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This page lists all Friday Rock Show dates between 1978 and 1993. The aim is to bring together the information presented on this site in one place and to allow easy access to those wishing to locate a particular show. There is no attempt to indicate availability of recordings: visit the individual year pages for this information. The sessions are assumed to be the first TX: they are bracketed if the session is a repeat. Note that the show featured repeats of sessions recorded for John Peel until October 1979 (exceptions are noted after the relevant artists). Please add any missing information.

Dates in chronological order[]

1978[]

  • 17/11 Yes live at Wembley
  • 24/11 First FRS proper. Elvis Costello, Racing Cars: first record played is AC/DC, 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation'
  • 01/12 X-Ray Spex, Be Bop Deluxe
  • 08/12 XTC, Robin Trower
  • 15/12 Flys, Lone Star
  • 22/12 Cancelled due to industrial action
  • 29/12 Genesis live at Knebworth


1979[]

From this point on, sessions recorded for FRS unless otherwise stated

1980[]

1981[]

1982[]

  • 01/01 (Deep Purple live at California Jam)
  • 08/01 (As Above..So Below, Boxer (unknown))
  • 15/01 Saracen, Stone The Crows (Bob Harris)
  • 22/01 (Atomic Rooster), Gary Boyle (Peel)
  • 29/01 Raven, Jethro Tull
  • 05/02 Enid live at the Oden, Hammersmith
  • 12/02 Judas Priest live at the Odeon, Hammersmith
  • 19/02 Mama's Boys (Irish music special)
  • 26/02 Marillion, (38 Special live)
  • 05/03 (Euphoria), Gong (unknown)
  • 12/03
  • 19/03 Interview with Asia
  • 26/03 Tytan, Phil Manzanera & 801 (Peel)
  • 02/04 (Steve Hackett, Samson and Trust live from Reading)
  • 09/04
  • 16/04 No Quarter, (Gillan live at Reading)
  • 23/04 (Raven, Whitesnake (Andy Peebles))
  • 30/04 Tank, Blackfoot live at Monsters Of Rock, Donington
  • 07/05 Gillan
  • 14/05
  • 21/05
  • 28/05 Stampede
  • 04/06
  • 11/06 Heavy Pettin
  • 18/06 (Tytan), Greenslade (Bob Harris)
  • 25/06 Chinatown
  • 02/07
  • 09/07 Geordie
  • 16/07
  • 23/07 (Pink Floyd live at Wembley performing Dark Side Of The Moon)
  • 30/07 Fist, Cream (various)
  • 06/08 Alkatrazz
  • 13/08
  • 20/08 Terraplane
  • 27/08
  • 03/09 (Heavy Pettin)
  • 10/09
  • 17/09 Chinatown
  • 24/09 Iron Maiden, Bernie Torme, Gary Moore and Praying Mantis live from Reading
  • 01/10
  • 08/10 Bernie Marsden, Twisted Sister, Y & T and Michael Schenker Group live from Reading
  • 15/10 Geoff Barton sits in
  • 22/10 Tobruk, Tyrannosaurus Rex / T. Rex (Peel, DLT): Geoff Barton sits in
  • 29/10
  • 05/11 Movie Stars, David Bowie (various)
  • 12/11
  • 19/11 Four Ever Rock (fourth annual listener's chart)
  • 26/11 Rock Goddess
  • 03/12
  • 10/12 Chasar
  • 17/12 Saxon live, (Movie Stars)
  • 24/12 and 31/12 No FRS

1983[]

FRS now 9-12 (first hour on FM in London and the South-East, elsewhere medium wave only)

  • 07/10
  • 14/10
  • 21/10 Man and Thin Lizzy live at Reading
  • 28/10
  • 04/11 Dio live at Donington
  • 11/11 ZZ Top live at Donington
  • 18/11 Fifth birthday show
  • 25/11 Pendragon
  • 02/12
  • 09/12 Pretty Maids
  • 16/12
  • 23/12 (Solstice), Def Leppard
  • 30/12

1984[]

FRS loses one hour, now 10-12 again

  • 05/10 Di'Anno
  • 12/10
  • 19/10 Tokyo Blade, (Dirty Strangers)
  • 26/10 Deep Purple special
  • 02/11
  • 09/11 Wildfire (2)
  • 16/11 6th birthday show
  • 23/11 Kerrang! Wooargh! Weekender: Dumpy's Rusty Nuts, Twelfth Night, Waysted, Nazareth
  • 30/11
  • 07/12 All records
  • 14/12 Phil Lynott and Grand Slam, Spider and Motörhead live at the Kerrang Weekender
  • 21/12 (Hanoi Rocks)
  • 28/12

1985[]

  • 04/01
  • 11/01 Abandon City
  • 18/01 (Wildfire (2)) and live concert from Bon Jovi in Ipswich, October 1984
  • 25/01 Robin George, (Tokyo Blade)
  • 01/02 Dio live
  • 08/02 Chrome Molly, (Terraplane)
  • 15/02 (Abandon City, Di'Anno)
  • 22/02 Snowblind
  • 01/03 (Robin George)
  • 08/03 Uli Jon Roth, (Scorched Earth)
  • 15/03 (Chrome Molly), Roy Harper (unknown)
  • 22/03 Ozzy Osbourne and Gary Moore live at Monsters Of Rock, Donington
  • 29/03 Lionheart
  • 05/04 Accept and Y & T live at Monsters Of Rock, Donington
  • 12/04 Pet Hate
  • 19/04 Lemmy sits in: all records
  • 26/04 Gunslingers
  • 03/05 (Uli Jon Roth)
  • 10/05 Live performances from Dumpy’s Rusty Nuts, Twelfth Night, Waysted, Nazareth at the 1984 Caister Weekend festival
  • 17/05 Anaconda
  • 24/05 Bryan Adams live at the Odeon, Hammersmith
  • 31/05 Blind Fury, (Lionheart)
  • 07/06 Firm, highlights of concert
  • 14/06 Lyin' Rampant, (Pet Hate)
  • 21/06 Live at Knebworth Park: records and Ian Gillan interview
  • 28/06
  • 05/07 Wishbone Ash
  • 12/07 (Gunslingers)
  • 19/07 Tara Zara
  • 26/07
  • 02/08 Hawkwind
  • 09/08 (Anaconda), Bon Jovi live at the Ipswich Gaumont
  • 16/08 Venom
  • 23/08 (Blind Fury)
  • 30/08 (Bryan Adams live at the Odeon, Hammersmith)
  • 06/09 Tygers Of Pan Tang #2
  • 13/09 (Lyin' Rampant)
  • 20/09 Rogue Male
  • 27/09 (Wishbone Ash)
  • 04/10 No FRS: TV presents Knebworth Through The Night
  • 11/10 No FRS: TV co-presents Radiofun 85
  • 18/10 Streets On Fire [1]
  • 25/10 Saxon live at the Odeon, Hammersmith
  • 01/11 (Venom, Tara Zara)
  • 08/11 Tormé, (Tygers Of Pant Tang)
  • 15/11 Birthday Programme (seventh listener's chart)
  • 22/11 (Hawkwind)
  • 29/11 Roger Waters live in New York, 1984
  • 06/12 Damacles
  • 13/12 So What
  • 20/12 (Rogue Male)
  • 27/12

1986[]

1987[]

1988[]

Show moves to 10.30-12.30

1989[]

Show reverts to 10-12

  • 07/04 Mammoth
  • 14/04 (Mantas)
  • 21/04
  • 28/04 Europe live at the Hammersmith Odeon
  • 05/05 Johnny Diesel & The Injectors, (Under Neath What)
  • 12/05 (Dave Sharma), (Snyper)
  • 19/05 Hillsborough Disaster Appeal Charity Show: co-hosted with Alan Freeman
  • 26/05 Gun, Electric Boys: Dante Bonutto sits in
  • 02/06 Dante Bonutto sits in
  • 09/06
  • 16/06 All records [14]
  • 23/06 Iron Maiden live at the Monsters of Rock Festival at Castle Donington, 1988-08-20
  • 30/06 All records
  • 07/07 (Horse London)
  • 14/07 Dirty Dogs, Mournblade
  • 21/07 (Mammoth)
  • 28/07 Kiss at the 1988 Monsters Of Rock
  • 04/08 Zed Yago and W.A.S.P. live
  • 11/08 Samson
  • 18/08 (Gun)
  • 25/08 Nous Sommes
  • 01/09 Romeo's Daughter
  • 08/09 (Dirty Dogs) [15]
  • 15/09 Lisa Dominque
  • 22/09 Almighty
  • 29/09 Mournblade
  • 06/10 USI
  • 13/10 (Samson)
  • 20/10 Cloven Hoof
  • 27/10 No FRS: TV presents Moscow Music Peace Festival, featuring many rock bands
  • 03/11 Sweet Addiction
  • 10/11 Live recording from Mayfair Suite, Newcastle on 07/11/89 featuring Little Angels
  • 17/11 Nous Sommes
  • 24/11 Dirty Weekend
  • 01/12 Interview with Bruce Dickinson, Dave Gilmour, Ian Gillan and Jeff Downes (Life Aid Armenia)
  • 08/12 (Romeo's Daughter)
  • 15/12
  • 22/12 Best Of 80s Rock Chart #1
  • 29/12 Best Of 80s Rock Chart #2

1990[]

  • 05/01
  • 12/01 Sian, (Lisa Dominique)
  • 19/01 Xentrix
  • 26/01 Quireboys
  • 02/02 China White
  • 09/02 Almighty
  • 16/02 Britny Fox
  • 23/02 Sweet Addiction
  • 02/03 Faith No More live from University Of East Anglia
  • 09/03 USI
  • 16/03
  • 23/03 Geneva
  • 30/03 (Little Angels)
  • 06/04 Dawn Patrol
  • 13/04 Live on air from the Mayfair Suite, Newcastle: sets from Thunder and Stage Dolls
  • 20/04 Dirty Weekend
  • 27/04 Giant
  • 04/05 Nemesis
  • 11/05
  • 18/05 Cyan
  • 25/05 Tigertailz
  • 01/06 King's X. Produced by Dave Shack
  • 08/06 (Xentrix)
  • 15/06 Tortoise Corpse
  • 22/06 (China White)
  • 29/06 Dirty White Boy
  • 06/07 (Geneva)
  • 13/07 Frozen Heart
  • 20/07
  • 27/07
  • 03/08 Riff
  • 10/08
  • 17/08 Brazil
  • 24/08 Loud
  • 31/08 Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble live at the Reading Festival in 1983
  • 07/09 Graffiti
  • 14/09 (Nemesis)
  • 21/09
  • 28/09
  • 05/10 Cumbria Rock Festival featuring Romeo's Daughter, Wolfsbane, Saxon
  • 12/10 (If Only)
  • 19/10 (Tortoise Corpse)
  • 26/10 Lionsheart
  • 02/11 Cumbria Rock Festival featuring Almighty, Dogs D'Amour, Magnum
  • 09/11 Roma
  • 16/11 12th anniversary show: listener's chart
  • 23/11 (Frozen Heart)
  • 30/11 Cheap 'N' Nasty
  • 07/12 (Dirty White Boy)
  • 14/12 Fahrenheit
  • 21/12 (Riff)
  • 28/12 No FRS: TV presents The Christmas Concerts Pt. 1 (Whitesnake live at Monsters Of Rock, Donington)

1991[]

  • 04/01 First Strike
  • 11/01
  • 18/01 Show one hour only, 11-12
  • 25/01 Demon
  • 01/02 Graffiti
  • 08/02 (Loud)
  • 15/02 Taliesin
  • 22/02 If Only
  • 01/03 Winger
  • 08/03 Lionsheart
  • 15/03 Sixsmyth
  • 22/03
  • 29/03
  • 05/04 Judas Priest special. Debut of the Gallup UK top 30 rock singles charts on the programme
  • 12/04 More 'N' More
  • 19/04
  • 26/04 Galahad
  • 03/05
  • 10/05 Little Big Horn
  • 17/05 Burlesque
  • 24/05 Mick Wall sits in
  • 31/05 DC Kicks: Mick Wall sits in
  • 07/06 (Taliesen)
  • 14/06 Power House
  • 21/06 (Winger)
  • 28/06
  • 05/07 State Of Shock
  • 12/07 Throbs
  • 19/07 (Sixsmyth)
  • 26/07 Heartland
  • 02/08 Love/Hate
  • 09/08 (More 'N' More)
  • 16/08
  • 23/08 Ark
  • 30/08 Lisa Dominique, Rattlesnake Kiss, Sweet Addiction and Jagged Edge live at Cumbria Rock, Workington
  • 06/09
  • 13/09
  • 20/09 (Galahad)
  • 27/09
  • 04/10
  • 11/10 Screaming Jets
  • 18/10
  • 25/10
  • 01/11
  • 08/11 (Burlesque)
  • 15/11 (Balaam And The Angel)
  • 22/11
  • 29/11 (Power House)
  • 06/12
  • 13/12
  • 20/12
  • 27/12 Top 30 albums of the year

