If you didn’t know any better, the shed in Deke Duncan’s backyard seemed like just that:
An ordinary shed.
But put your ear to the shed’s door (between the hours of 7pm and midnight, that is), and you’d soon realize this shed was, well…
No ordinary shed at all.
A story:
An ordinary shed.
But put your ear to the shed’s door (between the hours of 7pm and midnight, that is), and you’d soon realize this shed was, well…
No ordinary shed at all.
A story:
We start in 1965 on a picturesque summer day in Wales.
Deke Duncan, a rock-obsessed 20-year old, cruises down the highway, right along the coast.
But even with the windows down and the wind in his face, there is still something missing from Deke's seemingly perfect day:
Music.
Deke Duncan, a rock-obsessed 20-year old, cruises down the highway, right along the coast.
But even with the windows down and the wind in his face, there is still something missing from Deke's seemingly perfect day:
Music.
You see, back then, if you turned on the radio in England, you were inevitably gonna get the BBC news, or worse:
‘Establishment’ music – the kind of shit that put you to sleep.
In short, English radio in the 60s was a snooze fest, especially for a headbanger like Deke Duncan.
‘Establishment’ music – the kind of shit that put you to sleep.
In short, English radio in the 60s was a snooze fest, especially for a headbanger like Deke Duncan.
So for Deke and his friend in the car that day?
The car radio is best turned…off.
That is, until, Deke’s friend proposes something.
Something preposterous.
"There’s a pirate radio station anchored somewhere around here.
Why don’t we tune in and have a listen to it?"
The car radio is best turned…off.
That is, until, Deke’s friend proposes something.
Something preposterous.
"There’s a pirate radio station anchored somewhere around here.
Why don’t we tune in and have a listen to it?"
A pirate radio station?
"Wtf is that?" you ask.
In essence, it’s a station that broadcasts without a valid license, and in the 1960s, most British pirate radio stations broadcasted from, well… you guessed it:
Ships.
Offshore.
In international waters.
"Wtf is that?" you ask.
In essence, it’s a station that broadcasts without a valid license, and in the 1960s, most British pirate radio stations broadcasted from, well… you guessed it:
Ships.
Offshore.
In international waters.
In search of this so-called ‘pirate radio’, Deke carefully turns the dial one notch at a time, DESPERATE to get a signal, until, to his absolute bewilderment, the most beautiful sequence of beats and music he’s EVER heard comes roaring out the car speakers.
Eureka.
Eureka.
But for Deke, the stars of the radio show aren’t the bands, no.
It’s the DJs.
Deke listens in awe, astounded by how they "talk over the introduction, right up to the vocal line."
"This is sonic artwork," Deke says.
"Compared to the BBC, this is a revolution."
It’s the DJs.
Deke listens in awe, astounded by how they "talk over the introduction, right up to the vocal line."
"This is sonic artwork," Deke says.
"Compared to the BBC, this is a revolution."
Deke's only 20, but after having his first dose of Pirate Radio, he knows very well that being a radio DJ - just like the ones he's hearing - is his calling.
In an eager rush, he rings the BBC.
"I’d like to be a DJ on radio!" he pleads.
Ha.
The BBC laughs.
In an eager rush, he rings the BBC.
"I’d like to be a DJ on radio!" he pleads.
Ha.
The BBC laughs.
"This is a very, very precarious way to earn a living for a young man like you," the BBC says giggling.
"I suggest you go away and get yourself a real job."
Deke is dejected.
Devastated.
But that sure as hell won’t stop him.
"I suggest you go away and get yourself a real job."
Deke is dejected.
Devastated.
But that sure as hell won’t stop him.
Deke borrows a tape recorder from his brother.
He finds a mic.
He then buys a job lot of second hand radio jingles - you know, the ones that play in between songs - from a US radio station called WABC 77.
And these jingles are good.
Reeeaaal good..
He finds a mic.
He then buys a job lot of second hand radio jingles - you know, the ones that play in between songs - from a US radio station called WABC 77.
And these jingles are good.
Reeeaaal good..
Deke calls ‘em…
"Amazing jingles."
And he just cannot contain himself. I mean, they sound like the real thing!
So after playing around with these random US radio station’s jingles, he edits out the 'WABC' in 'WABC 77' and just like that…
'Radio 77' is born.
"Amazing jingles."
And he just cannot contain himself. I mean, they sound like the real thing!
So after playing around with these random US radio station’s jingles, he edits out the 'WABC' in 'WABC 77' and just like that…
'Radio 77' is born.
Before he knows it, Deke's in his bedroom frantically poking at his borrowed tape recorder to play the latest Top 40 Hits, only to stop periodically to sensually whisper weather updates into his mic.
The only issue?
No one's listening.
