This study is an historical and critical analysis of pirate radio in Europe generally and Great Britain in particular. The purpose of this study is to outline the history of pirate radio, and to assess its influence upon the British radio broadcast system. Research material employed in this study includes historical accounts of pirate radio in Europe, British Governmental documents, periodical articles, and autobiographies of relevant British politicians of the period. This study concludes that the establishment of a legal commercial radio broadcast system in 1972 was a direct result of the existence of the British off-shore "pirate" radio stations from 1964 to 1967.