A pirate in the Baltic

In the early sixties national broadcast monopolies still existed in several European countries, such as the Scandinavian nations and the United Kingdom. This meant a very meagre diet of strictly controlled programs. For example, one “gramophone hour” a day was thought to be sufficient both at the BBC and at the broadcasting companies of Sweden and Denmark. Needless to say, commercials were strictly prohibited.

Beginning in Denmark in August 1958, a fleet of so called “pirate” radio ships invaded the air waves. The pioneer was Radio Mercur, situated in international waters between Denmark and Sweden.

Radio Nord did its broadcasting from the ship Bon Jour in the Baltic Sea outside Stockholm from March 1961 until the end of June 1962, all in all less than 16 months. Radio Nord was funded by American capital, but had a Swedish staff and an office with studios in the centre of Stockholm.

The book Stick iväg, Jack! (Hit the road, Jack!) is written by journalist Jan Kotschack, son of legendary Radio Nord co-founder and managing director Jack Kotschack. The author has drawn on his own memories and the family archives, but also uncovered many never before published documents which show how upsetting the radio station was to the Swedish government. The book is richly illustrated with many photos that have never before been seen by a wider public. It also contains a supplement with all the songs and artists from Radio Nord’s two lists of the most popular songs of the day, one for international artists and one for songs in Swedish.

Accompanying the book’s first edition is a special DVD with an 8-minute short film about Radio Nord, which was shown at cinemas across Sweden in the late autumn of 1961.

The book is in Swedish.

To order the book please go directly to the publisher.