2004 Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Shanghaiceltic
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 02:55 AM

Very sad indeed. I listened to John Peel as a teenager, hiding the tranny under the blankets, turned low so I could listen to the latest stuff he played. The the next day like minded schoolboys would compare notes and wonder if we could afford the LP he'd mentioned or played tracks from the previous night.

I missed a lot of his stuff whn I was in the Navy and came back to his warm style of presentation when I first started listening to his Home Truths. I have been able to listen to that and his BBC World Service programme over here in China. Made me feel quite at home.

He came across as a really decent person. Why do they get taken so early?

Below is a rather nice obit from the Telegraph.

John Peel
(Filed: 27/10/2004)

John Peel, the disc jockey who died on Monday aged 65, promoted the more esoteric and extreme fringes of contemporary popular music for more than 30 years, becoming a national institution in the process.

Peel did not conform to the clichés of the rock 'n' roll fast life: balding, paunchy, badly dressed, he had more the air of an anoraked trainspotter. That was his attraction for generations of listeners, for by eschewing the foibles of pop, and by resolutely championing music that few other DJs would touch, he engendered trust among his angst-ridden and suspicious teenage listeners, retaining their loyalty as they grew up.

Always insisting that he had never sought the fame which attached itself to him, he lived in Suffolk, at "Peel Acres", with his wife and children, avoiding any of the glitter normally associated with the music business.

Peel somehow managed to appear both enduringly adolescent and old before his time. Relentlessly professional, his trademark was a slightly weary but amused, deadpan style of presentation; he had a dry, self-effacing wit and the ability to broadcast as if he were speaking to just one person. Clearly not on the payroll of any record company, his recommendations carried weight. Time and again, music that seemed marginal when Peel first enthused about it came to be accepted as being at the heart of the history of pop.

The appeal of his late-night show on Radio One lay partly in his lack of hyperbole, in his ability to surprise the listener, and in the fact that he clearly cared genuinely about music.

In the late 1960s he played Captain Beefheart, T-Rex, and the Velvet Underground; he was an advocate for punk, reggae, hip hop, noise, thrash, and hardcore. He always admired innovation. He could claim to have broken the Smiths, Pulp, the Fall and the Undertones - the last of whom, in 1978, were signed by Sire Records the day after Peel played their home-produced EP on his show. Peel's all-time favourite record, he liked to say, was the Undertones's Teenage Kicks.

His one regret was that he could not sing, although he admitted that this did not stop half of the people he featured on his radio show from making records. "I'd like to be able to sing. Making a noise like a dolphin is a very poor substitute."

Peel said that, as a general principle, he would always be more interested in a record that he had never heard before than in one he had. Ninety per cent of the records he played had never been played on radio before.

He expected to be sacked every week, and always regarded his future employment prospects with paranoia. On one occasion, according to lore, he was ordered to take a holiday; instead of doing so, he chose to turn up at the radio station every night to stare out his stand-in.

One of two sons of a cotton merchant, John Peel was born John Robert Parker Ravenscroft at Heswall, near Liverpool, on August 31 1939, and was brought up on the Wirral. A solitary child, he had little contact with his parents. He was six before he met his father, who spent the war in North Africa, for the first time; his mother, Peel later recalled, "was frightened of me from the moment I was born", explaining that "she told me that she was never sure what I was for".

After prep school, he went to Shrewsbury, where he was two years below Peter Cook, Richard Ingrams and Paul Foot. Peel was a shy boy who tended towards obstinate non-conformity, for which he paid in regular thrashings; the school authorities, he recalled, "practically had to wake (me) up during the night in order to administer the required number of sound beatings".

Peel estimated the flagellation rate in his first term at "once every three days . . . when I was 13 I was rather lovely, and much sought-after by older boys who, if they developed an appetite for you, could have you beaten on a number of pretexts. Several of them have gone on to achieve positions of some eminence in the financial world. I'm sometimes tempted to turn up with a little rouge on my cheeks and say, `I'm ready for you now, my angel', to some ageing captain of industry."

After school he worked briefly in Liverpool in the family business, then at a Rochdale cotton mill owned by a friend of his father. From 1957 to 1959 he did his National Service as a radar operator in the Royal Artillery. He recalled: "The Army said afterwards, `At no time has he shown any sign of adapting to the military way of life.' I took it as a compliment."

In 1960 Peel left for America, landing up at Dallas, Texas, where he worked for three years in crop insurance. He was present, as a self-appointed stringer for the Liverpool Echo, at the press conference for Lee Harvey Oswald, when the alleged assassin of President Kennedy was shot and killed by Jack Ruby.

Then, after a telephone conversation with Russ Knight, a disc jockey known as "the Weird Beard", Peel managed to secure employment as a DJ on the station WRR. He soon discovered that in America, with the onslaught of Beatlemania, a vague approximation of a Liverpool accent accorded the speaker a certain cachet - especially among younger female pop fans, who regarded the nasal pronunciation and short vowel sounds as powerfully exotic.

