Aircheck Legends
Profile: Alan Leslie Freeman CBE: 06/07/1927 - 27/11/2006: Born to a timber company working father and waitress mother, and educated in in Melbourne, Australia, he studied classical music at school. Upon leaving school he worked as an assistant paymaster/accountant for one of Australia's largest timber companies. In 1952 he was invited to audition as a Radio Announcer and commenced working for 7LA (Launceston, Tasmania) known as the teenager's station, where his duties included continuity announcer, presenter of musical programmes incorporating opera, ballet and classical music, DJ for the top 100, news reader, quiz master, commercial reader and many various other duties. He later became a successful and popular presenter with Melbourne's 3KZ.
Having recognised that his voice had some value in the range of baritone, he quite seriously considered a career as singer, but later realised that his speaking voice would stand him in better stead than his singing voice.
In 1957, aged 20, and having split with his fiancée, he took a nine month trip around the world with the verbal promise to return to Melbourne and 3KZ by January 1958. He got as far as London, decided it was to be his No.1 home, sent many letters, firstly of delay, then of apology to his former Melbourne employer, to stay from then on. During that period he visited and worked in the USA and travelled to many parts of Europe. The official Alan Freeman Fan Club was once recorded to be in, of all places, Czechoslovakia!
Firstly, during 1957, Alan sprung up on Radio Luxembourg and as the year turned, he embarked on a period in history in which he would become one of the leading Disc Jockeys and exponents of Pop Music. Having heard one BBC announcer announce "That was Frank Sinatra singing on a gramophone record, and here is another rather nice song." he knew something had to be done to address the problem! His first appearance on the BBC came in 1960 presenting 'Records Around Five' on the forerunner to BBC Radio 1 & 2 - which was then titled 'The Light Programme'. The show saw the first airing of his signature tune: 'At the Sign of the Swinging Cymbal'. Aged 34, and having previously been a part of the Saturday evening show 'Trad Tavern', the now famous 'Pick Of The Pops' kicked off on the same network in 1962 running until September 1967 and the launch of the two major BBC Radio networks. Fluff once said: "Trad was happening and I loved the music. David Jacobs was presenting Pick of the Pops and they wanted to incorporate that into Trad Tavern, a live show with an audience. David didn't care for standing up in front of a jazz audience, so I was asked to do it. It was a three-hour programme and there were three segments of Pick of the Pops. It was a suit, collar and tie job for me and all the jazz freaks wondered who I was!"
There was also even a stint on 'Housewives Choice' during that period, whilst 'POTP' continued its run from the launch of Radio 1 until 1972. But it was in 1964 that Alan earned the nickname 'Fluff' when, on 'Top Of The Pops', he announced Johnny Pearson's 'Cast Your Fate To The Wind' as ' Cast Your Wind To The Fates." Another theory is that he got the name due to an interesting array of woolly jumpers.- in particular by wearing a loose-fitting submariner's pullover given to him by his mother, but it's not the most popular one! It's reported that Fluff once clarified the position by saying: "Someone gave me a white submarine sweater as a pressie. I used to wear it all day and sleep in it at night. Eventually after a go at the dry cleaner's, it turned fluffy like a sheep. People started calling me Fluff. The name stuck even after I came to England."
His popularity grew as much as his postbag did - and Alan carved out a rather comfortable existence in his Maida Vale bachelor pad. He was well know for getting home after an energetic rock show only to climb into bed whilst listening to Mahler's Fifth Symphony. "I put it up as loud as I can, and then I turn the lights out. The block is in uproar. I may sound like a raving old man, but I can't wait for Saturdays to come around." he once said.
Apart from his radio work, Alan was a TV regular on 'Top Of The Pops' and 'Juke Box Jury' for BBC Television . He was also given a straight acting role in 'Dr. Terror's House Of Horrors' (1965) and got involved with creeping vines that strangled people. Alan once cracked: "Many people thought I made a very good creep, indeed!'". He also took to the legitimate stage in 1975 to play the role of Victor in Noel Coward's 'Private Lives', and also played a part in Julian Temple's musical 'Absolute Beginners' (1982) even making a closer connection to his real career as a TV DJ in the 1968 Dirk Bogarde film 'Sebastian'.
