Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Peel, born John Robert Parker Ravenscoft, was on a working holiday in the resort of Cuzco with his wife Sheila when he suffered a heart attack.
Peel was born in Heswall near Chester in 1939 and after completing his military service in Britain in 1962, went to Texas and began working for WRR radio in Dallas. For the next three years he moved to various radio stations in America, among them KOMA in Oklahoma City and KMEN outside Los Angeles. He returned to Britain in 1967 and joined Radio London with the celebrated show The Perfumed Garden.
He joined Radio 1 from the beginning in 1967, establishing himself with the late night programme Top Gear. John was the first DJ to give exposure to punk, reggae, hip-hop, long before they crossed over into the mainstream. Almost anyone who is anyone in the world of music has recorded a session for Peel.
Apart from regularly topping music paper Best DJ polls, John won the 1993 Sony
Award for Broadcaster of the Year and in 1994 was named God like Genius by the
NME. John was awarded a host of Honorary Degrees MA (University of East Anglia)
Doctorates (Polytechnic University of East Anglia and Sheffield Hallam University),
Hon. Degrees (Liverpool University, Open University, Portsmouth University,
Bradford University) and a Fellowship (John Moores University Liverpool).
He will be sadly missed, and never replaced.
Our thoughts go out to all his friends, family and colleagues
(much of this detail was taken from the BBC Radio 1 homepage - more to come soon).
From the archive
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Who's your Grandaddy? DiS talks to Jason Lytle, Part 2
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DiS Radio: Jeremy Warmsley interview
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Love and Hate: Nine Black Alps shed the scars of grunge
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
R.I.P.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Truly, RIP.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Weird really, since I never knew the guy.
But, sad isn't it.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm quite upset by this. He was an inspiration to so many, me especially. His love of music was just infectious and without him, the music scene wouldn't have been the same.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
But imagine the party he'll be having with old friends?
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
The Dude.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
The front line of our music world - the stuff we believe in and love music for - is drastically lessened by his death. r.i.p.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm not usually that moved to state RIP, but sir, rest in peace.
And if that Colin Murray takes your slot he's a dead man.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
One has to think this will have enormous repercussions for non-IPC/major-friendly-unit-shifting 'alternative' music, just hope Radio 1 sort it out and get someone in who can carry the torch, although I sincerely doubt they could or would want to. Good excuse for them to get another Zane Lowe type farce in. Interesting/forward-thinking not-to-mention GREAT music may have died a death also today, or at least the transmission of it to the masses anyroads.
A minute of noise in commemoration of a great man I think would be fitting.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Surprised and devastated like everyone, I think the nature of radio is so personal that it's not surprising so many people are affected despite having met him.
I can't quite believe we'll never hear him again.
I can only hope his ghost will come back and break Zane Lowe's microphone. Every night.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I remember when I found out that Cobain was dead and it was a shock but this makes me genuinely sad.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
shit.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I was just thinking the same thing. That was a shock, but somehow it seemed, well, the natural outcome.
This is just plain sad. It's not shock, so much as an overwhelming numbness. I really don't want to be at work right now. It's put me off whatever it is I'm doing. There's just a hole, you know?
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Stick him in the UK Music Hall of Fame now. NOW I tells ya.
The voice of modern music is no more.
:(
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
he WAS the daddy and he will be sorely missed
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm fucking off work and raising a few beers for him.
There will never be another one like John Peel. R.I.P.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
fuck
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
john, you are a true legend and i hope you are at peace.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
R.I.P
a true legend
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
did anyone see him on room 101? what a brilliant human being.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
His openness to music shaped my own taste as I moved from my Indie and punk phase to embrace everything obscure litergical world music and decimating Swedish grind.
My mind is numb. I feel like I've lost an old friend, someone who was always there for me, always there to inspire me and open my mind to music that I would never hear otherwise.
Such a sad day.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
the funny thing is, I can't seem to listen to any music, nothing can really do the situation justice.
maybe we should descend upon somewhere in mass, come 6 o'clock..
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
It is just plain sad that he's not going to be around anymore, even if he was someone most of us only really knew from the radio.. he's given a lot of people a lot of inspiration to keep on doing something that bit different, to be daring especially where writing and playing music is concerned.
What are we going to do without him? Not to mention his family and the people who did actually know him.. from here he seemed to be a truly genuine guy and a fab family man to boot.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm so upset.
Also, I am getting increasingly sad/angry as my head slowly gets itself round what this will likely mean for new independent music...
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
That's because music is so much more than just noise in the background. It matters. John Peel knew this and he mattered as well. God bless, Mr Peel. Sleep well.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Its been my routine of the last few years to make time to sit up and listen to his shows, every show. There is nobody like him left in radio - his enthusiasm was overwhelming and genuine.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
All the lights went off at my work for about 2mins.
Just after someone told me.
RIP to the Irreplaceable John Peel
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Somebody elsewhere has just suggested that rather than have a minutes silence for him, there should be a minutes noise instead. They suggested Napalm Death, I'd suggest And This Day.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
It is really wierd how u get that totally numb feeling even though it wasn't someone you knew personally.
