The Internet gave David a chance to rekindle and develop his lifelong radio interests and study of rock radio.  He says: "Amazingly, much rock radio is still driven by a fairly restricted playlist rotating the familiar big name artists.  There is a lack of real depth in the programming.  With GRTR! Radio we like to give a voice to independent and upcoming artists as well as the more mainstream and we take great pleasure in searching out those who may have been overlooked or forgotten about over the years but who nevertheless repay greater investigation.  There are also specialist presented and continuous music sequences for a range of genres under a general classic rock banner."

David Randall in 1983

"It's amazing that the Internet now gives an opportunity to reach a global radio audience - it's created more of a level playing field -  and much of our feedback comes from outside the UK as listeners discover the refreshing music mix.  For example, we've had some great comments from listeners in North America which traditionally has been a stronghold for FM Rock Radio."

David established the radio channel after the demise of UK City Radio which broadcast his weekly show from 16 June 2007.  The idea was to complement the reviews and interviews that appeared on the well-established classic rock website Get Ready to ROCK!

His biggest radio heroes are those who trailblazed rock music in the UK sometimes in the face of adversity: Alan Freeman, Bob Harris and Johnnie Walker.  He aims to bring elements of their style and spirit to his own programming.  In particular, he was always very impressed with Bob Harris' overnight show for BBC Radio 1 in the early-1990s: "If there is a model for GRTR! Radio it is that.  Bob calls it a strip show, rather than a specialist sequence, but he played a really healthy selection of music with interviews and live sessions and before his subsequent more specialist Country and Americana interests."

David's own musical tastes came full circle with the start of the Get Ready to ROCK! website in 2003.  For a period in the eighties he was very interested in disco and funk music (with pop this formed the staple output of his hospital radio station) and the 1990s was something of a blank as music became less important in his life almost coinciding with Bob Harris' removal from Radio 1 as part of an old-school DJ cull in 1993.  Now fully reformed and enlightened, David cherishes that he started buying records in the early 1970s in what was a glorious and formative period for classic and progressive rock. 

If you'd like to make your own suggestions for any of our features (see below) or request a particular track please contact us.

The 'New to GRTR!' sequence is broadcast on Tuesdays at 16:00 showcasing new releases and gives a flavour of the range of music played on the station.

Live Legends

Two tracks featuring bands who are particularly renowned in the live context