Kool London, also known as Kool FM, is a former London
pirate radio
Pirate radio or a pirate radio station is a radio station that broadcasts without a valid license.
In some cases, radio stations are considered legal where the signal is transmitted, but illegal where the signals are received—especially ...
station that now broadcasts as an
internet radio
Online radio (also web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio, IP radio, Internet radio) is a digital audio service transmitted via the Internet. Broadcasting on the Internet is usually referred to as webcasting since it is not transmitted ...
station, playing
jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaá ...
,
drum and bass, and
old skool. Kool is generally regarded as being instrumental in the development of the jungle music scene.
History
Kool first broadcast on 28 November 1991 on the frequency of 94.5FM, from
Hackney, East London.
Kool has stated that it was ''"the very first pirate station ever to play hardcore jungle"''.
would call it ''"London's ruling pirate station"'' in an account of the beginnings of
jungle
A jungle is land covered with dense forest and tangled vegetation, usually in tropical climates. Application of the term has varied greatly during the past recent century.
Etymology
The word ''jungle'' originates from the Sanskrit word ''jaá ...
in his book
Energy Flash
''Energy Flash: A Journey Through Rave Music and Dance Culture'' is a book by English music journalist Simon Reynolds which chronicles the development of dance and rave music from the mid 1980s to the early 2000s. The book was published in the U ...
, whilst in
State of Bass, Martin James would consider it ''"The single most important pirate station in jungle"''.
[Martin James: ''State of Bass''. Boxtree 1997, , p.50.]
By late 1992, Kool started to promote its own events, leading to the founding of ''Jungle Fever'' in August 1993. Jungle Fever nights have been held at venues such as the
Astoria and
The Edge
David Howell Evans (born 8 August 1961), better known as the Edge or simply Edge,McCormick (2006), pp. 21, 23–24 is an English-born Irish musician, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist, keyboardist, and backing voca ...
.
In July 1993, its then-neighbouring station also broadcasting from the
Nightingale Estate
The Nightingale Estate is located in the Lower Clapton area of the London Borough of Hackney, next to Hackney Downs. The estate originally consisted of six 22 story tower blocks, but was redeveloped between 2003-2006 and replaced with mostly low- ...
,
''Rush FM'', was subject to a high profile raid by the authorities leading to media accusations of drug dealing at raves promoted by the two stations.
In April 1996, Kool was featured in a
BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
''First Sight'' documentary about pirate radio in London, in which its ''Kool Skool'' club night also appeared.
In the same year, it branched out by launching a sister station, ''Kool FM Midlands'' based in
, which continued until 2002.
In May 2007, Kool FM featured in a BBC London News report about pirate radio station interference to the emergency services and their use of the airwaves.
In August 2010, Kool relaunched as ''Kool London'' and now operates as an internet radio station, providing a live audio stream on its website as well as archived shows.
. The first in 2013 as part of his graduate final year project at the
forming part of his ''Concrete Pitch'' show.
The station celebrated its 30th birthday on 28 November 2021, with an event at the