Adopting a Scouse twang, Peel offered himself on WRR as an expert on all things Beatles-related - more than once he interviewed George Harrison, as played by himself - and almost overnight found himself a celebrity. "I was suddenly confronted by this succession of teenage girls who didn't want to know anything about me at all. All they wanted me to do was to abuse them, sexually, which of course I was only too happy to do."

After a run-in with the Dallas police over a girl who turned out to be younger than she claimed, he was expediently head-hunted by a radio station in Oklahoma City. In 1967 he returned to London.

The mere fact that Peel had been in America soon procured him a job with Pirate Radio London, anchored in the North Sea just off Felixstowe. Six months later, when the station was closed down, he was recruited by the BBC for the new Radio One.

His Perfumed Garden evening programme, which featured such performers as the 12-piece Principal Edward's Magical Theatre, the Third Ear Band and stories about mice, soon attracted a cult following.

Like the columns which he occasionally wrote for such magazines as Gandalf's Garden and International Times, in which he advised readers to "Touch the bark of a thousand trees, shoeless. . . then go to the children's playground in Kensington Gardens and stare at the elves on the trees there", Peel's show had more than a whiff of joss-sticks about it. It also showed the influence of Marc Bolan, a close friend of Peel before the musician enjoyed mainstream success.

Despite the hallucinogenic overtones, Peel himself refrained from indulging ("I never even saw him smoke a joint," recalled Germaine Greer), and his affinities with hippie culture stemmed mostly from a strong idealistic streak in his character; he was well known as an easy touch for aspiring bands looking to fund the purchase of an amplifier, instruments or even a van.

From the start, Peel's approach as a DJ - to play music which he saw as innovative and of high quality, irrespective of its commercial potential - struck a chord with listeners. He was repeatedly voted DJ of the year by readers of Melody Maker and New Musical Express. And somehow, over more than three decades, he managed to remain on the cusp of what was new without ever appearing merely modish. Almost alone among BBC DJs, Peel was given free rein by his employers to play whatever he wanted.

In his later years at Radio One, Peel forged an increasingly formidable partnership with the producer John Walters, who defended Peel's broadcasts against powerful but less articulate superiors at the station, many of whom were out of sympathy with the broadcaster throughout his period with the BBC. Peel described his relationship with Walters (who died in 2001) as being that of "the organ-grinder and the monkey. With each one believing the other to be the monkey".

In 1998 Peel found unexpected success on Radio 4 with Home Truths, a domestically-oriented show based around interviews with perfectly "normal" families. Even Peel's friend and protégé Andy Kershaw, the Radio One DJ, admitted the show was "cloying, sentimental and indulgent"; but it drew more than one and a half million listeners, no small feat at 9 am on a Saturday morning.

During the 1990s Peel's voice was also frequently to be heard narrating television documentaries on such quintessentially British subjects as the Lancaster bomber, or on The Sound of the Suburbs, a series in which Peel travelled round Britain examining pockets of the country and the music that comes out of them.

In 1999 the BBC marked his 60th birthday by scheduling a "John Peel Night" in his honour. He had appeared on Desert Island Discs 10 years previously and was appointed OBE in 1998. In 2003 he was offered £1.5 million to write his autobiography. He was devoted to Liverpool FC.

John Peel's first marriage was to a 15-year-old Texan girl who had lied about her age; the marriage was dissolved soon after they returned to Britain. He married secondly, in 1974, Sheila Mary Gilhooly; they had two sons and two daughters. He became a grandparent for the first time last year and announced that he enjoyed "vigorously grandparenting".

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: sledge
Date: 27 Oct 04 - 01:37 AM

We really have lost one of a kind, there's no way they will be able to fill his boots.

His passing took place at Machu-Pichu, in the clouds among the Gods, a fitting backdrop for a great man.

His legacy is I hope, a more widespread apperciation of the variety of music that there is out there to enjoy.

Sledge

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 08:45 PM

McGrath of Harlow makes a good point, I heard on thr Radio 4 2PM news that John Peel had died, I am slightly deaf, and was not paying a lot of attention to the radio, so hoped that I had misheard the news, ie maybe they were plugging John's "Home Truths" show or something?
So I went to Google and typed "John Peel", found John Peel's home page   
and read that he had died, I scrolled down a bit, and don't mind admitting, that as soon as I saw his photo, I shed a few tears!
This is quite something for me, as I am not easily moved!
I had never met the guy, but he was my favourite radio presenter, and I remember listening to his radio show as a schoolkid, over 20 years ago, and I was genuinely upset to hear of his death.

Tonight all of the national BBC radio stations have broadcast special programmes as a tribute to John, and the head of Radio 1 and the director of BBC Music have both paid tribute to him.
There is an obituary on the NME website, and the bbc websites.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: squeezyjohn
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 08:29 PM

Gutted.

Selfish sentiment I know - but it's how I feel anyway. Strangely I never really knew his music programmes, although I have always known about them. But I get the gist that he was all about good eclecticism in music, something he later touched me with in his Radio 4 programme "Home Truths" - which I think was all about good eclecticism in peoples lives.

