Alan Freeman
Encyclopedia
Alan Leslie "Fluff" Freeman, MBE
(6 July 1927 – 27 November 2006) was a British
disc jockey
and radio personality in the United Kingdom
for 40 years.
, Victoria
, Australia
, Freeman worked as an assistant paymaster/accountant for one of Australia's largest timber companies after leaving school.
Freeman originally wanted to be an opera singer, but decided his voice was not strong enough. In 1952 he was invited to audition as a radio announcer and commenced working for 7LA
in Tasmania
, known as the teenager's station. Freeman's duties included that of continuity announcer; presenter of musical programmes incorporating opera, ballet and classical music; DJ for the top 100; news reader; quiz master and commercials reader.
After moving to radio station 3KZ
in Melbourne, in 1957 he took an agreed nine-month trip around the world with the promise to return to Melbourne by January 1958. He arrived in London
, England
, and on deciding to stay wrote numerous letters of delay, and later apology, to his former employer.
Freeman started his British career as a summer relief disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg
, and continued to present late-evening programmes on the station until the early 1970s.
In 1960 he moved to the BBC Light Programme
as presenter of the Records Around Five show, which was introduced by his signature tune, "At The Sign of the Swinging Cymbal", written by Brian Fahey. In September 1961 he introduced Pick of the Pops
as part of a Saturday evening show Trad Tavern. Pick Of The Pops became a permanent show in its own right in 1962, with Freeman presenting it until 1972 continuing with his 'Swinging Cymbal' signature tune. At the same time, he was one of the original team of presenters of BBC TV's Top of the Pops
, a regular member of the Juke Box Jury
panel, and had a brief stint as compere of the lunchtime pop music show Go Man Go
on the BBC Light Programme
in 1963.
During the 1960s, Freeman briefly attempted acting, notably in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
, but his limitations were apparent, and in other films he has played himself or a similar character (e.g. Absolute Beginners
). He also played God (albeit a God who sat at a mixing desk and said "Alright?") in two episodes of The Young Ones
in 1984. In 1962 he recorded a dance single, "Madison Time", with the Talmy Stone Band. Released by Decca Records
, F11523, it was reportedly one of the label's worst-ever sellers and is now, predictably, a rarity and collector's item.
In April 1972 Freeman joined the daily presenters on Radio 1
, taking over the 3-5 pm show from Terry Wogan
- he used "Soul Bossa Nova
" by Quincy Jones
as his theme. This continued until 1 June 1973. During this time he spotlighted youth clubs and young people, and became Vice-President of the London Association of Youth Clubs. During the 1970s he also presented the Radio 1 series Quiz Kid on Sunday evenings, which was recorded at Youth and Boys Clubs all over the country; while on Saturday afternoons he presented his Rock Show, featuring heavy and progressive rock and a rundown of the current album chart, from the beginning of July 1973 until the end of August 1978.
He left the BBC to work for Capital Radio
from 1979 to 1988, presenting the Top 40 of the 70s, on 31 December 1979. Later reviving Pick of the Pops on 9 January 1982 (now called Pick of the Pops Take Two and combining the current Top 15 with an earlier chart) and The Rock Show previous to that on 7 January 1980. He returned to the BBC and Radio 1 in January 1989 to revive The Rock Show and Pick of the Pops. This run of Pick of the Pops ended on 27 December 1992, but he continued to host The Rock Show until 23 October 1993, when he, with other long-serving DJs, left the station as it was revamped by controller Matthew Bannister
.
In December 1993 he presented the Alternative Chart Show on a trial one-off RSL
broadcast by XFM
in London
. He then hosted Pick of the Pops Take Three on Capital Gold
from April 1994 until January 1997. In 1996 and 1997 he also hosted The Rock Show on Virgin Radio
, and he was heard presenting one-off shows on Classic FM
.
He returned to the BBC
on BBC Radio 2
, taking Pick of the Pops back to its home from 1997 until 2000. A lifetime love of classical music
and particularly opera
was developed in the show Their Greatest Bits. But as arthritis
got the better of his hands, he handed Pick of the Pops over to ex-Radio Trent DJ Dale Winton
.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1998. In May 2000 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards
.
He died on 27 November 2006 in Brinsworth House
, Twickenham
, South West London
after a short illness. He was 79. His funeral took place on 7 December 2006 at South West Middlesex Crematorium and was attended by DJs Paul Gambaccini
, Dave Lee Travis
, Nicky Campbell
, and his Radio One Top 40 successors Wes Butters
, Simon Bates
and Richard Skinner
.
. He was memorably described by Graham Chapman
as being "...keen on motor bikes and leather and men".
