2004 Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]

Subject: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:03 AM

John Peel died today aged 65.
well respected broadcaster, sypmathy to his wife Sheila , and the rest of the family.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:09 AM

He marked my generation's musical tastes, and I owe him much in that respect. I can only hope that he'll be introducing new musical styles where he's going.

RIP John, and thanks

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Chris Green
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:10 AM

Jesus! He'll be much missed. RIP John.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:15 AM

What devastating news.
John was my own personal style guru way back then, he informed much of my own tastes too and has continued to point me in the direction of good music ever since. Always admired and respected for his steadfast refusal to compromise and his matchless integrity, John will be sadly missed.
Yes, RIP John, and give 'em an earful wherever you are!
My condolencies and deepest sympathy to Sheila and the family.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:23 AM

I was listening to Home Truths last Saturday and wondered where he was.

Can't quite believe this news. Stunningly sad.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:29 AM

Just heard the tragic news. Much admired his broadcasting style and very distinctive voice, especially the "Classic" series for TV. He always gave the impression that he really cared for such things as old cement mixers and the like, and I'm sure he did.

Another 'VOICE' to add to the throng. Lucky Radio Heaven.

Condolencies.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:34 AM

"Lucky Radio Heaven"... I love that, Mingulay, it describes my feelings too.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts, Salt Town Poets
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:34 AM

John joins my ever-lengthening list of people who I can't believe have died (founder member: Eric Morecambe).
Some people have such an influence over our lives that it seems impossible to accept that tney are no longer with us.
R.I.P.John and many condolences to Sheila, his family and his many friends everywhere.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Fee
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:44 AM

I just saw this on the TV down in the canteen...I couldn't believe it either...

RIP John, a truly great broadcaster and one who'll be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Jess A
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 09:49 AM

Saturday mornings will not be quite the same ever again without John's Home Truths.

My thoughts go to his family. He will be sadly missed everywhere.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: pavane
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:00 AM

Sorry to hear the news.
He was responsible for presenting many folk artists on his BBC radio programs - examples being Steeleye Span and Nic Jones.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: rhyzla
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:03 AM

Terribly sad news - I will really miss him on 'Home truths' and his comments on Glastonbury Fest,

I'm lost for words .........

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Abuwood
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:08 AM

Sad news.
Saturday morning just won't be the same. His quips about living with teenagers helped me through those difficult times.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: chris nightbird childs
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:09 AM

A lot of people wouldn't be who they are without John Peel... Peace John.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:12 AM

What a shock. Apart from being a sincere and knowledgable presenter he also championed many up-and-coming bands. Back in the early seventies he gave great support to John Fiddler and Pete Hope-Evans, aka Medicine Head, offering encouragement, promoting their music and even buying them a decent van so they could travel form gig to gig relatively sure that they would actually get there.

He'll be sorely missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Partridge
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:12 AM

I echo others here, yep, "lucky old radio heaven"

Pat

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: VIN
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:42 AM

Its difficult to find the right words to describe John Peel's contribution to our music culture over the past 40 years or so. Perhaps 'AWSOME' comes near. He must have influenced and helped so many over all those years. He was honest in his approach, amazingly knowledgeable and never afraid to present something 'different' or experimental. I like many others, especially in the late sixties and early seventies got introduced to some amazing music through his programmes like 'Top Gear' like Tangerine Dream, Third Ear Band, Roy Harper, The Strawbs, The Floyd, Zeppelin etc etc. RIP John.

Condolences to Sheila and the kids.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,The Beast of Farlington
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:45 AM

He was THE MAN. RIP John Peel.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:46 AM

Our condolences go to John`s family on, what must be considered, his premature passing. It is obvious, from the previous postings, he was held in high regard by the correspondents but it must be said, in the 70`s he also aired some bilge punk groups, often described as "the very excellent."

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:53 AM

Thanks Mr Jampton. The term 'mean spirited' was invented for such as you.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: IanC
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 10:58 AM

It's true, JP played some real crap, but that was part of the appeal.

You never knew whether the next thing he'd play would be complete rubbish or the best thing yet.

He was my hero right from the Pirate Radio days, up to the last Home Truths.

He also managed to play more folk than most of the "Folk" programs on the radio.

God bless you, John.

:-)

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Gervase
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:01 AM

I'm gobsmacked. He's been a presence in my inner ear for as long as I can remember, even if Home Truths sometimes made me want to set about my fellow humans with an axe!
Link here. He's irreplaceable.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: treewind
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:08 AM

A great shame, when he seemed to have so much life left in him.
As for the dodgy bands - the point is he was one of the few broadcasters with the courage to take risks - a very rare breed now.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Mingulay
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:11 AM

Who put the Hugh Jampton in Scunthorpe?