In 1972, POTP' was axed for the first time, but instead Alan joined the ranks of daily presenters on Radio 1 - taking over the 3.00-5.00pm spot from Terry Wogan for a period that would take him up to 1978. In this series of shows, he launched the very first Radio 1 Roadshow in 1973, and during the run of the afternoon show, he spent time producing a double LP, Alan Freeman's History of Pop, released in 1974, featuring 40 hits from the Fifties and Sixties, and included among the rock tracks was his old favourite "Wheel of Fortune". His radio show also spotlighted the activities of youth clubs and young people. At one stage he was the Vice-President of the London Association of Youth Clubs and presented the Radio 1 'Quiz Kid' series on Sunday evenings, which was recorded at Youth and Boys Clubs all over the country. In addition he presented BBC Radio 1's 'Stereo Special' from 2.00-5.00pm every Saturday afternoon featuring some of the more progressive sounds around. He also presented a 26-week series of documentary programmes called 'The Story Of Pop' which was broadcast all around the world from 1973-1974, as well as the inimitable host of the Saturday Rock Show from 1973-1978. During the seventies, his popularity and success was marked in 1975 when his Saturday morning show was voted 'Music Radio Show of the Year' in the NME readers poll.
As far as on-air delivery was concerned, Alan had a style of his own, uttering some generally non-sensical line along the lines of: "And for sure we're certainly remembering yesterday that is definitely all right?", or enthusing about the niceties of the tunes being played - for example, on playing an Elvis tune, Alan once said: "The King was on his throne, pop pickers, that was for sure". If you can't remember hearing Fluff interview anyone, there's probably a good reason for that - he was once speaking to John Lennon in a quick round of questioning only to say: "This is going nowhere." to which the great Beatle replied: "It would be going somewhere if you weren't so thick."
As another decade turned, Fluff had already started work presenting the Saturday Rock Show on London's Capital Radio, and was awarded the title of 'Sony Radio Personality of the Year' in 1987, before returning to the BBC, aged 61, to host another set of Radio 1 rock shows as well as 'POTP' which took on another run from 1989 - 1993. He was invited to do the latter, but wanted to do the former - the former was scheduled and so was the latter by then station manager Johnny Beerling. The run ended five years later, when Fluff was 66, because of the further draw of commercial radio - Fluff this time enjoying a stint for Virgin Radio, through to 1997.
During 1992, a highlight was introducing Emerson, Lake & Palmer on stage at London's Royal Albert Hall to a packed crowd, but also around the same time, Alan first announced that he was beginning to suffer from arthritis, and as the years passed, the condition spread from the base of his spine to his legs. By the age of 72, he was forced to use a walking frame. But, despite the onset of this crippling disease, Freeman continued working.
In late 1992, Alan joined 'Right Said Fred', Bernard Cribbins, Basil Brush, Hugh & Laurie and a vast array of pop stars and other comedians on the 'Right Said Fred' single for Comic Relief 'Stick It Out' which first charted in February 1993 and reached number 4, staying in the charts for 7 weeks and raising loads of cash for worthy causes.
The following year, Alan caused many viewers to Breakfast Television to choke on their toast and corn-flakes when he suddenly stated that he had been celibate since 1981, but had previously been bisexual! Single throughout his life, he once described himself as "neuter" although occasionally suggesting that there was indeed someone special in his life, he was reportedly wary of lasting attachments - admitting that radio was his first love, once describing the medium as "my friend, my love, my everything for most of my life." "If I was gay I would say so," "I have someone. Someone who I know will spend the last years with me. She has always remained in the background, but she has always been there for me."
During 1994, TV comedians Harry Enfield and Paul Whitehouse were milking off the cream of the British radio crop by morphing scores of popular DJs in a final fling of their widely popular characatures - Radio FAB-FM DJs Mike Smash and Dave Nice - despite being part of the morphing, Fluff took the joke squarely on the chin and appeared in a TV special 'Smashey and Nicey - the end of an era' for BBC Television - seen walking through the corridors of Broadcasting House on a Zimmer. The two characatures would nevertheless see the downfall of most of the lampooned Radio 1 stars courtesy of one Matthew Bannister.
In 1997, BBC Radio 2 were clever enough to bring back 'Pick Of The Pops' along with Alan, who had previously only presented documentaries following a period of semi-retirement. 'POTP' included all the classical excerpts familiar to listeners and Alan in between the hits, whilst also periodically presenting Radio 1 Rock Shows in the same style. As Alan worked through the years, Radio 2 let him enthuse on his love of classical music which led to a three-year run of 'Their Greatest Bits' - both shows running from 1997 until Fluff called it a day in 2001, albeit appearing as the host of the odd documentary for the network. In the interim, he paid a visit to the Queen in 1998 to receive his CBE (Commander of the British Empire) - a hugely popular and deserved award. He recorded the final 'Their Greatest Bits' on March 9th 2001 - around the same time as his jaw - working so well, for so long, developed osteomyelitis, a bone infection.
Despite being an asthma sufferer throughout his life, he enjoyed a fair few cigarettes during the day, and for most of his life, with both Asthma being a regular nuisance, and Arthritis getting the better of those famous disc playing hands over latter years. Health-wise, back in 1989, the media reported that doctors had given him two years to live unless he packed in the weed - Freeman was defiant - "I'm a pretty unhealthy guy. I know it's not doing me any good, but I want to live life to the full rather than torturing myself. I can't think of anything worse than depriving myself of the few things I really enjoy."
