Guerrilla Radio

Matthew Collin
May 2002     ISBN: 1560254041

They called themselves Serbia's "lost generation"; Milosevic's government called them traitors, spies and terrorists. Guerrilla Radio tells the astonishing story of a bunch of Belgrade kids and their pirate radio station B92. B92 started in the late eighties with the na�ve desire to simply play music but ended up facing two wars, economic sanctions, violent police and government crackdowns, the attentions of armed gangsters and neo-Nazi politicians, and ultimately became the focal point of a successful opposition movement against Slobodan Milosevic.

Before Milosevic was finally overthrown in October 2000, B92 had been closed down four times but--thanks to an inspired combination of courage, imagination and black humor and a playlist that included The Clash's "White Riot" and Public Enemy's rap manifesto "Fight the Power"--it miraculously persisted in broadcasting the truth despite government repression.

"A book that brilliantly lives up to its billing as the story of courageous young people who waged a ten-year campaign for freedom."

--Hot Press

"Matthew Collin's This is Serbia Calling...paints a picture of an inspiring organisation, founded on idealism and run by young people of conviction and courage. Subtitled Rock 'n' Roll Radio and Belgrade's Underground Resistance, the book shows that--in some places, at least--rock music is not a docile has-been but a powerful and liberating influence."

--Tom Doran, The Daily Telegraph

"Matthew Collin captures the conviction of a generation whose culture and identity were under siege. Real pop stars can inspire a revolution--B92's soundtrack of resistance ends in a triumphant celebration of the power of protest."

--Lisa Allardice, The Independent on Sunday

"What Collin's book does best is detail the equally surreal opposition to the regime.... From mothers taking babies to Milosevic's residence in order that the president take responsibility of them as a protest at a hike in VAT on milk, to the hurling of eggs at the federal parliament building, B92 and Serbian protesters always kept humour at the core of their protest and for that reason alone this book makes for a marvellously uplifting read."

--Tim Abrahams, The Sunday Herald

Matthew Collin, the author of Altered State: The Story of Ecstasy Culture and Acid House, has written a unique insider account of an epic cultural battle set in a world where rock 'n' roll and raves meets political activism. Guerrilla Radio ends with the dramatic overthrow of Milosevic--a stunning, surprising triumph of popular power.