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Hugh Jampton
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:18 AM

D.Roberts,
          Do I take it then that your comment is also aimed at IanC and Treewind? Just because John Peel has gone does not mean these things did not happen. There is no "mean spirited" intention at all, just one persons opinion of how he saw it.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Dave Roberts
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:25 AM

OK. Point taken. JP did play some crap. He was bound to over such a long broadcasting Career. My point was that this might not be the time to point the fact out. Sorry for any offence.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Scouse
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:30 AM

He did a great job for me.. listening to him sort of kept me in touch with "Scouseland." his voice always made me feel I was down in a pub in Lime street 'avin' a pint and as a Folkie, brought me into contact with one of the many other sides of music. Oh, and "Home truths was just magic.. I will me him greatly. as aye, Phil Jackson

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: VIN
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:05 PM

Like i've said he and, for many years his producer the late John Walters, were not afraid of playing things out of the 'main stream' or pure 'pop culture' thing as if saying 'hey listen to this, see what you think, its different'.   You may have liked it or loathed it but it was different.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:22 PM

I will miss John,i can just remember him in the sixties and recently with his reports on Glastonbury.
Regards to his family to whom they have lost a great husband and father.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Tam the Bam (Nutter)
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:24 PM

So Sad RIP John

I never listened to him on the radio, but I've seen him on Televsion and it's sad that he's gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,Frug
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:34 PM

What a loss ! John was a great asset to the development of musical tastes in this country and also provided opportunities for many alternative performers to air their work. True, he had some interesting and very varied tastes however the gateway that he provided did I'm sure contribute to the evolution of new musical styles. On his late night programme you might hear anything from Frank Zappa, Dylan, The Stones, Ivor Cutler or the Boudini Tribe Women performing tribal chants. Apart from mourning the man, we are also mourning the loss of his knowledge, and his dry sometimes ascerbic wit but moreso a champion of the little performers.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: fat B****rd
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:39 PM

I missed this on the radio at work and am saddened to hear the news. Top Gear was compulsory listening for me in the 60s and 70s. He always seemed such a nice bloke. RIP Mr. Ravenscroft.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Leadfingers
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:45 PM

As already stated he played ANYTHING - wether we thought it was good or bad is beside the point !! Aman who will be sadly missed - AND a VERY Good broadcaster .

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: C-flat
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 12:48 PM

A real shock!
JP was such a great promoter of music and a huge influence to millions of us.
I loved his broadcasting style and will miss his voice on Saturday mornings.
C-flat.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: belfast
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 01:02 PM

BBC4 programme 'Front Row' will be paying a special tribute to the great man. At present the radio is treating his death as that of an important national figure. And rightly so! For many this was the guy who brought us The Incredible String Band, Captain Beefheart. It was where you heard Joan Armatrading and Martin Carthy or the Chieftains. Later he brought The Undertones ot our attention, playing 'Teenage Kicks' twice in a row in case we didn't get the message. I could go on and on.

At present I would regard even a hint of criticism as unbelievably offensive.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 01:22 PM

My first reaction when I heard this from a friend an hour or so ago was that I wanted to get on the Mudcat, because there'd be people there who'd feel the same way about it.

The breadth of his musical tastes was remarkable. But I wouldn't ever rely on my own taste to dismiss anybody he liked without a good few listens - which wouldn't mean I'd necessarily end up liking them, but then tastes differ.

But there was more to him than just putting on records, or chatting to people on the radio. He had a kind of integrity you don't meet that often in people in his kind of job.

I remember when I was working on Peace News, during the Biafra War, when the Wilson government was colluding in a genocidal blockade of the breakaway state, we ran a special issue with pictures of what it was doing to people out there, and someone found John Peel's number, and asked if he could give it a plug on his radio show. "Drop it round to Broadcasting House for me" he said, and that night he talked about it on his show - and he got in quite serious trouble with the BBC, because disc jockeys weren't supposed to do that, and the Government had complained to the Governors.

A thoroughly good bloke.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Compton
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 01:29 PM

Sad to hear that a Great "Grumpy Old Man" , A great Wordsmith (Home Truths) and someone who introduced the world to flute player John Doonan with "Flutes from the Fais"...I'll miss him!