R.I.P sir.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm shaking and the cat on my knee is really annoyed as he is a bit damp and doesn't understand why.
There's a new person in my "one person I wish I could bring back from the dead" spot (replacing John Smith). I wish i believed in life after death.
Shit.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
i spent 7 hours and interviewed him for my fanzine merely 3 weeks ago about all things from music, to his wife and his fear of flying and going to peru generally
seems rather apt now and somewhat poignant - check out the FEATURES page for an insight into the man himself and his typical day, and the INTERVIEWS page for our one-on-one chat
hope it makes you that never met him feel a little bit more like you did
www.tohellwith.co.uk
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
there should release a peel cd, with loads of the sessions on.
damn. numb.
he was so universal - he seemed to bring everyone together, no matter if you liked certain bands or not, peel was always the thing you could agree on, the constant.
where now?
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Some people's passing is a wide ranging and terrible loss. This is one such.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
there should release a peel cd, with loads of the sessions on.
damn. numb.
he was so universal - he seemed to bring everyone together, no matter if you liked certain bands or not, peel was always the thing you could agree on, the constant.
where now?
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Independent music has suffered a big loss today, but not as big a loss as the Pig and the kids.
Mope.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John.
x
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Bless you John for everything.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
: (
RIP
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I just have no joy in my day at all. I feel numb and so upset and no one gets me or why I feel this way. I just cant stop crying
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Anyway, I read an interview with him in April time and he said that he didn't like people refering to him as a 'legend' because legends are usually dead. The thing was, he was even in life. He was just typically humble about what he has done for music.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
When I looked so shocked in my office after reading it and telling everyone there was not one person who didn't know who he was. He spand generations of music lovers. Its amazing to think how many people, once the initial shock is over, will look back and smile at what he has given to them.
An inspiration to all of us.
Thank you just doesn't seem enough.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
"our teenage dreams so hard to beat..."
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I can't believe he's dead. Hardly anyone at this fucking University seems to be bothered by it; only a few people.
The man was a legend. I'm going to see Oceansize tonight, and I shall raise my glass to Mr Peel.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I never met him yet he had this way of making you feel included in his life when you listned to him.
Utmost sympathy to his family and friends
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
R.I.P. John Peel
You will be sorely missed.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
absolutely stunned.
rip john
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I am honestly gutted I feel like my fucking Grandad has died or something.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
You will be sorely missed.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm going to miss him very much.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I'm gutted. I dont think i know anyone ever who doesnt like him. That's the sort of person he was.
Rip
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John, you won't be forgotten.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
seriously though, absolute Legend - the music industry will never be the same again
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I've had my name mentioned on the show 3 times in the last 3 months. I was joking to friends that it must mean something.
I met my ex in the citycentre today and told her and she was on the verge of tears as soon as she heard it.
He will leave you a huge gap in peoples lives, especially his family, and also his friends, which we all feel as though we were.
I did speak to him once, but, I was very drunk at the time, and was thrown out and arrested shortly afterwards.
Thanks for the memories mate, and all the bands I'd never have known existed without you.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
:(
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John, you've made music that much better and more hopeful a place. Thanks :)
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
His radio show was a beacon to me in my bedroom in the late 70's/early 80's, he brought in exoticism and excitement, pushed my musical and subsequently cultural envelope, and so made me spread my wings and fly away from my prison of drudge.
The bands/music he introduced me to changed my way of life totally, my friends, activities and lifestyle all came to be influenced by music, this may have happened without him but I don't know that. He and my uncle were the two older men who have brought most joy to my life, possibly the only ones I looked up too when I was a young man.
I guess that there may be many many others like me who are eternally grateful for the bands that he introduced to us, many bands who are grateful for this too, there will be many who admire his steadfastness in championing what he truely liked and believed in, his ordinary decent blokeness and his innocent awe at new bands, that he never seemed to tire of new bands cos he ignored 'scenes'. He never seemed a snob cos he always seemed to like somethings that most of us could never fathom (greek bazouki music or something).
I recorded so much of his show, loved 'his' bands so much, my mates band were chuffed to bits to get a peel session, the ultimate acolade.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
We owe him.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
They'll never be another John Peel.
p.s, and on the subject of the John Peel CD, i think the only way to do that properly would to have every Festive Fifty Number One on a boxset.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
John Peel, RIP. no other words needed.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John Peel
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I would always look forward to seeing John on television, most recently on Grumpy Old Men, and I'll always remember his advice: -
"If your going to have sex it should be with someone you at least like because than you might as well have a wank"
An amazing man in every respect, fight back the tears and raise a glass.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
John Peel has a place in my heart for exposing punk to the world. Its not just me either. My dad told me earlier he still has memorys of listening to john peel under the duvet covers at night so his parents couldnt here it. I had headphones! I cant claim that I was ever an avid listener but he is someone who A) if i did listen too it was always a great show and i discovered alot of really cool bands from him B) Did it his way in sence by being the first person to play punk reggae ect...
he has changed the uk music scene forever. this is bad news.