In later years, Freeman suffered from arthritis
and asthma
from a 60-a-day smoking
habit, and he used a Zimmer Frame or motorised wheelchair. He lived at Brinsworth House
, a retirement home for actors and performers run by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, until his death.
His style has been parodied, and he was the model for Harry Enfield
's character Dave Nice
, although he contributed to the satire
himself in good grace by appearing on Enfield's show (and Enfield himself praised Freeman in Simon Garfield
's book on Radio 1, The Nation's Favourite, by categorising him along with John Peel
as "DJs who loved music" as opposed to "DJs who loved the sound of their own voices, like Dave Lee Travis
").
For all Freeman's supposed clichés and archetype
s in his broadcasting style, he has been regarded as original by fellow broadcasters - when he appeared on John Peel
's This Is Your Life
, Peel said: "Fluff is the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all".
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(6 July 1927 – 27 November 2006) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
disc jockey
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
and radio personality in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for 40 years.
Career
Born and educated in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Freeman worked as an assistant paymaster/accountant for one of Australia's largest timber companies after leaving school.
Freeman originally wanted to be an opera singer, but decided his voice was not strong enough. In 1952 he was invited to audition as a radio announcer and commenced working for 7LA
7LA
89.3 LAFM is a radio station based in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia.It opened on 14 December 1930, broadcasting on 1100 kHz and from 1978 1098 kHz...
in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, known as the teenager's station. Freeman's duties included that of continuity announcer; presenter of musical programmes incorporating opera, ballet and classical music; DJ for the top 100; news reader; quiz master and commercials reader.
After moving to radio station 3KZ
3KZ
Gold 104.3 is a radio station broadcasting in Melbourne, Australia. Gold 104.3 is part of the Australian Radio Classic Hits Network and broadcasts on the 104.3 MHz frequency.- History :...
in Melbourne, in 1957 he took an agreed nine-month trip around the world with the promise to return to Melbourne by January 1958. He arrived in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and on deciding to stay wrote numerous letters of delay, and later apology, to his former employer.
Freeman started his British career as a summer relief disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg
Radio Luxembourg (English)
Radio Luxembourg is a commercial broadcaster in many languages from the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It is nowadays known in most non-English languages as RTL ....
, and continued to present late-evening programmes on the station until the early 1970s.
In 1960 he moved to the BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
as presenter of the Records Around Five show, which was introduced by his signature tune, "At The Sign of the Swinging Cymbal", written by Brian Fahey. In September 1961 he introduced Pick of the Pops
Pick of the Pops
Pick of the Pops is a BBC Radio programme, originally based on the Top 20 UK singles chart and first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme in 1955. It transferred to BBC Radio 1 from 1967...
as part of a Saturday evening show Trad Tavern. Pick Of The Pops became a permanent show in its own right in 1962, with Freeman presenting it until 1972 continuing with his 'Swinging Cymbal' signature tune. At the same time, he was one of the original team of presenters of BBC TV's Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, a regular member of the Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury
Juke Box Jury was a musical panel show which originally ran on BBC Television from 1 June 1959 until December 1967. The programme was based on the American show Jukebox Jury, itself an offshoot of a long-running radio series....
panel, and had a brief stint as compere of the lunchtime pop music show Go Man Go
Go Man Go
Go Man Go was an American Quarter Horse stallion and race horse. He was named World Champion Quarter Running Horse three times in a row, one of only two horses to achieve that distinction. Go Man Go was considered to be of difficult temperament...
on the BBC Light Programme
BBC Light Programme
The Light Programme was a BBC radio station which broadcast mainstream light entertainment and music from 1945 until 1967, when it was rebranded as BBC Radio 2...
in 1963.
During the 1960s, Freeman briefly attempted acting, notably in Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors is a 1965 British horror film from Amicus Productions, directed by veteran horror director Freddie Francis, written by Milton Subotsky, and starred Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee....
, but his limitations were apparent, and in other films he has played himself or a similar character (e.g. Absolute Beginners
Absolute Beginners
Absolute Beginners is a novel by Colin MacInnes, written and set in 1958 London, England. It was published in 1959. The novel is the second of MacInnes' London Trilogy, coming after City Of Spades and before Mr. Love and Justice...
). He also played God (albeit a God who sat at a mixing desk and said "Alright?") in two episodes of The Young Ones
The Young Ones (TV series)
The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
in 1984. In 1962 he recorded a dance single, "Madison Time", with the Talmy Stone Band. Released by Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, F11523, it was reportedly one of the label's worst-ever sellers and is now, predictably, a rarity and collector's item.
In April 1972 Freeman joined the daily presenters on Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
, taking over the 3-5 pm show from Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
- he used "Soul Bossa Nova
Soul Bossa Nova
"Soul Bossa Nova" is a popular instrumental title, composed by and first performed by American impresario, jazz composer, arranger and record producer Quincy Jones. It first appeared on his 1962 Big Band Bossa Nova big band album on Mercury Records. Multi-reed player Rahsaan Roland Kirk played the...
