Aircheck Tracker
In January 2003, Graham Gall asked: 'I seem to remember a DJ called Dave Eager from many years ago who I think was on Radio 1, I would guess fairly close to the time it first went on the air. I wondered if anyone else remembers him and if so what he's doing now.'
Thanks go to Tracy Lockett who replied: 'Graham...saw your message re: Radio 1 DJ Dave Eager. Just wondered if anybody came forward to say what he was up to now etc. I don't live that far from where he used to live and, to be honest, I'm trying to find him right now. Last time I heard, he was Chairman of Equity then something went wrong - don't know, but what I do know is that he was being bad mouthed in the press. Hope you get this and hope you might have some news.
Tracy's second update continued: 'The last time I saw Dave I was in Ashton-Under-Lyne and he said he was moving to Audenshaw. I'm going back at least 12 years now. I have a feeling though he would stay put as he lived in his house in Clayton for years so I still think he's in the Manchester area. Just wish I could find him as he knew me from way back when the ...wait for it....Bay City Rollers were teen idols. Yes, I was one of those sad people and even went to see them again a few years ago. If I hear any more I'll ...let you know. If you find him first please do the same. Cheers Tracy'
AIRCHECK continues: In July 2003, we were delighted to hear from Dave Eager himself who heard about the 'Tracker' from Hugh Stewart whilst giving an interview at "Onda Cero International - Costa Blanca' and said 'It was really interesting and somewhat "chuffing" to find that somebody remembered me! .....thanks to Tracey and Graham.
So, now with thanks to Dave, here's his profile...
Profile: Dave Eager: Working as disc-jockey and assistant to Sir Jimmy Savile OBE for many years, Dave presented numerous BBC Radio 1 Programmes including The Breakfast Show, Speakeasy, Radio One Clubs, BBC local radio and The Millennium Tynwald for Manx Radio, Isle Of Man.
In the seventies Dave compered two nationwide tours of the "Bay City Rollers" and counted Marc Bolan, Elton John and David Bowie amongst his friends. As presenter of Tyne Tees Television "The Geordie Scene" Dave worked with all the leading seventies pop artistes. More recently Dave has produced several popular country music albums including "50 Shades Of Country".
In 1980, along with ex-Piccadilly Radio Breakfast Show presenter Pete Baker, Dave made a record as 'Electronic Ensemble' called 'It Happened Then', backed with the theme for 'Babylon Run' a Piccadilly Radio drama serial. The A-side is regarded as a forerunner of the electro-pop era, and has been covered in a Hi-NRG mix by Plastique De Reve of Geneva, and has gone down quite a storm in clubland. Pete wrote the song which was recorded using a Sonovox (the first time the instrument had ever been featured on a record) in Manchester's Smile Studios. Dave produced the record and the co-produced the video with Mike Mansfield. It was released on Ariola's 'Superstition Records' label. See the link at the bottom of this page for more details. The song was released across Europe and was even featured as a Radio Luxembourg Powerplay. It never took off in the UK. On it's release, and a scheduled appearance on TISWAS, the Musicians Union, which, at the time, was firmly against electronic music placed a banning order on the track because it didn't meet it's criteria to be classified as being music . Pete is now a TV producer for Granada TV by the way!
As well as numerous summer season gigs, Dave's TV audience warm-up work credits include: "Catchphrase", "Today's the Day", "Wheel of Fortune", "Style Challenge", "Blockbusters", "Carlton Live", and ITV's live "Jonathan Dimbleby - Ask the Prime Minster". Dave's production credits include coordinator for "Coxon's Kitchen College"(1999), "Here's One I Made Earlier" (1997/8), "Stars in Their Eyes" (1991) and "The Gong Show" (1988). Dave continues to produce music and disc-jockeys regularly at north west UK Venues. As in previous years Dave keeps in touch with the "real world" as resident host and disc-jockey at Philips Park Country Club, Manchester UK (Telephone: +44 (0) 161 796 2288), throughout December and the festive period ongoing 2002. For the past twenty-one years Dave has been a Variety Councillor on the governing body of British actors' "Equity" Council, (re-elected for 2002 -2004), and is a former Vice-President (1992 - 94). Leach Farm, Blackstone Edge, Littleborough, Oldham, Northern England is the main animal sanctuary for "Animals In Distress", an animal care and rescue organization of which Dave has been proud to be President for many years.
