LASER LADY ON THE BEEB
BBC Radio London deejay Tony Blackburn asked Jessie Brandon to takeover his show during July, while he was away. He said that "Laser’s a brilliant station, much more fun that another pop station I don't care to mention by name. I hope its presence will give the legal pop stations the kick up the bum they deserve". Over in Ireland, RTE radio were claiming that their reception on 576khz in London, was suffering interference from Laser on 558. The British Department of Trade were sympathetic, but said that as Laser was a Panamanian ship in international waters there was little they could do.
On 28th July, Music Week reported that Laser claimed an estimated nine million listeners in Europe. "When advertising begins Laser 558 hope it will be for generic international products such as film, records, soft drinks and cars", according to Roy Lindau, who added "nobody has signed yet". Around this time it was also announced that the station was now owned by "Eurad SA "
The Observer for 5th August featured radio pirates and spoke about Laser, saying that "it revives memories of the first generation of pirates in the 1960’s. Life on Laser is cramped and spartan, but the disc jockeys who work two months on and one month off say they haven’t yet got bored”.

Jessie Brandon

Staff on deck