The Nation's Favourite: The True Adventures of Radio One

A sharp look at the days when corporate revolution finally came to Radio 1. Dave Lee Travis like something out of Edgar Allen Poe. The true inevitable Shakespearean tragic failure of Mark and Lard at breakfast time. John Peel not mincing words. And Simon Bates, strangely, coming across in high-art unironic mode is the most powerful of the lot. Quote (p.46) Simon Bates on artists: "What is the one thing all performers and writers are? They're paranoid. Your commitment to your own standards is all you have."

Simon Garfield has been given unprecedented behind-the-scenes access to the reshaping of Radio One and makes full use of it. The gloves really come off as the 1980's stars of the station realy say what they think of each other (and the management) The heady days of 1980's Radio One are shown to live up to their Radio Fab FM Smashey and Nicey image.My particular favourtie is the transcript of a caller on DLT's 'snooker on the radio' competition. Cringe-inducingly wicked, and very funny.

All the back-stabbing/biting at the U.K.s favourite pop music station. A station which lurches from one disaster to another. The author has enjoyed access to all the major players and paints a picture of a national institution in turmoil. The book should be required readings for anyone learning how not to re-engineer a company. Also of interest to students of pop radio