Legendary DJ and broadcaster John Peel has died.

All those in the UK will know how much Peel has been doing for new music for almost forty years. And what an hilarious character he was. Damn, he will be sorely missed.



Story:

Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65, while on holiday in Peru.
Peel, whose radio career spanned 40 years, was on a working holiday in the resort of Cuzco with his wife Sheila when he suffered a heart attack.

He was BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ and in recent years had also presented Home Truths on Radio 4.

Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said Peel's contribution to modern music and culture was "immeasurable".


'Hugely missed'

He added: "John Peel was a broadcasting legend. I am deeply saddened by his death as are all who work at Radio 1.

"John's influence has towered over the development of popular music for nearly four decades.

"He will be hugely missed."

Mr Parfitt told Radio 1 Newsbeat Peel had been on a holiday of a lifetime when he died.

He added: "He had gone on holiday with Sheila to a place where he had always wanted to go."

Peel was born in Heswall, near Chester, and after completing his military service in Britain in 1962, went to the US where he began working for a radio station in Dallas.

He joined Radio 1 at the beginning in 1967, and established himself with the late night programme Top Gear.

He became one of the first DJs to give exposure to punk, reggae, hip-hop, before they crossed over into the mainstream.


news.bbc.co.uk

Music lost one of its advocates...

JUst found out myself, He was only 65. SHit.

if there's anyone that a music geek worth his or her salt should be completely envious of, it was this man. it's sad that he's gone, but wow - what a life.

not to mention that without him, i probably wouldn't have heard of a lot of the stuff i listen to constantly today.

Oh My Lord... this is a sad day in the dj community John peel was a Pioneer hes spinning tunes in the sky now RIP

John Peel, a TRUE broadcasting legend and the pride of BBC radio. So revered in his profession. Everyone else will always be understudies to his legacy

He became one of the first DJs to give exposure to punk, reggae, hip-hop, before they crossed over into the mainstream.

You can throw in U.K. Asian Underground to that list too. He was the first to spin Punjabi M.C. on the mainstream airwaves back in the day.


John Peel..... you will be missed



'...spell' edit.
[Edited 10/26/04 16:33pm]

Obituary from the Beeb's website.

The broadcaster, John Peel, was the champion of British rock music. For nearly 40 years, his late-night Radio 1 programme led the way in promoting new acts, from David Bowie, through Joy Division to the White Stripes.
John Peel was, at first sight, the antithesis of many of the bands he loved. Balding, bearded, softly - if hilariously - spoken, he was more like a favourite uncle than a rock fan.

Yet Peel's uncompromising encouragement of new talent transformed the face of music all the way from hippy to house.

He was born John Robert Parker Ravenscoft in Heswall, near Liverpool, in 1939. The son of the owner of a cotton mill, his childhood was blighted by his distant parents and he was brought up mostly by a nanny.

He attended Shrewsbury public school, which he hated, an ordeal which was offset by the moment when he first heard Elvis Presley singing Heartbreak Hotel.

Everything changed when I heard Elvis," he later reflected. "Where there had been nothing there was suddenly something."

After National Service between 1957 and 1959 he went to America. With Beatlemania in full swing, John Peel and his Liverpudlian connections proved irresistible and he soon became a DJ for WRR radio in Dallas.

Returning to England in 1967, he joined the pirate station, Radio London, before transferring to the BBC's new national pop channel, Radio 1. He was to remain there for the rest of his life, the only survivor of Radio 1's first line-up.

Changing styles

Right from the outset, Peel changed the rules. He played every track without interruption, to the delight of those wishing to tape his show, while providing a witty and knowledgeable running commentary, seemingly a million miles away from the transatlantic platitudes of many of his colleagues.

In the early days Peel championed acts like Marc Bolan, David Bowie and Captain Beefheart, as he did throughout his career, by giving them studio-time to record legendary "Peel sessions".

But, in the mid-1970s, John Peel moved away from the mainstream rock of Jimi Hendrix and The Who to a new and radical sound, punk.

Bands like the Sex Pistols and the Clash paved the way for new Peel discoveries like Joy Division and the Undertones, whose Teenage Kicks was his all-time favourite single.

