Radio interview with Kenneth Grant, 1972

[Michael Staley]

The endpapers of the recently republished Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God reproduce pocket-diary entries.

The entry for Tuesday, 30th May 1972 includes "BBC Radio London interview".

The entry for Saturday 3rd June, a few days later, includes "Me on BBC PICK O' THE WEEK!!!!".

The interview of BBC Radio London would likely have been in connection with the then-recent publication of The Magical Revival. It seems that the interview was repeated on "Pick of the Week", then a Radio 4 programme which was a compilation of highlights from the week's radio broadcasting.

Many years after the event, Steffi Grant wrote to the BBC to ask if a recording of the interview still existed, but the answer was no.

If anyone can suggest how we might make headway with tracking down, say, a home recording of this, we'd be grateful, and will of course make it available.

[Vadge Moore]

Wow. That would be spectacular...even if only the transcripts...but more so, of course, to hear Kenneth's voice---which sadly I was never able to do.

[Paolo]

I plan to chat to a few contacts who have helped with recovering lost Doctor Who regarding this. They will know who to ask and where to look. If the spectacular find of last week (and there is more to come) is any indication these people know their business and may be able to help.

Mick, additionally is it worth putting a note in the next Starfire. A lot of people who may have been of the age to record this may not be internet savvy and likely to frequent places such as this. However they may still be on journal lists and subscribe or read Starfire

cheers Paolo

[Michael Staley]

Vadge, this is the only reference I've so far come across to any interview, radio or television. Kenneth was from time to time invited to take part in planned television programmes concerning, for example, Spare or Crowley, but always declined. It's thus the only instance I'm aware of that his voice would have been recorded, alas.

Paolo, look forward to you conferring with your contacts on this. I take your point about there being many people interested in the occult but not involving themselves in forums such as this or LAShTAL, so yes a notice in the forthcoming issue of Starfire might yield results.

[Vadge Moore]

Michael- When Kenneth gave that interview to Skoob in the '90's I remember being so excited that I may have actually done a little dance.

[Michael Staley]

It's a fantastic text, Vadge, and was conducted by post. In fact, I wouldn't be too surprised if the questions weren't largely by Kenneth, too - they are somewhat leading.

[Vadge Moore]

I had wondered that myself, Michael. An inspiring interview. It was great to finally read an interview with the "sinister" Nosferatu of Thelema.

[stephen]

Can offer no information on that 'lost' recording, but both the voices of Kenneth and Steffi Grant are to be heard on the single released in the 1970s by Mike Magee which featured AC reciting 'La Gitana' and 'Pentagram' on the A side with a track entitled 'Scarlet Woman' by Chakra (I think it was that way around) on the B side.  Mike did the main vocals, Kenneth and Steffi the backing vocals - barbarous names from the Bornless Invocation, unless my vivid memory serves me wrong.  Personally, I rather liked it and still have my copy.

[nyar261]

Speaking of that: www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7X5BJJfTd8

[squareye]

Earlier this year there was a documentary on Bob Monkhouse (of Golden Shot fame). Apparently he was an obsessive recorder of radio & TV and collected a massive archive of recordings. It seemed no programme was too small for his recordings. Many of the programmes the BBC lost have been 'found' again because of this collection. The programme suggested that this archive might be auctioned off but for now is still in the hands of his estate. Perhaps someone at Auntie can help with more information on this?

[Paolo]

Given Michael's affection for Bob Monkhouse jokes it would be a beautifully poetic symmetry if the recording turns up there.

[Vadge Moore]

Wow. Thanks nyar261...there we have Kenneth and Steffi in the background.

[John Hope]

Michael, given the diary date for the interview (and it's nature) it may be possible that the interview was conducted as part of BBC Radio London's 'Breathrough' series, which began in October of 1970. Presented by Steve Bradshaw, and to quote from the John Peel Wiki, 'featured many guests from the hippy underground and the pop/rock scene (...)' So maybe The Magical Revival was in suitable programme context at the time. I have indeed found an episode listing for Tuesday, 30th May 1972 in reference to a Lou Reed recording.

[Michael Staley]

Many thanks, John, for that. Yes, you may well be right in that it was a part of a series. The pocket diary entry in which KG referred to the BBC Radio London interview on the 30th May doesn't give any further detail, alas; nor does the entry a few days later, referring to Pick of the Week, a weekly Radio 4 selection of the previous week's broadcasting.

I'll have another attempt at tracking this down.

[Paolo]

I have been digging through a few listings but there is not much out there. However the BBC have put a new resource out there - BBC Genome which details all the Radio Times listings.

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/

We should be able to work out the programme which I believe would have appeared here under the 30th May 1972. Michael - do you have any idea what radio station the interview was made.

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1c28663e3d8d4c95bdea78576541f382

The pick of the week show was here:

genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio4/fm/1972-06-03

Sadly I cannot find any actual mention of Kenneth Grant in these listings. However there is some hope to my mind that this might be the first step towards the BBC digitalising and putting all their content online one day. There we can all search through this as a collective effort.

cheers Paolo

[Paolo]

Bit off topic, but just a bit more information on the Genome project which leads me to have hope that everything surviving will be available on line at some point soon.

Its also worth searching for Aleister Crowley, regarding content on these pages in development.

www.bbc.com/news/technology-29643662

[Michael Staley]

The original interview was on BBC Radio London.