BUY NOW
$2 of every book purchase will be donated to KOWS Community Radio,
Sonoma County, California
He scrambles over icy London rooftops in the dead of night, a still-warm illegal transmitter under his arm, with police in hot pursuit. What else would you expect from someone who loves Dr. Who, Monty Python, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, although he’s more Arthur Dent than Ford Prefect. Delve into the world of El Supremo, a shy kid who found his voice and passion in the world of Pirate Radio…
He scrambles over icy London rooftops in the dead of night, a still-warm illegal transmitter under his arm, with police in hot pursuit. What else would you expect from someone who loves Dr. Who, Monty Python, and the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, although he’s more Arthur Dent than Ford Prefect. Delve into the world of El Supremo, a shy kid who found his voice and passion in the world of Pirate Radio…
Pirate Radio - 1970s London
When the pirate radio ships were banned by the British government in 1967, their legacy was continued by clandestine land-based pirates, risking capture at every broadcast to break the BBC’s radio monopoly.
Co-founding notorious Radio Concord in 1971 until 1977, this personal memoir spans the never-before-told inside story of pirate radio, squatting, punk music, social issues, and revolutionary politics I experienced in the demi-monde of London in the 1960s and 70s.
Why was my phone tapped? What made the police, Special Branch, crime reporters, and even the post office pursue me? Free speech, and privacy rights come at a steep price in any age, as we now know in this post-Manning, Assange and Snowden world.
Highlights include squatting the Queen’s Windsor Castle Great Park, scaling Mick Jagger’s House, befriending Joe Strummer, and dancing naked at a Stonehenge Free Festival. Mingle with hippies, judges, intellectuals, politicians, techies, artists and rock stars. For life context, I include experiences at Jimi Hendrix’s disastrous last concert, crashing a Rolling Stones private rehearsal, and a motorbike ride with Bison in the Badlands…
Pirate Radio - 1970s London
When the pirate radio ships were banned by the British government in 1967, their legacy was continued by clandestine land-based pirates, risking capture at every broadcast to break the BBC’s radio monopoly.
Co-founding notorious Radio Concord in 1971 until 1977, this personal memoir spans the never-before-told inside story of pirate radio, squatting, punk music, social issues, and revolutionary politics I experienced in the demi-monde of London in the 1960s and 70s.
Why was my phone tapped? What made the police, Special Branch, crime reporters, and even the post office pursue me? Free speech, and privacy rights come at a steep price in any age, as we now know in this post-Manning, Assange and Snowden world.
Highlights include squatting the Queen’s Windsor Castle Great Park, scaling Mick Jagger’s House, befriending Joe Strummer, and dancing naked at a Stonehenge Free Festival. Mingle with hippies, judges, intellectuals, politicians, techies, artists and rock stars. For life context, I include experiences at Jimi Hendrix’s disastrous last concert, crashing a Rolling Stones private rehearsal, and a motorbike ride with Bison in the Badlands…
REVIEWS
REVIEWS
“Banned by the BBC” song by Three Bonzos and a Piano
“Banned by the BBC” song by
Three Bonzos and a Piano
Arnold M.D. Levine
Born and raised in a London council house from 1950, Arnold grew up during the war-rebuilding England of the 50s and 60s, and experienced that exhilarating, creative yet culturally challenging era that still echoes so much in today’s realities. His three older siblings introduced him to a wide range of music at a young age.
State schools, an apprenticeship, work, and college in mechanical engineering in the 60s, then more engineering work, pirate radio and the squatting movement in the 70s kept him occupied.
Living and working in San Francisco for thirty years, he was a construction consultant and had an energy conservation business. He helped raise a daughter and was involved with civic activism for playgrounds, parks, native gardens, Treasure Island redevelopment, and saving and refurbishing historic buildings.
Since moving to Sonoma County he is now retired, and has had a weekly show called Tommy’s Holiday Camp on KOWS Community Radio for over twelve years, and helps local community groups.
Arnold M.D. Levine
Born and raised in a London council house from 1950, Arnold grew up during the war-rebuilding England of the 50s and 60s, and experienced that exhilarating, creative yet culturally challenging era that still echoes so much in today’s realities. His three older siblings introduced him to a wide range of music at a young age.
State schools, an apprenticeship, work, and college in mechanical engineering in the 60s, then more engineering work, pirate radio and the squatting movement in the 70s kept him occupied.
Living and working in San Francisco for thirty years, he was a construction consultant and had an energy conservation business. He helped raise a daughter and was involved with civic activism for playgrounds, parks, native gardens, Treasure Island redevelopment, and saving and refurbishing historic buildings.
Since moving to Sonoma County he is now retired, and has had a weekly show called Tommy’s Holiday Camp on KOWS Community Radio for over twelve years, and helps local community groups.
Contact Arnold
Contact Arnold