanic and shoe salesman until he got into radio in 1974.  He worked at different times on both commercial and BBC local radio in the Midlands before joining Radio 1 in April 1978.  

Adrian's quick fire cutting from music to clips of comedy tapes and back again - is reminiscent of the late Jack Jackson.  In the past few years, he has built a complete stereo radio studio in the lounge of his Midlands home and it is here that he assembles his weekly programme broadcast between 1-2pm on Saturdays.  Above the studio incidentally is a large water bed where Adrian relaxes when he is not recording.  If it should develop a leak one day then he won't just have water on the brain, it will be water in the mains - shocking!

Earlier this Summer (1982), most of you will have heard Mike Read present his Breakfast Show from a boat cruising up the Thames - with him were two other guys making up 'Three Men In A Boat'.  One of the two other guys was Noel Edmonds - more of him elsewhere - and the other was our all American hero - Paul Gambaccini.  

He already crossed one expanse of water, the Atlantic Ocean to get here and started working for us in 1973 - who would have thought that nine years later he would still be messing about in boats?  Paul is not only a good broadcaster, he is also a knowledgeable writer, his work is published in a variety of magazines and pop/rock journals and with Mike Read and Tim Rice, he is the author of the 'Guinness Book of Hit Singles'.  His knowledge is encyclopaedic and at Easter 1982 he was the Captain of the Radio 1 Team competing in the Marathon Music Quiz for an epic 32 hours 25 minutes.

His regular weekly show is heard on Saturdays 2-4pm when he looks at what is happening in the Charts in the USA and he has recently been heard presenting his own appreciations of major rock figures on Sunday afternoons 4-5pm.

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