Sharing a cuppa tea with…Emperor Rosko

Jul 10, 2017 | News Beat

By Jane Quinn

Emperor Rosko talks about, Radio Caroline, getting tattoos in Hong Kong and looking at the pictures in Playboy?

Please allow me to introduce you to THE IMP…Michael Joseph ‘Mike’ Pasternak, or as you will know him – ‘Emperor Rosko’. He is an American presenter of pop music programmes most widely-known for his shows on Radio Caroline and BBC Radio 1 in the 1960s and 70s.

Around 1975, he briefly hosted Crackerjack on BBC TV, and also presented a few editions of Top of the Pops. He even recorded several records himself, such as Grabbit The Rabbit: a man of many talents and still going strong.

Check out his current programme on HIT45s.com.

Well readers…Are you ready to party? Tea party, that is…

1. Radio Caroline, BBC Radio 1, or Top of the Pops?
Actually, I probably liked Radio Caroline the best because of the excitement of all of it. Radio 1 was great because you didn’t have to go out to sea. Top of the Pops was different as it was visual and TV not radio. Radio Luxemburg was pretty good too.
All cool.

2. What do you wish you were better at?
I wish I had a memory because them I could be an actor because I could remember lines.

3. Who is Rosko?
Rosko is the king of thieves because, when I was first getting started, I would listen to about 10 of my favourite DJs and then take a little from this one, and a bit from that one until, eventually, it became me.

4. Do you have a tattoo?
I have two tattoos which are both hidden. I got them in Hong Kong.

5. What is your favourite comic book ever?
I never read comic books but my favourite cartoon was Mickey Mouse. Playboy was the first magazine I looked at because I liked the pictures.

6. If you could have invited anyone, living or not, to have joined our wee tea party; who would it have been?
Interesting question. I think I would invite Adam Levine from The Voice or maybe the country guy, Blake Shelton. Female-wise it would be Jennifer Lopez.

7. What was the first record you bought? Pretty sure it was How Much Is That Doggy in the Window?

8. Who have you asked for an autograph? Paul Anka was the first.

9. What is the meaning of life?
I think it is “appreciate what you’ve got”. Just enjoy yourself, do what you like, and live your life.

10. Is love all you need?
Well, I don’t know. You have to define the meaning of love. I am more of a “compatibility” guy.

11. Childhood celebrity crush? Jane Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Connie Frances.

12. Tell us a secret.
I thought I just did that! Another secret is that I will be in the UK the first half of September for a very limited time doing a secret tour.

13. What’s new?
The search for radio stations in the USA continues. And my radio show is going well, and I have now met Jane Quinn.

That all sounds good to me. And now, one more cuppa for the road.

Check out his website, www.emperorrosko.net

© JANE QUINN
Mighty Quinn Management
www.mightyquinnmanagement.com

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