WBMX
From Freeradio
WBMX was a free-form pirate radio station, which broadcast to Clowne in Derbyshire, between December 1989 and April 1990.
A number of the DJs on WBMX, notably Al Capone and PWD, had previously been on the Clowne pirate Radio Zoe.
The format was across the board, from heavy metal to soul to chart pop, depending on which DJ was on-air at the time.
Ironically, the name - chosen by Al Capone - is believed to be inspired by that of a Chicago based urban contemporary FM station. The choice of name, however, did lead to several jokes about bikes - including by Al Capone himself.
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Xmas 1989 and New Year 1990
The first spell of broadcasting took place over Christmas 1989. The frequency used was approximately 98.0 FM.
Transmitter power was approximately 5W, into a Slim Jim Antenna.
Programmes were mostly live. But on a number of occasions, tapes were broadcast non-stop overnight, using an auto-reverse cassette walkman - announced on-air as "Night Hawk". At first, music tapes - one including an aircheck of BBC Radio 1 from the early 1980s! - were aired. After a week or so, Al Capone had recorded a taped programme for overnight broadcast.
On New Years Eve into New Years Day, Al Capone was presenting his programme when he was joined by a number of the WBMX DJs, who had an impromptu party on the studio premises. In the run-up to midnight, the ITV New Year celebrations were relayed on-air complete with occasional sarcastic comments by Al Capone, among others.
In early January, the broadcasts ceased when Al Capone went back to college in Birmingham.
Easter 1990
The next, and final, spell of broadcasting was over Easter 1990. The frequency now used was 101.2 FM in Stereo.
The TX had now been up-graded to a 12W Veronica Electronics TX, and techniques of antenna construction by the station had been improved - resulting in vastly improved coverage.
A pre-recorded megamix programme by Chris Coxey - a Birmingham DJ of the time - was the last programme aired, on a number of nights.
Sadly, however, friction was occurring between some of the DJs and indiscipline was also becoming a problem. In the end, WBMX was closed down after one DJ made racist remarks on-air and proceeded to lock himself in the studio.
Aftermath
WBMX did not return on FM, and the transmitter was later sold.
However, from July to September 1990, Al Capone resurrected the name WBMX for a Short Wave station.
WBMX Short Wave broadcast for 2 hours each 2 weeks, via the transmitters of the Northern Ireland Relay Service. Occasional broadcasts were also made via the Eireann short wave pirate Jolly Roger Radio.
The final broadcast of WBMX took place in late September 1990. After that, Al Capone was not heard again on the radio until 1993.
Trivia
The studio was housed in a converted (disused!) outdoor toilet!
Studio picture below:
