In 1966, various Pirate radio in the United Kingdom broadcast to the United Kingdom from ships in international waters, specialising in rock music and pop music not played on BBC Radio. Seventeen-year-old Carl, recently expelled, is sent to stay with his godfather Quentin, who runs the station "Radio Rock" anchored in the North Sea. The eclectic crew of disc jockeys and staffers, led by brash American DJ "The Count", accept Carl as one of their own.