John Peel RIP

as other Americans have noted, I only became aware of him through the mighty Peel Sessions releases. To me, the definitive version of "New Rose" remains the Peel one which starts with "Are we really 65 on the charts?!" First heard it -- and first heard The Damned -- on the 21 Years of Alternative Radio CD from 1988; it would be a couple years before I heard the original. And yeah, as others mentioned, was first able to hear him live these last few years thanks to the miracle of this here internet. Most recently, just a few weeks ago when he had Jeff Mills on. Thanks as ever to DJ Martian for posting about that one, and for generally keeping us all informed when there would be interesting guests on the show.

I've known at least two or three minor US indie bands over the years who were positively thrilled to have received play on Peel's show. Forget about minor victories like selling out a press-run of a self-released single or CD; it seemed like the ultimate validation was to get airplay on the Peel show, even if only once.

First thing I instinctively reached for was the Soft Machine Peel Sessions, where Wyatt improvises lyrics to "Moon in June" including a shout-out to Mr. Peel. Got the Dandelion catalog (Siren, Medicine Head, Tractor, Bridget) and some Fall cued up next. Thanks for your good work, John.

In the early '90s, Carol and I used to occasionally give our last half-hour on the air to one of those packaged "Peel Out in the States" shows. Unless I'm misremembering, even there sometimes he'd start a record at the wrong speed.

this person reckoned that the beeb would never again allow one person to gain so much internal political clout as JP - one of the radio 1 studio's aircon goes down, many requests for action to R1 management, nothing - this had been going for months and months. JP is informed of problem, digs out bulging private phonebook and calls one of BBC governors at home, next day problem sorted.

BBC, UK, everyone had him down to keep broadcasting 'til he croaked Alistair Cooke style ie 80? 90? 100? who gives a fuck? they would've knighted him long ago if he would've been uncool enough to accept it.

Home Truths was gonna be his vehicle into serene senility.

so young. very very sad.

it's pretty early on, around 15 mins in? it may be listed as a Mr & Mrs Christmas track on the site

I meant to ask, what was the last song he spun over the air?

RIP.

I'm listening (via R1 stream) to the Peel tribute show. It's great, they're playing everything from faves I know and love ("Love Will Tear Us Apart", "Chime") to things I hadn't heard about before today's threads (The Damned's "Cars" "cover", Laura Cantrell). They've just played PJ Harvey and SFA back-to-back. This is great fun, albeit bittersweet fun, of course :(

A major loss to British broadcasting, and it does feel personal: he did so much to get me into alternative music of all sorts, and importantly did it in an avuncular, laconic way.
One of his major contributions was to increase a knowledge and love of music in his listeners; the younger of us (I first heard him aged 14 in 1997) have benefitted not just from his shows, but the passions they have instilled over the years in his listeners... he does have a legacy and it is showed in the effect upon so many listeners. Let's hope that his example can be followed... he is an 'irreplaceable' personality, my word yes, but there's an ethos that I don't feel we can afford to lose.

Heartfelt condolences to his family, and rest in peace John.

I first heard him aged 14 in 1987. I love that the 10 year age gap just changes one digit.

Still can't find the words. A personal hero, and an absolute lifeline during my miserable fucked-up adolescence.

As has been said in one of these threads; it just felt warm and right that he always was *there*, doing his show in inimitable fashion, even if we might have moved on from being regular listeners...

Seriously, this is so fucked. I hope the BBC have got at some of those shows on tape. I hope they start classes *teaching* DJs to appreciate music like JP did.

Won't make for the loss of the guy himself though :-(

Samurai Seven - Sound Of The Suburbs
High Fidelity - Lazy B
Delgados - Everything Goes Around The Water
Radio Sweethearts - Real Ghost Town
Nought - Cough Cap Kitty Cat (1998)
Pat Thomas - Remembering
Lab 4 - Reformation II
Lucie Chivers - Dioddef Amdanat
Reviver Gene - Strap Me Up
60ft Dolls - Baby Says Yeah
Blew - In C
The Jones Machine - That Booze Magic (Cheggars Mix)

Robert Wyatt - Free Will And Testament
Solid Doctor - Holy Roller
Back To Base - Electric Eye (Crown Yourself King Mix)
Mr Ed - Blue
Lianne Hall - Cosy
Fun'da'mental - Ja Sha Taan
Exploding Thumbs - Desert Song
Waterson-Carthy - Ye Mariners All
Twosheds - Don't Go To Darlington
Myormay - Clear
Comatose - Turtle's Head

Still struggling to come to any sort of terms about this; especially as it does feel all too likely that we might have seen the end of his sort of ethos; aye, the Reithian ideal, but geared towards independent/alternative ends... it may be possible there could be a national DJ with a notably eclectic taste in records, but it'll take an awful lot of time for anyone to match the broadcasting skills of Peel, and crucially his empathy with all the listeners; he brought a lot more to the table than just a wide musical taste... his whole character was wonderfully reassuring and 'traditional' in some ways, and this, i think, helped him achieve an audience for his music shows...

Marcello is spot-on in mentioning Stanshall and Cutler, btw, in his blog tribute; he did more than any in encouraging these sort of incomparable people. Peel was good in not just going for blanket 'styles' of music, but finding people who didn't fit into 'genres' one iota.

And it could be Geoff, and it could be John
With a new ball sting in his tail
And it could be me, and it could be thee
And it could be the sting in the ale.

I only ever got hear him via the BBC World Service once a week. In that short space of time they broadcasted his hour-long show, I was totally thankful to finally hear what all the fuss was about after only ever reading about this legend (yes 'legend' is now offical) in UK mags such as NME, Record Collector, MOJO, and radio guides.

It's weird, tears have welled up after reading everyone's posts, and yet, I too, feel I've taken the same journey as others on ILM. He was the "Indie Uncle" I never knew! The respect I garnered for him was due to what I'd read other than heard. Damn! I just wish I had a friend in England who could have sent me regular tapes of his shows, looking back.

My sympathies go out to everyone who sheltered under his musical umbrella: he would have been the only reason I wished I was a teenager throughout the '70s.

To quote one of the great '80s bands he so championed.."There is a light that never goes out...".

Rest In Eternal Peace" John Peel

courtesy of TV Cream (UK)