Radio 77’s not connected to the airwaves!
The only issue?
No one's listening.
Radio 77’s not connected to the airwaves!
This is all just practice, you see.
Deke improves his craft day by day, and in 1967, Deke - with an eye patch and wood leg - applies to DJ for a pirate station called Radio North Sea aboard 'Mebo II' in Dutch waters.
He sends in his Radio 77 portfolio...
And gets the gig.
Deke improves his craft day by day, and in 1967, Deke - with an eye patch and wood leg - applies to DJ for a pirate station called Radio North Sea aboard 'Mebo II' in Dutch waters.
He sends in his Radio 77 portfolio...
And gets the gig.
But Deke never makes it on board.
Shortly before his first day, Mebo II is blown to smithereens by a rival station scared of competition.
Radio North Sea’s impending climb to radio fame comes to a screeching halt…
And so too does Deke’s dream of being a radio DJ.
For now.
Shortly before his first day, Mebo II is blown to smithereens by a rival station scared of competition.
Radio North Sea’s impending climb to radio fame comes to a screeching halt…
And so too does Deke’s dream of being a radio DJ.
For now.
Deke retreats to a life on land and gets a job in construction in Stevenage, a suburb just 30 miles north of London.
And while Deke finds Stevenage to be a bit of a sleepy town, he does find a lick of life at the local club, who - as it turns out - is looking for a part-time DJ.
And while Deke finds Stevenage to be a bit of a sleepy town, he does find a lick of life at the local club, who - as it turns out - is looking for a part-time DJ.
Deke scores this gig, too.
But instead of playing club DJ ("I need you to scream!!!!!!"), Deke plays...
Radio DJ.
He invigorates the club with weather forecasts and radio jingles and commentary on the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the A1…
…And people f-cking love it.
But instead of playing club DJ ("I need you to scream!!!!!!"), Deke plays...
Radio DJ.
He invigorates the club with weather forecasts and radio jingles and commentary on the bumper-to-bumper traffic on the A1…
…And people f-cking love it.
Deke's a busy man.
Not only does he maintain his 9-5 job in construction…and not only does he spend his weekends at the Stevenage local, but every night, Deke also CONTINUES producing Radio 77…
From his bedroom.
That’s right.
No fans. No listeners.
Just Deke and his mic.
Not only does he maintain his 9-5 job in construction…and not only does he spend his weekends at the Stevenage local, but every night, Deke also CONTINUES producing Radio 77…
From his bedroom.
That’s right.
No fans. No listeners.
Just Deke and his mic.
Deke’s friends Rich and Clive catch wind of this and lose their minds.
A bedroom is absolutely no place from which Stevenage’s best radio DJ should play…right?
And so enter into our story:
The Shed.
A bedroom is absolutely no place from which Stevenage’s best radio DJ should play…right?
And so enter into our story:
The Shed.
Deke, Rich, and Clive scrap some pounds together and build a fit-for-purpose studio in an inconspicuous shed in Deke’s backyard.
And in the blink of an eye, the three of ‘em are hosting a daily radio show, where they make up the news, the weather, and just about everything else.
And in the blink of an eye, the three of ‘em are hosting a daily radio show, where they make up the news, the weather, and just about everything else.
But to say there STILL aren’t any listeners to Radio 77 would be a lie.
There is.
It’s Deke’s wife, Teresa, who’s listening from the living room just a few feet away.
There is.
It’s Deke’s wife, Teresa, who’s listening from the living room just a few feet away.
"That was always in the background," Teresa says.
"When he got home from work, he'd have his dinner and go out there until 12 o'clock at night, every night."
"It was so much fun," Deke adds.
"I just wanted to do it forever."
"When he got home from work, he'd have his dinner and go out there until 12 o'clock at night, every night."
"It was so much fun," Deke adds.
"I just wanted to do it forever."
And do it forever, Deke would.
Weeks, months, and YEARS go by with Radio 77 blaring out of Deke’s living room speaker.
If Teresa’s awake, the station has one listener.
If she’s dozed off, then zero.
Until, of course, the BBC comes knocking on the shed’s door in 1974.
Weeks, months, and YEARS go by with Radio 77 blaring out of Deke’s living room speaker.
If Teresa’s awake, the station has one listener.
If she’s dozed off, then zero.
Until, of course, the BBC comes knocking on the shed’s door in 1974.
But no, it’s not the BBC’s legal team issuing a cease and desist.
It’s the BBC’s Nationwide show (similar to the US’s 60 Minutes).
They’ve heard murmurs of a Radio 77 operating out of a shed…
And they do a segment on Deke.
See below.
It’s the BBC’s Nationwide show (similar to the US’s 60 Minutes).
