Don FM
 | |
| Broadcast area | London |
|---|---|
| Slogan | Be Don or Be Gone |
| First air date | 1992-1997 |
| Format | Breakbeat Hardcore, Jungle, Drum and Bass |
Don FM was an influential London pirate radio station,[1] which along with a handful of other stations, was key in the development of Breakbeat Hardcore, Jungle and Drum and Bass music.[2] It first broadcast in November 1992 on the frequency of 105.7FM from a tower block in Wandsworth, broadcasting mostly at the weekend, specialising in breakbeat hardcore and jungle but also playing house and garage.[3]
On 28 March 1994, it ceased broadcasting to apply for a temporary Restricted Service Licence. It achieved this and transmitted legally for 4 weeks from 28 August 1994 on 100.5FM to London, and remains the only pirate radio station of its genre to have done so. Guest shows from big names in the jungle scene passed through including Bryan Gee (V Recordings), and Stevie Hyper D.
Don FM then returned as a pirate on the frequency of 107.9FM in 1995 and ran until April 1997, broadcasting again at the weekends playing predominantly drum and bass but also house and techno.
A number of today's highly respected DJs, MCs and artists originally started out on Don FM such as DJ Trace, Ed Rush, Matt Cantor (The Freestylers), Mark Force (Bugz in the Attic), DJ Dee Kline, Stevie A, NutE1, DJ Kane, and DJ Harmony. Record labels and shops also hosted shows on the station including Chemistry Records, Lucky Spin Records crew, and Rugged Vinyl.
Notes
- ↑ Illegaalne reiv kalinini tehases Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine. arileht.ee (Estonian) (article refers to Don FM as a "legendary" South London station)
- ↑ Rave and jungle on UK pirate radio (June 1998) Archived 30 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Simon Reynolds
- ↑ Don FM (1992-97) Londonpirates.co.uk Archived 10 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
Coordinates: 51°28′26″N 0°11′34″W / 51.4739°N 0.1928°W