May he rest in peace
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
music really has lost someone incredibly unique. a sad day.
cheers John.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
R.I.P John Peel, and I'm sure all our thoughts are with his family and friends right now.
I feel numb.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
"When I am Dead And Gone My Vibrations Will Live On"
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John, you will be missed.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
It's the integrity of him that I think hits me the most right now. Coming home tonight and slipping Channel 4 news on, I was greeted with an ad for some daft programme where people compete for the chance to get off with someone else's girlfriend. That level of tawdry tack that seems to be the modus operandi of so many facets of the media right now was at total right angles to the way Mr Peel presented his show and himself in general. Radio 1 is missing the point by having Spoony play the like of the Pistols in tribute to John: the bands that made it, sold a lot of records and/or left their mark were no more important to him than the bands who released one single and vanished, or the bands whose Peel Session was their only artistic highlight. I remember hearing him play Blur's Song 2 and he said something along the lines of 'This is a cracking tune and I don't give a fuck whether it's by Blur or some obscure band, it's just great'. That's how life should be, no pretensions, no bullshit, just simply loving somethign for itself and not for anything else.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I cried like when my grandmother passed away last year. I cried for someone I haven't met, but I felt like I knew him somehow.
I found out just earlier that he played music from my beloved breakbeat act that I'm addicted to, Hybrid last year. We all owe the man so much for what he's done in his lifetime.
I'm supposed to be going clubbing to see Hybrid do a DJ set in Manchester on Saturday... I don't know what to think now about that.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
There are so many things about this man that were both singular and utterly amazing. His list of achievements - continued achievements - is simply stunning. He was an icon in the purest sense of the phrase; an inspiration to me and thousands of others.
I'd add more but I'm just floored by this.
Biggest of sympathies to all his family and friends. You're all in my prayers.
Rest in peace.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
i reckon peelie would have been proud of the old curmudgeon!
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
You think of what's left, i mean for instance, the thought of seeing Cat Deeley or such a "media presenter" ever fawn over a band ever again seems incredibly bizarre, the biggest most obvious sad lie, in light of John's zeal and genuine love in his appreciation of music. Weird day.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
i felt like he was sitting next to me.
i miss him.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Much love to the Peel family and God Bless John, you will be missed.
RIP
"I wanna hold her, wanna hold her tight, Get teenage kicks right through the night!
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I think it's really beginning to sink in now, I keep welling up. Radio One might be able to employ someone who can play diverse music, but I don't think they'll ever be able to replace John Peel as he didn't just play new music, he truely believed in it and loved it, and he played what he wanted to play, he didn't just read off a playlist and do what he was told. That's what made him so unique in my mind.
The Voice of my Youth is Dead
It is a cruel moment indeed to lose such a towering icon and source of wisdom at a time when commercial music - and the world itself - is plumbing ever new depths of inanity, banality and insincerity. As I remember John Peel himself saying, in about 1987, "I just look out of the window [at the world] sometimes and think 'what on earth is going on in?'."
Perhaps now is a moment for us all to do the same.
Thank you Mr. Peel, my life would never have been the same without you. You will be mourned by me and the world over. Maybe one day we'll talk on the great Smithy Phone in the sky. God bless.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Did anyone see Mark E Smith on Newsnight? Bez could have been more articulate.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
I remember just driving late at night listening to his show wondering and waiting for the next tune he would play, which a lot of the time was quite suprising... sometimes it was shit and sometimes it was good but that was Peel...... he played so much diverse music that there was always someting for someone!!
condolences to his family x
Peel you are a Legend... respect - RIP
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP John Peel
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: The Voice of my Youth is Dead
Its still difficult for me to think about him without welling up, radio shows are very intimate by nature but he was really sharing something genuine with us, he was really saying to us 'look what I've found', most of the what he showed us was brilliant, this was a real relationship between us and him, it was no performance.
What makes the BBC special in terms of quality and integrety?......David Attenborough and until yesterday John Peel.... (Jeremy Paxman getting there). Can't think of anything else.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: The Voice of my Youth is Dead
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
RIP
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Rest in peace John.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
It also applies that every show i ever heard him present sounded like the greatest thing in the world, simply because it was. The thought of there never being another both saddens and frightens me.
i suppose i owe a love of music to him. i shall go and listen to the Fall and Bearsuit and Lightning Bolt, loudly.
RIP John, love to Sheila, the children and his colleagues.
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
But on the other side Zane Lowe nearly had me in tears with his tribute (well, what he said after the 65 Days of Static song)
Rest In Piece: John
'our father, our king'
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
He gave so many bands a break so we could hear about, im just worried about the state the airwaves are going to be left in.
R.I.P John
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
R.I.P John
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
My thoughts go out to his family, rest in peace John.
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Re: Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Musical hero John Peel dies age 65
Peel's Legacy
Lets get our fookin freak on, make good records and DO IT for Peel.
There is no greater tribute.
RIP john and i thank you for your true love of exciting music.
My condolences to the Peel family. Our loss is nothing compared to yours but he meant every bit as much in context. I hope you the family know this.Thanks John for sharing your gift.
Somebody play Hip Priest.
XXXX


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