By good I mean that sometimes I hated all the stories on the programme - but it was worth listening to just in case something brilliant came up, making me appreciate my small mindedness on occasions. I think that must be what he did with music too judging by what people have told me.

I am very sad that I will not hear his dulcet tones on saturday mornings again. My heart goes out to his family who must be devastated. I hope that when I get to the pearly gates myself, it's ................... "AT NINE" :-)

Cheers

Squeezy

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 08:07 PM

A couple of weeks ago there was this business about Boris Johnson and that insensitive editorial in The Spectator, which got him into trouble with Liverpool; and all kinds of people in the media were sneering at the idea that it was possible to feel real grief for someone you had never met.

It seems to me that today's sad news about John demonstrates that, sometimes at any rate, it is quite possible. In fact, I'm sure, for many of us, it would be impossible not to.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: the lemonade lady
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 08:07 PM

What a shock! Do you think that long flight had anything to do with it?

About 11 years ago I was awake in the night feeding my baby Joe and listening to World Service. John played the most brilliant piece of blues I'd ever heard but I didn't know who it was. I phoned the BBC the next day and asked them to read out his play list from the night before. The blues artist was Clarence Gatemouth Brown. Thanks John.

Sal

8'-(

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST,MurkeyChris
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 06:55 PM

I don't think I can say much to express how sad this makes me. I never met him but he was a hero.

Chris

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Juan P-B
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 06:53 PM

Dreadful news! I virtually grew up with his show! - No! I DID grow up, meet the first wife and start a family with his radio shows in the background.

As already mentioned in various tributes he championed the cause of many bands/artists who might have been 'sidelined' otherwise.

Tyrannosaurus Rex for one - great vision had he!

Going to be a big hole in my Saturday mornings for a long time yet

Rest easy Old friend

Juan P-B

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Nemesis
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 06:50 PM

A tragically irreplaceable loss ... and so shocking with the suddeness of his death, as someone else said here, hard to take in that he's gone.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 06:42 PM

Ah, d'ye ken John Peel on Radio One... one of the staples of my childhood gone. And on his holidays too..... bugger.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:52 PM

Very sad loss I remember listening to him when I was over there.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Merina
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:50 PM

Sad, sad, sad. He turned me on to more great music I'd never have otherwise heard than any broadcaster I can think of. Apart from maybe Andy Kershaw in more recent years (and Andy did a heartfelt tribute to him on News 24 this evening) he often played more decent folk music on the radio than was (is) usually found on the folk programmes of the time. Just about the only thing left now with that spirit of wayward eclecticism - of quite a different kind - is Late Junction. Sad, sad, sad. :-(

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: sian, west wales
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:41 PM

This is not sinking in. Terrible news.

He played Welsh-language rock music on one of his programmes years before I moved here, and my friends still speak of the respect he gave Welsh artists ... when many others treated the idea of Welsh rock as a joke.

I was always completely blown away by his remarkable use of the English language. He spoke like ... well, like a tapestry if that makes any sense.

There are very few 'famous' people in the world who I have wanted to meet. He was one, though. And of the famous people I have met, normally I've been fairly unimpressed. But I always fancied that if I met him I'd be a gibbering idiot trying to express my respect.

(((sigh)))

siân

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Ralphie
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 05:08 PM

It's been a very strange day at Broadcasting House today.
Good Bye Mate...
We'll miss you.
As I write this, there is a band at our studios in Maida Vale doing a session for his show...
And they are bloody well going to finish it.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 04:48 PM

Here is the BBC obituary and tribute page - with an audio section including John on "Desert Island Discs". Listening to him it's hard to take it in that he is dead.

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: Ed.
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 04:18 PM

I was really shocked to hear the news this afternoon, and was pretty much unable to do anything productive for the rest of the day. There are very few people that I've never met whose death would make me feel like that.

As a colleague said: "people like John Peel aren't supposed to die"

Rest well, I'll miss you.

Ed

PS: I still smile when I remember you playing some really useless song, and commenting, in your inimitable voice: "That was by Buttock Cleavage"

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

I too am really upset. Have been watching the tributes on 'About Anglia' and 'Look East'. He was one of my heroes,and a lovely man.
He was an important part of my youth, sitting in my bedroom listening to 'Top Gear' on a Sunday afternoon.
My thoughts go to his wife, having to cope with it all in a foreign country.

Anne

Subject: RE: Obit: John Peel [UK Radio Presenter]
From: ThreeSheds
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 03:53 PM

I cant think of anyone who has done more to broaden musical tastes even tho it was sometimes at the wrong speed
Never met the bloke but I felt I knew him

Andy

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

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: Mr Red
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 02:06 PM

sadly mhe will be missed.

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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: 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,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,Mingulay
Date: 26 Oct 04 - 11:11 AM

Who put the Hugh Jampton in Scunthorpe?

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: 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: 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: 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: 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."