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: grumpy al
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 01:49 PM

when I saw the thread title a cold shiver went down my back!
A truly GREAT presenter with a superlative taste in music, my own musical tastes owe a lot to that wonderful man.
I am devasted, as must a lot of other people be.
I can only add my condolences to his family and close friends John will be sadly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Mr Red
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:06 PM

sadly mhe will be missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: rhyzla
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:08 PM

John Peel introduced me to a June Tabor version of 'The Band played waltzing matilda', which brought me to tears.

Today's news did the same.

Maybe we should all pay respects to him by being MORE broadminded about music in general - that was his strength.

And now my Saturday mornings will not be the same ....

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Brakn
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:13 PM

Very sad news. There was a time from the late 60s to the early 80s when his programme was the only thing I would listen to on the radio.

He was never old, sad or boring.

He will be greatly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Lanfranc
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:15 PM

A sad day. I was a fan right back to the days of "Perfumed Garden" on '60s pirate radio. In fact, it was through the "Perfumed Garden" John Peel fan club that I met my wife and many lifelong friends.

He will be sorely missed - I don't say that I liked everything that he played, but, as has been said, he was prepared to take risks, for which he had to be respected.

So long, John, it's been good to know you!

Alan

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:38 PM

John Peel did more for folk music, especially contemporary folk, than any of the so called folk programmes or folk presenters of the sixties and seventies. He was the one who had the bottle to play the likes of Incredible String Band, Pentangle, Fairport Covention, Roy Harper and Ron Geesin. Later on Nic Jones told me that as long as you didn't use the f-word or the c-word you could sing any kind of traditional song on his programme without fear of censorship. In March 1969 hehad Mississippi Fred McDowell as guest on his Wednesday "Night Ride" and we had him at South Tyne Folk and Blues the following Friday night; you couldn't get moved in the club.
Thanks for everything John.RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:51 PM

Like everyone above, a great shock when I heard the news. Saturday mornings will never be the same.

Condolences to Sheila and family and also his many colleagues who will be gutted by this dreadful news.

Finding comfort in the thought of Radio Heaven!.

BBP

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: s6k
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:58 PM

i just heard now, i have no words to express how sad this is.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:00 PM

Half man half Biscuit, Pink Floyd, Canned Heat, June Tabor, American blues men. Such breadth of taste, and such an unpretentious person, I'm sure that his belief that music is a broad church is a lesson to us all. I feel as though some Shylock has come along and nicked a pound of my flesh just when I least expected it.
Bon voyage John Peel, condolences to Shiela, Thomas, Flossie, and the rest of his nearest and dearest. My life's got a big hole in it.
Giok

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: RolyH
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:02 PM

He took a chance and played in full Shirley and Dolly Collins "Anthems in Eden" suite in the 60's on his Sunday afternoon show.Playing this type of music was unheard of on mainstream radio then (and now).

RIP John. Top bloke.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:13 PM

Well - I know I posted earlier – but I'm still pinching myself, just can't believe it.
So maybe my first post was a bit hasty, now I've had time to gather thoughts a bit more.
John was always one of THE good guys, a genuine believer in music. A true champion of the underdog, and an appreciative fan of the unappreciated. I lost count of the sheer number of types of music he either turned me onto or was instrumental in my appreciation of – folk (traditional and contemporary alike), rock, prog, Indian classical, rock'n'roll, punk, poetry, thrash, trash, jazz, loads of ethnic sounds. Many of those already named in the posts above, sure, and so many many more. I could name names but I'd take up a whole thread.... Anything that inspired or moved him in fact– and he passed all that on to me, inspiring me (= us all) to make the effort, to search out the original sources. The guy almost singlehandedly defined the word eclectic. And so what if not everything he enthused about turned out to be solid gold? – he got criticised (unfairly, I say) for just that. But so do any folks who can make such a virtue out of unpredictability. But in so doing, they open those doors to wider consciousness. Influential is the understatement of the century. JP enriched and guided my own musical explorations like no-one else, period. He was a HERO. And yes, as so many of you Catters say, a thoroughly good bloke. RIP mate. Peace being the keyword.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Paul from Hull
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:33 PM

"Radio Heaven"...yes a great concept!

We prob all have our 'one person we would like to meet' &right now it feels like that whole concept has gone out the window, tough in reality JP would have been a hard choice to have made out of several....

Sadly missed.

"When An Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease".....

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: vectis
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:42 PM

He went so quickly it is hard to believe I won't have his quirky sense of humour accompanying my Saturday morning cuppa.
He'll be missed