" by Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
as his theme. This continued until 1 June 1973. During this time he spotlighted youth clubs and young people, and became Vice-President of the London Association of Youth Clubs. During the 1970s he also presented the Radio 1 series Quiz Kid on Sunday evenings, which was recorded at Youth and Boys Clubs all over the country; while on Saturday afternoons he presented his Rock Show, featuring heavy and progressive rock and a rundown of the current album chart, from the beginning of July 1973 until the end of August 1978.
He left the BBC to work for Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
from 1979 to 1988, presenting the Top 40 of the 70s, on 31 December 1979. Later reviving Pick of the Pops on 9 January 1982 (now called Pick of the Pops Take Two and combining the current Top 15 with an earlier chart) and The Rock Show previous to that on 7 January 1980. He returned to the BBC and Radio 1 in January 1989 to revive The Rock Show and Pick of the Pops. This run of Pick of the Pops ended on 27 December 1992, but he continued to host The Rock Show until 23 October 1993, when he, with other long-serving DJs, left the station as it was revamped by controller Matthew Bannister
Matthew Bannister
Richard Matthew Bannister is a British media executive and broadcaster. After attending King Edward VII School , he graduated in law at the University of Nottingham in 1978, and joined BBC Radio Nottingham as a trainee reporter and subsequently the presenter of its speech-based breakfast show,...
.
In December 1993 he presented the Alternative Chart Show on a trial one-off RSL
Restricted Service Licence
A UK Restricted Service Licence , is typically granted to radio stations and television stations broadcasting within the UK to serve a local community or a special event...
broadcast by XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He then hosted Pick of the Pops Take Three on Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
from April 1994 until January 1997. In 1996 and 1997 he also hosted The Rock Show on Virgin Radio
Virgin Radio
Absolute Radio is one of the UK's three Independent National Radio stations. The station rebranded to its current name at 7.45am on 29 September 2008.The station is based in London and plays popular rock music...
, and he was heard presenting one-off shows on Classic FM
Classic FM (UK)
Classic FM, one of the United Kingdom's three Independent National Radio stations, broadcasts classical music in a popular and accessible style.-Overview:...
.
He returned to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, taking Pick of the Pops back to its home from 1997 until 2000. A lifetime love of classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
and particularly opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
was developed in the show Their Greatest Bits. But as arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
got the better of his hands, he handed Pick of the Pops over to ex-Radio Trent DJ Dale Winton
Dale Winton
Dale Winton is an English radio DJ and television presenter.-Early life:Winton's father, Gary, was "domineering" and died when Winton was 13. Winton was brought up by his mother, actress Sheree Winton...
.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1998. In May 2000 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards
Sony Radio Academy Awards
The Sony Radio Academy Awards , started in 1983, are some of the most prestigious awards in the British radio industry. They are run by ZAFER Associates in association with the Radio Academy...
.
He died on 27 November 2006 in Brinsworth House
Brinsworth House
Brinsworth House is a retirement home especially for members of the acting and entertainment professions, in Twickenham, Greater London, England. The house, opened in 1911, is provided and maintained by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, founded in 1908 to care for members of what was at...
, Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, South West London
South West (London sub region)
The South West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of London Borough of , Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth. The sub region was established in 2008. The south west has a population of 1,600,000 and is the location...
after a short illness. He was 79. His funeral took place on 7 December 2006 at South West Middlesex Crematorium and was attended by DJs Paul Gambaccini
Paul Gambaccini
Paul Matthew Gambaccini is a radio and television presenter in the United Kingdom...
, Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
, Nicky Campbell
Nicky Campbell
Nicholas Andrew Argyll "Nicky" Campbell is a Scottish radio and television presenter and journalist. He is known for his time presenting on programmes such as the consumer affairs programme Watchdog...
, and his Radio One Top 40 successors Wes Butters
Wes Butters
Wes Butters , is a radio broadcaster, formerly of BBC Radio 1, and writer.-Early life:...
, Simon Bates
Simon Bates
Simon Bates is a UK disc jockey and radio presenter. Between 1976 and 1993 he worked at BBC Radio 1, presenting the station's weekday mid-morning show for most of this period. He later became a regular presenter on Classic FM...
and Richard Skinner
Richard Skinner (broadcaster)
Richard Skinner is a British radio and television broadcaster.He is the only presenter to have fronted the three BBC 'flagship' pop music programmes Whistle Test, Top of the Pops and Top 40 show. -Early career:...
.