1992[]

  • 03/01 Dangerous
  • 10/01 Screaming Jets
  • 17/01
  • 24/01 (Dangerous)
  • 31/01 Grace In Danger
  • 07/02 Two Tribes
  • 14/02 Manic Street Preachers
  • 21/02
  • 28/02 Gun #2
  • 06/03

Show moves back an hour, 9-11

  • 13/03 Big Chill
  • 20/03
  • 27/03
  • 03/04 Israfel
  • 10/04
  • 17/04 Electric Boys
  • 24/04
  • 01/05
  • 08/05 Karrallon
  • 15/08
  • 22/05 Girlschool #3
  • 29/05
  • 05/06
  • 12/06 Loermel
  • 19/06
  • 26/06 Bleeding Hearts
  • 03/07 Love/Hate live on air from London Astoria
  • 10/07 Soundgarden
  • 17/07 (Israfel)
  • 24/07 Nightstalker
  • 31/07 Alan Freeman sits in: (Electric Boys)
  • 07/08 Original Sinners
  • 14/08 (Karrallon)
  • 21/08 Interview with Thunder
  • 28/08 Mother's Finest live from London Astoria
  • 04/09 (Girlschool)
  • 11/09 Badlands live
  • 18/09 Skyclad, (Loermel) [16]
  • 25/09 Interviews with Lollapalooza Festival participants
  • 02/10 Emerson Lake & Palmer live at the Royal Albert Hall
  • 09/10 Boethius Saul
  • 16/10 Chase
  • 23/10 (Bleeding Hearts)
  • 30/10
  • 06/11 Type
  • 13/11 (Soundgarden)
  • 20/11 World
  • 27/11 (Nightstalker)
  • 04/12 Torment
  • 11/12 (Mother's Finest live from London Astoria)
  • 18/12 (Paradise Lost)
  • 25/12 No FRS

1993[]

  • 01/01 (Boethius Saul), Rush live at Wembley Arena [17]
  • 08/01 (Original Sinners)
  • 15/01 Strongheart
  • 22/01 All Time Heavy Metal/Rock tracks (#42 to #24) (#23 to #01 broadcast on Alan Freeman's show next day)
  • 29/01
  • 05/02 (Skyclad)
  • 12/02 Trumpetworm
  • 19/02
  • 26/02
  • 05/03
  • 12/03 Voodoo Sue
  • 19/03 (Chase)
  • 26/03 (World)
  • 02/04 (Little Angels #2). Final FRS for TV, co-presented by Clare Sturgess: last record played is AC/DC, 'Rock 'N' Roll Damnation'
Footnotes
  1. According to the Radio Times, the Tara Zara repeat was originally scheduled for this show.
  2. The scheduled Streets On Fire repeat was shelved and never rescheduled.
  3. Waters recorded no sessions for FRS: this is probably a repeat of 29/11/85.
  4. Billed as 'Paul Samson's Empire.'
  5. The Radio Times claims Persian Risk was the session TX.
  6. According to Ken Garner's In Session Tonight (BBC Books, 1993, p. 280). The Radio Times claims that a repeat of Huw Lloyd Langton was TX.
  7. Garner lists no FRS sessions for Motörhead.
  8. "Warlock in session" (Radio Times) No sessions for this band listed in Garner.
  9. Radio Times lists Skagarak (sic) in session.
  10. According to the Radio Times [1], Idol Rich's debut was scheduled.
  11. This replaced their set from Donington, vetoed by Blackie Lawless due to what he considered a poor performance.
  12. Garner claims a second Vow Wow session debut (undoubtedly mistaken for the live set).
  13. Originally to have been played the previous week, but TV forgot to do so due to long interview.
  14. The planned Iron Maiden live set was postponed to the following week due to technical problems.
  15. Billed as Killer Dogs due to band's name change in the interim.
  16. Ken Garner's In Session Tonight (p. 294) claims the Skyclad session was broadcast the previous week, but an available recording confirms this date.
  17. "A festive extravaganza featuring one of the best rock concerts of the year." (Radio Times)
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