Dread Broadcasting Corporation
Encyclopedia
Dread Broadcasting Corporation (DBC) was a west London
pirate radio
station established in 1981.
DBC has been credited as Britain's first black music radio station, and eventually featured DJs like Neneh Cherry
, and Ranking Miss P
. Joe Strummer
of The Clash
even made a guest appearance on the station, playing reggae, soul and R&B . DBC's playlist was distinctive enough to have Trojan Records publish a compilation album based on it, featuring two station idents. The station was also popular enough to be featured in documentaries and discussion programmes as an example of pirate radio
in London at a time when there were only two commercial stations: Capital Radio
and LBC
.
Following more than one arrest, DBC ceased broadcasting in 1984.
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...
pirate radio
UK pirate radio
UK pirate radio was popular in the 1960s and experienced another surge of interest in the 1980s. There are currently an estimated 150 pirate radio stations in the UK...
station established in 1981.
DBC has been credited as Britain's first black music radio station, and eventually featured DJs like Neneh Cherry
Neneh Cherry
Neneh Mariann Cherry is a Swedish singer-songwriter, rapper, and occasional DJ and broadcaster...
, and Ranking Miss P
Ranking Miss P
Ranking Miss P is a British radio presenter, born in London to Jamaican parents.After leaving school, Miss P was studying to become a teacher, but instead was persuaded by her brother DJ Lepke to start broadcasting on his community radio station, Dread Broadcasting Corporation , the first black...
. Joe Strummer
Joe Strummer
John Graham Mellor , best remembered by his stage name Joe Strummer, was the co-founder, lyricist, rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist of the British punk rock band The Clash. His musical experience included his membership in The 101ers, Latino Rockabilly War, The Mescaleros and The Pogues, in...
of The Clash
The Clash
The Clash were an English punk rock band that formed in 1976 as part of the original wave of British punk. Along with punk, their music incorporated elements of reggae, ska, dub, funk, rap, dance, and rockabilly...
even made a guest appearance on the station, playing reggae, soul and R&B . DBC's playlist was distinctive enough to have Trojan Records publish a compilation album based on it, featuring two station idents. The station was also popular enough to be featured in documentaries and discussion programmes as an example of pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
in London at a time when there were only two commercial stations: 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 :...
and LBC
LBC
LBC Radio operates two London-based radio stations, with news and talk formats. LBC was Britain's first legal commercial Independent Local Radio station, providing a service of news and information to London. It began broadcasting on 8 October 1973, a week ahead of Capital Radio...
.
Following more than one arrest, DBC ceased broadcasting in 1984.
Discography
- Striving To Be Free / It's A Sign 12" Single 1982
- Dread Broadcasting Corporation 2xCD (Trojan RecordsTrojan RecordsTrojan Records is a British record label founded in 1968. It specialises in ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub music. The label currently operates under the Sanctuary Records Group. The name Trojan comes from the Croydon-built Trojan truck that was used as Duke Reid's sound system in Jamaica...
)