A four-part journey through 45 years of student radio in New Zealand - the stars and bands who got their breaks, the politics, the music, the piracy and the ‘No. 8 wire’, sink or swim mentality.
1984 Radio Active co-managers Linda Dale and Stu Birch. Photo: supplied by Stu Birch
From the humble homemade AM transmitters illegally manned by tech-nerds on islands around Auckland for limited weeks of the university term, campus radio stations rapidly evolved into a beacon for music-lovers, on-air talkers and people who never finished their degrees. We talk to some of characters who set the template for student radio in New Zealand - breaking rules, records, and radio transmitters.
Voices in Episode 1
John Campbell, Debbie Gibbs, Michael Higgins, Roy Torlesse, Mark Cubey, Andrew Dickens, Andrew Glennie, Stephen Parker, Graham Cockcroft, David Read, Sue Dempsey, Jacquie Riddell, Charles Mabbett, Jim Scott, Russell Brown, and Max Christofferson.
Radio U Station Manager Michael Higgins. Photo: supplied by Michael Higgins
Music Details
Artist: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band
Song: Good Morning Little School Girl
Composer: Butterfield
Album: What's Shakin'
Label: Elektra
Artist: Elmore James
Song: Dust My Broom
Composer: James
Album: The Sky Is Crying
Label: Charley
Artist: Emerson Lake and Palmer
Song: Great Gates Of Kiev
Composer: Mussorgsky/Lake
Album: Pictures At An Exhibition
Label: Rhino
Artist: Adnan Othman & The Wanderers
Song: Revolusi
Composer: Othman
Album: Pop Yeh Yeh - Spychedelic Rock from Singapore and Malaysia 1964-1970
Label: Sublime Frequencies
Artist: The Clean
Song: Anything Could Happen
Composer: Kilgour/Kilgour
Album: The Clean Anthology
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Netherworld Dancing Toys
Song: The Trusted Ones
Composer: Sampson, Fanning, Cockroft, Trubuhovich
Album: 12” Single
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Joy Division
Song: Transmission
Composer: Curtis
Album: The Very Best Of Joy Division
Label: London
Artist: Kraftwerk
Song: Radioland, Airwaves
Composer: Hutter, Schneider, Schult)
Album: Radio-Activity
Label: Capitol
Artist: The Scavengers
Song: Mysterex
Composer: The Scavengers
Album: AK79
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Sneaky Feelings
Song: Won’t Change
Composer: Bannister/Pine
Album: Waiting for Touchdown
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Skeptics
Song: Boo-Chang / New Barking Riff
Composer: Skeptics
Album: Chowder Over Wisconsin
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Suicide
Song: Diamonds, Fur Coat, Champagne
Composer: Vega/Rev
Album: Suicide: Alan Vega and Martin Rev
Label: Ze
Artist: The Bats
Song: I Go Wild
Composer: Scott/The Bats
Album: By Night
Label: I Go Wild
Artist: Aotearoa
Song: Maranga Ake Ai
Composer: Williams
Album: Tihei Mauriora
Label: Jayrem
Artist: Herbs
Song: French Letter
Composer: Fonoti
Album: Sensitive To A Smile
Label: Warrior
Artist: Look Blue Go Purple
Song: Safety In Crosswords
Composer: Look Blue Go Purple
Album: Bewitched EP
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Verlaines
Song: Death And The Maiden
Composer: Downes
Album: Juvenilia
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: Screaming Meemees
Song: Pointy Ears
Composer: Screaming Meemees
Album: Screaming Meemees: Stars In My Eyes, Songs & Singles 1979-81 (Compilation)
Label: Propeller
Artist: Blam Blam Blam
Song: Don’t Fight It Marsha, It’s Bigger Than The Both Of Us
Composer: McGlashan
Album: Luxury Length
Label: Propeller
Artist: The Chills
Song: I Love My Leather Jacket
Composer: Phillips
Album: 7” Single
Label: Flying Nun
Artist: New Order
Song: Blue Monday
Composer: New Order
Album: Power, Corruption & Lies
Label: Factory