The 1980s brought further joy, most notably in the form of The Fall and The Smiths, both refreshing counterblasts to the increasingly bland fare of the charts.

More recently, Peel had branched-out, presenting BBC Radio 4's Home Truths, an eclectic programme about family life, and provided typically droll interjections for BBC TV's Grumpy Old Men.

And he continued to remain at the cutting-edge of popular taste, featuring 'world' music and rap alongside good old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.

A lifelong fan of the Archers and a dedicated follower of Liverpool football club, he lived in Suffolk with his wife Sheila, affectionately known as The Pig.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/h...955369.stm



And some tributes.

James Dean Bradfield, of the Manic Street Preachers, said: "It was because of him I got to hear some of the most obscure but influential music I ever heard," he told BBC News Online.

"He was a lifeline to hearing music I would never have hear otherwise."

Bernard Sumner of bands Joy Division and New Order, said: "This is a dreadful shock.

'Genuinely missed'

"If it wasn't for John Peel, there would be no Joy Division and no New Order.

"He was one of the few people to give bands that played alternative music a chance to get heard, and he continued to be a champion of cutting-edge music throughout his life.

"He will be genuinely missed by millions of music fans all over the world, both inside and outside the music industry. Our thoughts are with his family."

Singer Gruff Rhys from the Super Furry Animals said the DJ's refusal to stick to accepted trends made him hugely influential.

"He was very wary of trends... even in the middle of a conservative movement like Britpop, he was introducing people to drum 'n'' bass and techno.

Mike Bradley, of The Undertones, who recorded Peel's favourite single Teenage Kicks, said: "He was a very funny, very warm man and we will always be grateful for what he did for The Undertones.

"Personally, I find it incredible what he did for the band and we always got huge pride out of the fact that he said Teenage Kicks was his favourite single."

Kurt Wagner, of US band Lambchop, said the DJ's influence was felt far outside his home country.

"He was amazing. The records of the Peel Sessions were available over here. And his radio show was one of the few ones we heard of over here. He was legendary."

Reposted by request.




RIP John.

John Peel on his 60th birthday

"Teenage dreams so hard to beat" is a kind of nice summary I'd quite like to have that on my tombstone - not just yet





[Edited 10/26/04 7:53am]

Mani from the Stone Roses/Primal Scream, Andy Rourke from The Smiths and Peter Hook from Joy Division/New Order were just on the regional North-West news.

Not all the music he played was my cup of tea but I appreciated him for keeping alternative music thriving.

I'm going to play a Half Man-Half Biscuit track in rememberance.

RIP.

I had the pleasure of meeting him a couple of years ago at the Sonar Festival in Barcelona. Such a sad loss for Radio 1 and music in general. A legend.

RIP.

RIP

a huge, huge loss to the music world....
[Edited 10/26/04 10:55am]

No more Peel Sessions...

RIP, John...

Thankyou John for all the good times
[Edited 10/26/04 11:11am]

May he rest in peace..

Holy shit!

...I can't believe I've only just found out about this - and I live in England!

I had the pleasure of meeting John a number of times over the past 10 years, and u couldn't wish 2 have met a more down-2-earth, self-depreciating, affable guy. There really aren't enough adjectives 2 aptly describe the man. He gave my friends band Killing Joke their first big break back in '79. Without his support, their career could have taken a very different path.

He will be missed VERY much indeed - and I can assure u that his presence will be felt all over next years Glastonbury.

God Speed John, and...THANK YOU.
[Edited 10/26/04 12:58pm]

It's an absolute tragedy. No broadcaster will ever be able to match up to him.

Stage 2 at Glastonbury really does need to be named after him now.

daned said:

Co-Sign.

Peel's influence on the music scene in Britain will long continue to be felt. Without him, literally thousands of your favourite tracks would never have been released, recorded or even written.


Even bands that he didn't support himself (Oasis and those types) would never be here without the direct influence of Peel on Steve Lamaq and the Evening Session.

Top bloke, sorely missed.

We used to get John Peel here in T.O. We know his importance to the British music industry. His work will not be forgotten.

bananacologne said:

Has been down as of today apparently