Charlie Wolf's Letter from America

Hello, and greetings from the USA.

This is my first correspondence to Radio Today, and it's a pleasure to be a part of the magazine. Besides meeting Steve and the crew at Driftback, I also picked up several issues of the mag which were devoured on the long trip back to Utah... a very long haul, easily equalling three months on a certain red boat!

In future issues I will tell you about some of the goings-on here in the states — in radio that is; some of the things going on here at 96 KFMY, and some of my thoughts in general on radio on both sides of the pond.

Obviously there are many who would like a report of my recent sojourn in Old Blighty, here goes...

Driftback 20

It was great! I must admit, anoraks are even more dedicated to all this offshore stuff than those of us in the business, but it's always great to see the people who put you where you are. Even better was the fact that I was able to get together with all the people I've worked with, some are my closest friends in the world... they were all there.

The best reunions at Driftback (and I know I'll forget some people) included two of my closest friends from the North Sea, Tommy Rivers and Johnny Lewis. If you missed the Driftback, then you missed a classic Seawolf entrance (if I say so myself). White Johnny was on stage being interviewed by Jaybee (another dear friend reunion) I snuck out into the crowd dressed to the hilt in anorak gear... goggles, anorak, "I love Caroline" badges, cameras etc... Then I started interrupting Johnny with anoraky questions ("Back in September of '84 I've got an aircheck of you coming out of an Eagles record... at 4.33 G.M. T . You said 'Hotel California on Caroline'. What did you mean by it"). Jaybee kept on admonishing me to shut-up and sit down or I would be evicted... finally, after everyone was bored silly with this charade, I was introduced and brought on stage with Johnny. In all, my impression of an anorak was 'Shocking Lad'!

The big surprise came while I was on stage. I kept on getting distracted looking at a gentleman in the second row who looked just like John Catlet, Laser MD. 'It can't be' I thought. 'John is in the States, he said he wouldn't be able to make it over.' But the resemblance was striking.

Guess what? Turns out it was John. We were able to spend some time together in London catching up on things.

Other people at Driftback that made my day included... Johnnie Walker (they don't come any finer), Ronan, Barrie and Ruth Johnson from Anoraks UK (so nice to finally meet you in person, Ruthie), Cosmic, Peter Philips, Crispian Jay Howard whatever your name is now, Francois and Chris from Offshore Echoes, B. Dom, Tom Demunck, Mark Wesley... the list just goes on and on.

The Highlight of Driftback

The Driftback obviously belonged to those people who were there around twenty years ago. What an honour it was to meet people like Dick Dickson and Dick Plummer and listen to the old yarns they told. The high point, though, was listening to Johnnie Walker. I'm really glad he made it. These people are the originals. Laser was just a johnnie-come-Iately in this business.

The night before Driftback, Johnnie Walker and I got together at LBC as Bob Harris' guests on Nightline. Before I joined them in the studio they did a telephone link with Keith Skues. Sitting in the control booth I was just fascinated as these two radio legends re-lived the old days. It was interesting to find out that many of the bits I did on Laser (including Chipping Sodbury Sound) were all done before, and in a bit funnier style.

Johnnie Walker, if you haven't tuned in yet, is back on Radio One doing the Stereo Sequence on Saturdays at 2. There's another bright future for that man.

Other happenings whilst in London

Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to go out to visit the Lady (too busy selling copies of SPYCATCHER... just joking, of course) but I did make a point of visiting several other radio stations, especially Radio One. I was very fortunate to touch base again with Radio One's controller, Johnny Beerling.

Agreed, Radio One has a long way to go to improve, but on the whole it's a damn good service, and I'm glad it's there. Sometimes too many offshore people try to compare stations like Laser with Radio One. You can't do that. I'm just glad we at one time had both. In the States it's not that our radio stations are better than yours, or better than their competitors, but that they are there... there's a choice for the listener. Believe it or not, to some people Laser 558 and particularly The Seawolf, Himself, were utter drivel while Gary Davies was 'the cat's pyjamas'. Just different strokes.

By the way... speaking of Radio One, I learned that my biggest fans there aren't the producers, or Johnny Beerling, or even Steve Wright, but the good folks at the reception desk. After I popped to see Johnny Beerling, the guard wanted to know if I was applying for work, 'There's an opening you know' he told me.

'Well, it's not in the cards yet' I replied.

'Don't give up, Charlie,' he said. 'We're all rooting for you here.'

If I could ever sum up my feelings as to why I want to get back to Britain some day, that would be it.

Next time 1 write: happenings at KFMY, some of the radio commercials I've been producing. I'll also take a look at radio's newest formal.

All the best,

Charlie Wolf

P.S. Starting this Friday night 01'1 the CBS television network, TOP OF THE POPS. You know I'll be watching.