A former guitarist and singer in Manchester clubs, and known for his lustrous hair and cheesy voice, Mike Read cut his teeth in hospital radio and at Radio Luxembourg.
He was snapped up by Radio 1 in 1978, and his career soared when he took over the flagship Breakfast Show in 1981, enjoying a high-profile five-year stint pulling in millions of listeners every morning.
Read famously banned Frankie Goes To Hollywood‘s song Relax from his show in January 1984 because he felt the lyrics were obscene. The BBC subsequently issued an official station ban, which backfired by fueling massive publicity and propelling the track straight to #1.
An avid musician, he wrote songs that were recorded by major artists, including Cliff Richard, David Essex, and Gene Pitney. He also composed the music and books for several stage musicals, including adaptations of Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol.
His play Oscar Wilde: The Musical was panned by critics and closed in the West End after one night in 2004.
Read is also a prolific writer, having authored over 50 books ranging from poetry and music biographies to historical works on British heritage.
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