STOP PRESS: ROSKO TO WORK FOR THE BBC

."Johnnie Walker doesn’t think they should work for the 'enemy' at all"

T U E S D A Y,  5  S E P T

It would have been blazing hot today if it hadn’t been so windy.

I got up terribly late, thought an awful lot about Mark in bed. Also thought about that poor boy last night who lived only for heroin. He said he wished he had someone to understand him.

Finished ‘1984’. It got better - not as fantastical as I thought it was. But I can still only just imagine it happening. Then read ‘The Outsider’ by Albert Camus - not bad but he’s got a jerky way of writing. Perhaps that’s because it’s a translation. Began on ‘The Garden Party’ by Katherine Mansfield.

Fifteen pirate DJs are going to work for the BBC, including ‘Emperor’ Rosko!!! There is now the vaguest but most marvellous chance that French records will be played - but he never did on Caroline so I don’t suppose it’s very likely. Radio Caroline thinks Radio London should never have closed down; they could easily have gone on really, if they’re dedicated, that is. Obviously they’re not. Johnnie Walker doesn’t think the London DJs should work for the BBC – the “enemy”.

School is terribly near, but I’m glad really. I’m longing for the Sixth Year.

“Emperor Rosko aka Le President Rosko”

Mike Pasternak, son of American film producer Joe Pasternak, joined Radio Caroline as Emperor Rosko in 1964 (“I am the Emperor, the geeter with the heater, your leader, your groovy host from the West coast!”). He later moved to Radio Luxembourg as 'Le President Rosko'. He was equally flamboyant in French.

In September 1967 Rosko was the only good thing (according to Ingrid) about the fledgling Radio One. However, he never did push French pop music, preferring Motown, reggae and rock.