starpoint

The London Pirates

Starpoint Radio/FM (88.6FM, 94.3FM) 1985 – 1989/90

197 Stockwell Road

London SW9

Coverage: Londonwide/ Home Counties

Jingles: by Bill Mitchell

DJs: DJ Marky B, Steve Devonne, Kevin Beadle, Maxi Jazz, Mix Master Mac, Paul Phillips, DJ Abbey, Chris Phillips, Wilber Wilberforce (aka DJ Wilbur), Jigs, Gary Lee, Sammy Sam, Glenn T, Terry Brown, DJ Andy, Alan Sage, Eddy James, Carl Webster (aka Carl C, founder), Barry Stone (aka DJ Stoney), Barrie James, DJ C, DJ Dorsky, Tony Britten, Victor Massive, DJ Jazz, ADB, Greg Daniels, Kirsten, Dave, Terry Cook, Carl Lewis (station manager), Steve Johns.

Starpoint first broadcast from Crystal Palace on Sundays only, but soon went out on Fridays & Saturdays playing Soul, Rare Groove, Hip Hop, P-Funk, Go Go, Jazz, Disco, Salsa, House, and more besides. Over the next three years it tried to broadcast for 24 hours, seven days a week, but was frequently raided and taken off air. Despite the difficulties it attracted a loyal audience and gained a reputation as a professional sounding station with knowledgeable DJs. Starpoint was also one of the few stations to broadcast beyond the January 1989 cut-off deadline terms for a legal license.

Sundays seemed to have been the best day to hear Hip Hop on Starpoint: the mid-1988 schedules state that from 12 noon DJ Wilbur would play a mix of Jazz, Hip Hop, and Funk, and then from 4pm onwards Chris Phillips would play a similar set but with more emphasis on Jazz. Steve Devonne had a 6-8pm Sunday show in 1987, but it is not known whether he featured Hip Hop. It is highly likely that DJ Abbey, Marky B and Maxi Jazz played it on their slots, but at present their show details are unconfirmed. At some stage those that did play it left Starpoint to set up the short lived Icehouse, London’s first purely Hip Hop station.