Personal life
In March 1994 Freeman revealed on breakfast television that he had become celibate in 1981, but had been bisexualBisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
. He was memorably described by Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
as being "...keen on motor bikes and leather and men".
In later years, Freeman suffered from arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
and asthma
Asthma
Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...
from a 60-a-day smoking
Tobacco smoking
Tobacco smoking is the practice where tobacco is burned and the resulting smoke is inhaled. The practice may have begun as early as 5000–3000 BCE. Tobacco was introduced to Eurasia in the late 16th century where it followed common trade routes...
habit, and he used a Zimmer Frame or motorised wheelchair. He lived at Brinsworth House
Brinsworth House
Brinsworth House is a retirement home especially for members of the acting and entertainment professions, in Twickenham, Greater London, England. The house, opened in 1911, is provided and maintained by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, founded in 1908 to care for members of what was at...
, a retirement home for actors and performers run by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, until his death.
Style
Freeman's distinctive presenting style included the frequent use of classical music clips between records, and memorable catchphrases such as 'Greetings, pop pickers' (originally 'Hi there, pop pickers!'), 'Greetings, music lovers' (an adaptation of the above for his rock shows), 'Alright? Stay bright!' and 'Not 'arf!'.His style has been parodied, and he was the model for Harry Enfield
Harry Enfield
Henry Richard "Harry" Enfield is a BAFTA-winning English comedian, actor, writer and director.-Early life:...
's character Dave Nice
Smashie and Nicey
Mike Smash and Dave Nice were two fictional television characters who first appeared in the early 1990s TV sketch show Harry Enfield's Television Programme. They were played by comedians Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield respectively...
, although he contributed to the satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
himself in good grace by appearing on Enfield's show (and Enfield himself praised Freeman in Simon Garfield
Simon Garfield
Simon Frank Garfield is a British journalist and non-fiction author. He was educated at the independent University College School in Hampstead, London, and the London School of Economics, where he was the Executive Editor of The Beaver....
's book on Radio 1, The Nation's Favourite, by categorising him along with John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
as "DJs who loved music" as opposed to "DJs who loved the sound of their own voices, like Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis
Dave Lee Travis , also known professionally as DLT and the Hairy Cornflake, is a British radio presenter, best known for his career on BBC Radio 1.-Early life:...
").
For all Freeman's supposed clichés and archetype
Archetype
An archetype is a universally understood symbol or term or pattern of behavior, a prototype upon which others are copied, patterned, or emulated...
s in his broadcasting style, he has been regarded as original by fellow broadcasters - when he appeared on John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
's This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life is an American television documentary series broadcast on NBC, originally hosted by its producer, Ralph Edwards from 1952 to 1961. In the show, the host surprises a guest, and proceeds to take them through their life in front of an audience including friends and family.Edwards...
, Peel said: "Fluff is the greatest out-and-out disc jockey of them all".
In popular culture
- He is impersonated by pop group I, LudicrousI, LudicrousI, Ludicrous is a three piece pop music ensemble, formed in South London in 1985, by John Procter and David Rippingale...
in their song "My Favourite Records".
- Robin GibbRobin GibbRobin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
(of the Bee GeesBee GeesThe Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
) released a single called "Alan Freeman DaysAlan Freeman DaysRobin Gibb wrote, recorded and released Alan Freeman Days as a tribute to the late Australian DJ Alan Freeman in May 2008.While it was mainly made available as a download the song was also included on a limited number of promotional CDs, a various artitst compilation "V.1 - Songs from the British...
" in May 2008.
- According to Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
drummer Bill Ward, the tune "Fluff" from their fifth album, Sabbath Bloody SabbathSabbath Bloody SabbathSabbath Bloody Sabbath is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in December 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music by strings, keyboards and more complex orchestral arrangements.-Recording:Following the 1972–1973...
was dedicated to Freeman.
External links
- Alan Freeman at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Bio and citation at the Radio Academy
- Bio at RadioRewind.co.uk including a rare interview with Nathan MorleyNathan MorleyNathan Morley is a multi award winning television presenter, columnist and journalist based in Finland and Cyprus.He is best known to international audiences for his live radio broadcasts on Talksport, LBC and the BBC to the United Kingdom...
Obituaries
- Broadsheet
- Times obituary - The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
- Guardian obituary - The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
- Telegraph obituary - Daily Telegraph
- The Independent - The IndependentThe IndependentThe Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
- Times obituary - The Times
- Tabloid
- Daily Mail obituary - Daily MailDaily MailThe Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
- Mirror obituary - The Daily MirrorThe Daily MirrorThe Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1903. Twice in its history, from 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was changed to read simply The Mirror, which is how the paper is often referred to in popular parlance. It had an...
- The Sun obituary - The SunThe Sun (newspaper)The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
- Daily Mail obituary - Daily Mail
- Other