They’ve heard murmurs of a Radio 77 operating out of a shed…
And they do a segment on Deke.
See below.
The piece, however, falls flat.
BBC viewers take no interest in Deke or Radio 77, and then, as it does…
Life happens.
Deke and Teresa have a child.
Then a second.
Then a third.
By the 1980s, Radio 77 is no more.
"I was quite sad," Deke says.
“Actually, I was very sad.”
BBC viewers take no interest in Deke or Radio 77, and then, as it does…
Life happens.
Deke and Teresa have a child.
Then a second.
Then a third.
By the 1980s, Radio 77 is no more.
"I was quite sad," Deke says.
“Actually, I was very sad.”
And then, life happens to Deke…even worse.
A failed DJ experiment in the US.
A divorce.
A heart attack.
Deke had spent over a decade - nearly his entire adult life - broadcasting to only one person…
But he’s never felt more alone than he does now.
A failed DJ experiment in the US.
A divorce.
A heart attack.
Deke had spent over a decade - nearly his entire adult life - broadcasting to only one person…
But he’s never felt more alone than he does now.
Shit gets harder.
One night, a band of thieves breaks into his car and takes everything, including his most prized possession:
Cassette recordings of his heyday on Radio 77.
As one interviewer puts it:
"Now, Radio 77 was truly, finally gone…
Just like his family."
One night, a band of thieves breaks into his car and takes everything, including his most prized possession:
Cassette recordings of his heyday on Radio 77.
As one interviewer puts it:
"Now, Radio 77 was truly, finally gone…
Just like his family."
Deke moves on from his DJ life.
Or at least tries.
He falls head over heels and remarries. Her name is Pamela and they’ve been tight since the 70s.
But despite his newfound love, he can't get rid of the incessant pinging in the back of his head:
Those damn radio jingles.
Or at least tries.
He falls head over heels and remarries. Her name is Pamela and they’ve been tight since the 70s.
But despite his newfound love, he can't get rid of the incessant pinging in the back of his head:
Those damn radio jingles.
"I would DREAM about Radio 77," Deke says.
"I would constantly have dreams. Very pleasant dreams about constructing the studio and going back into it, talking into the mic and editing the jingles."
And so a broadcasting shopping spree or five later…
Radio 77 is back.
"I would constantly have dreams. Very pleasant dreams about constructing the studio and going back into it, talking into the mic and editing the jingles."
And so a broadcasting shopping spree or five later…
Radio 77 is back.
But this time, there’s no Rich. No Clive.
Just Deke and Pamela…
So there Deke goes, broadcasting Radio 77 to Pamela and Pamela alone (for THIRTY MORE YEARS, mind you!), until, of course…
Comes the email.
Just Deke and Pamela…
So there Deke goes, broadcasting Radio 77 to Pamela and Pamela alone (for THIRTY MORE YEARS, mind you!), until, of course…
Comes the email.
But this isn’t an email from a weirdo.
It’s an invitation from the BBC.
To come onto BBC Three Counties Radio in England.
Where, in a sequence of beautiful events, Deke is given the opportunity of a lifetime:
It’s an invitation from the BBC.
To come onto BBC Three Counties Radio in England.
Where, in a sequence of beautiful events, Deke is given the opportunity of a lifetime:
After 54 years of broadcasting Radio 77 to one person…
Deke gets behind the BBC mic…
And broadcasts to six.
No, not six people.
Six million.
From being told by the BBC to "get a real job"...
To DJing their Christmas special, over half a century later.
Deke gets behind the BBC mic…
And broadcasts to six.
No, not six people.
Six million.
From being told by the BBC to "get a real job"...
To DJing their Christmas special, over half a century later.
Following the Christmas special, Deke goes on to become somewhat of a national celebrity – far more than what he was during his Stevenage club days.
And in one interview (of which there will be many…), Deke reminisces on that Christmas BBC special and reminds us, with a smile:
And in one interview (of which there will be many…), Deke reminisces on that Christmas BBC special and reminds us, with a smile:
"I would say sometimes living the dream can be more enjoyable than realizing the dream.
Live the dream, dude."
Amen, Deke.
Amen.
Live the dream, dude."
Amen, Deke.
Amen.
Like this story?
Follow me @DavidZabinsky.
I’ll be telling stories like Deke’s - ones you’ve likely never heard before! - every week.
Follow me @DavidZabinsky.
I’ll be telling stories like Deke’s - ones you’ve likely never heard before! - every week.
This story was originally told in an awesome podcast episode produced by my friends at @Narratively along with @snapjudgment, @jeffmaysh and John Fecile.
You can listen to that full piece here:
narratively.com
You can listen to that full piece here:
narratively.com
And be sure to follow @Narratively for more 'hidden history' stories just like this one!
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