Whereabouts: Dave is involved in a business called 'New Image PR', a vibrant personal "hands on" company, which expands and contracts according to its needs, and specialises in individual development projects for clients within the pop music and communications media. The company's name and first contract originated from a trip to Los Angeles in 1980, when Dave visited his pal John Collins and his stateside company: New Image PR.
Dave, a qualified school teacher, who has been a parliamentary candidate for the Conservative Party (1983), continues through New Image PR to present media training for corporate business / individuals and groups including "Agents' Training" - The Conservative Party. Under the auspices of "The Westminster Foundation for Democracy" & The Conservative Party's "International Office", Dave's courses both in the UK and abroad, have included politicians from Bosnia (1998), Croatia (1999), Lithuania and Romania (2000). Dave was invited by Sweden's Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation to make a presentation to the "First Women's Academy" held in Visby - September 2000.
In 2001/2002, thanks to Louise Doffman, Patricia Pearson, Nick Weir, Ted Robbins and Action Time, Dave once again joined the friendly team at "Catchphrase" as "Warm-up". Dave was also pleased to visit his friends "The Burt Family" to give personal support to Alistair Burt's General Election Campaign as the Conservative Candidate for North and East Bedfordshire. Alistair was returned to Parliament with an increased majority!
Dave had an opportunity to spend ten weeks in Kerala, southern India as well as travelling to Miami and the Florida Keys. Because of his longstanding friendship with Harry Goodwin - the original BBC Top Of The Pops photographer to the stars, Dave's skills at taking photographs has gained him credits and many happy memories in exotic locations. During 2002, apart from regular gigs, Dave's trips abroad included Serbia, Slovakia and Lithuania under the auspices of The Westminster Foundation for Democracy, and the Conservative Party's "International Office", presenting media training sessions. Meeting friends in Lithuania, in conjunction with the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation, was enjoyable for Dave, especially having breakfast with the former Lithuanian Prime Minister: Andrius Kubilius and renewing friendships with Jurgis Razma and Mantvis. India beckoned in October and November where in Kovalam, Kerala, Dave was invited to give an impromptu speech in the presence of Shri A K Antony: Hon Chief Minister of Kerala, Prof K.V. Thomas: Hon Minister for Tourism and Fisheries and guests attending the "Switch on" illumination along Kovalam Beach promenade. Throughout December and into the New Year, Dave is the regular compere+ D.J. at Philips Park Hall.
Dave has continued his jet-setting in 2003, returning to India, Kerala and Kovalam from January to April, a period which also included return trips to Europe. He has continued to work for Conservative Central Office International Department / Westminster Foundation for Democracy to Slovakia and the other for Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation Sweden to Stockholm presenting media coaching seminars. In May and June of 2003, he was involved in PR representation for Manchester's School of Sound Recording ( www.s-s-r.com ). He is also an editorial consultant for www.travelagentsnews.co.uk - specifically produced for travel agennts in the North of England and the Midlands, it produces travel news of specific interest to it's particular region - the news sheet is distributed free too travel agents from the South of Birmingham up to the Scottish Border.
Dave remains in touch with Sir Jimmy Savile OBE, and Alan Freeman. One of Fluff's best pals is Tim Blackmore from Unique Broadcasting. Tim was one of Dave's producer's when he presented 'Speakeasy' and 'The Breakfast Show' at Radio 1
Weblinks:
http://froukepc.dhs.org/danny/electronic_ensemble/ - features reference to a record co-prooduced by Dave in 1980 and a chance to hear both sides of the single!
www.newimagepr.co.uk
- the site features photographs of somee of the high points of Dave's career to
date.
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