Having endured two falls during the early part of 2000, with regret, Alan handed over the reigns of "Pops" to the man who periodically filled in for him, ex-Radio Trent man, Dale Winton who remains as quite able host today, armed with all those classical bits listeners are so familiar with. In handing over he said he did it because "because I didn't quite have the bite I used to, and if you're frightened of doing something then it's probably a good idea to pack it in". His last show was on 21 April 2000, when he played John Leyton's 1960 hit 'Johnny Remember Me' one of many chart-topping hits he'd launched to popular acclaim over his broadcasting career. The 2000 hand-over was coincidental with the receipt of a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards. He received his award from Dale, who said that Alan was"...a man who has served, and is held in the highest affection by, quite literally every sector of our industry".
The man who coined the immortal phrases "Greetings Pop-pickers', and "Greetings Music Lovers" moved into retirement at Twickenham's Brinsworth House home, a nursing home run by the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund. Little was heard apart from general reports about him being in reasonable health, and, despite his advancing years, still very much the same old Fluff. He was visited by scores of friends throughout his retirement, counting the likes of Chris Tarrant and John Peel among his radio mates, and musically, Sir Paul McCartney and Robert Plant. Towards the end of his career, in December 1999, the radio world held its breath as Fluff was taken to hospital with what doctors suspected was a mini-stroke, however, he recovered to satisfactory extents, and returned to his Twickenham home to continue his retirement. In October 2006, he was treated in hospital for lack of nutrition and chest infection and in early November of the same year, was discharged back to the care of Brinsworth House.
Sadly, another completely irreplaceable radio legend was lost to the world on Monday 27th November 2006 when Alan passed away after a short period of illness - he was 79. Tributes immediately began pouring in and then out of the media. Long-time friend Chris Tarrant joked how amazed he was that anyone could build a career on just three simple phrases - 'Alright?', 'Stay bright!' and 'Not 'arf', whilst a spokesperson for long-term employer - the BBC described Fluff as 'self-effacing'.
Noel Edmonds paid a fitting tribute to his former colleague and mentor by reflecting back to the Luxembourg era, where Fluff presented his chart show. He said: "At the start of my career with Luxembourg, Alan was a major inspiration and a great support. It is very rare for any broadcaster to create an entirely new form of presentation. He'll always be remembered for achieving a unique style which was instantly recognisable." Amongst former and current BBC Radio management, ex-Radio 1 controller Matthew Bannister summed up Fluff as "...a true radio pioneer - it seems odd to think of it now, but he was the man who effectively invented the chart rundown, which is now such a staple of radio, and didn't exist in the 1950s when Alan arrived from Australia." The controller of BBC Radio 2 - Lesley Douglas said: "The words 'unique' and 'iconic' are overused - but in Alan Freeman's case, they are absolutely appropriate. He was a great broadcaster who was loved by listeners and colleagues alike."
Andy Kershaw said: "Alan was a lovely, lovely bloke. There was no ego to him, even though he was a national icon. You'd bump into him in the corridor and he'd say 'Hello lovely boy - how are you?' He just always took the time to make sure you were alright." Bob Harris highlighted his ability to "...go across genres and different musical tastes. Towards the end of his career on Radio 2, he was doing a weekly classical music programme much in the style of the way he presented 'Pick of the Pops'. So even there, he was bringing a kind of revolutionary new approach to classical music broadcasting.". Paul Gambaccini appeared on Radio 4's tribute to Fluff and said that he'd "...utilised the possibilities of sound in broadcasting. He had a much wider range of dynamics and pitch in his own voice and a use of musical clips and soundbites, as they would now be called, to give you a fuller palette. This was a major contribution to the medium," he said.
Fluff's final 20 years of life and work were overseen by his personal manager Tim Blackmore - he described Alan as "..a naturally warm man who never quite understood the nature of his appeal. He cared passionately for music of all kinds, for his family and his friends. Yet through his professional success, he still retained a total bewilderment that so much success and affection should have come his way. His was the creation of the chart countdown, his was the stunning combination of rock music and classical music, and his was the creation of minimalism in the art of the DJ. We will not see his like again, and our debt in response to his contribution is without equal."
"If God said 'OK Fluff, the moment you die you can come back and do it all over again,'" he once said, "I'd honestly have to say 'No thanks.' I've enjoyed my life. I've been tremendously lucky. But once is enough. When the time comes I would like to bow out suddenly in the middle of a broadcast. The headline will be simply: 'Fluff snuffs it'."
External Links: (please e-mail if these links no longer work)
http://alan-freeman.gonetoosoon.co.uk/my_index.php
http://www.redferns.com/propxt/main/search_string~artid:14815::/ltext~Alan%20FREEMAN
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