Riding The Great Easton Express: Assessing the role of independent local radio rock shows on the development of hard rock and metal scenes in 1970s and 1980s Britain

While existing accounts emphasize the United Kingdom’s importance for the development of heavy metal, this article contends that the role of radio, particularly the independent local radio (ILR) station rock shows of the 1970s and 1980s, has been underplayed. Focusing on research into The Great Easton Express , a long-running rock show that was broadcast on Radio City in Liverpool, England, I examine how ILR afforded the production of material made by people interested in nurturing rock and metal scenes. Through qualitative approaches, the article reveals how the show fostered specific understandings of space, time, locality and community for listeners. Utilizing theories on social and (sub)cultural capital, it illustrates how understandings were enhanced by uses of time- and space-oriented mundane subcultural capital. The article reveals that this show enabled listeners to imagine themselves as part of a regional scene via a distinct sense of proximate locality that has since been largely lost.