John Peel
A couple of weeks ago, the fifth anniversary of the sudden death of British DJ and Broadcaster John Peel (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004) transpired. I wish that I’d had the foresight to put something up to commemorate his truly spectacular career and lifes work, but I guess that it’s better late than never.
Peelie held a very special place in the hearts of most British music lovers. His late night specialist radio show brought successive generations of pioneering music to wider appeal. Starting on British Radio 1 in 1967, he played Psychadelic and Progressive Rock, then later Reggae, Punk and Indie, Hip Hop, Death Metal, Dance Music, US Grunge bands and many more genres before anyone else would.
He was particularly important to me for a variety of reasons. His tireless championing of new music included the first instance of me ever listening to Jungle/Drum & Bass, a music that went on to be a major part of my late teens and twenties. In addition his homely manner and ‘self effacing humour’ (he hated the phrase) meant that he was the celebrity that both my sister and myself would have chosen as a favourite uncle. We realised this when having a hypothetical conversation on the issue, when we both came back with the same answer. I think most music lovers whom spent their teens in the company of John would say the same thing.
Despite being in his mid 60’s when he died, he was still at the bleeding edge, playing grime and dubstep records (often selected by his son Tom) on national radio for the first time.
A fanatical collector, Peel owned over 100,000 records at the time of his death. Of these, he kept one box of singles in his study, so that they could be easily rescued should his home catch fire. Here’s a link to what was in it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Peel’s_Record_Box
The definitive list of the favourite records, of the most important broadcaster with the most important taste, in British broadcasting history.
Sleep well John. I miss you every day.
