My memories of John Peel - thanks, mate, and RIP

[Brixtaan]

You know when you have a 'chill' moment (someone walked over your grave) ,i've had a few in the last few days when realising his voice and music won't be on the radio.Nasty traffic jams and long night journey's were a pleasure if he was on.

 

[The Large One]

One of the downsides of being away on holiday is that you tend to cut yourself off from the news if you can help it. I managed this successfully this week, and I only just heard about John Peel's death this morning. I am clearly five days behind everyone else, but my heart, jaw and colon hit the floor when I heard the news, and it's still bunping along the bottom now.

I always enjoyed his 'links' which were played during the day advertising what was on the show that evening...

'...on tonight's John Peel show, we've got 10,000 Maniacs in session. It's going to be a tight squeeze, but I think we'll manage it somehow...'

What was the reference he made to burning down your kitchen when he did TOTP with David Jensen? The one the BBC promptly sacked him from doing the show again?

RIP

 

[Skintagain 1983]

In 1981ish JP gave me a lift to Lewes when I was hitching home after his gig at Sussex University. He had family in Uckfield he told me.

I recall him telling the story on air the next night of my pal "Grassie" being that drunk at the gig that he kept "bumping in to the decks" and then somehow managed to" knock a mirror covered ball from the ceiling" which landed right on top of Mr Peel... JP thought it was funny and annoying at the same time.. . That certainly made an impression....

And I got a request played too... Respect

You'll be missed but I have good memories.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

What was the reference he made to burning down your kitchen when he did TOTP with David Jensen? The one the BBC promptly sacked him from doing the show again?

RIP

I think it was the one where after a performance of Wah's 'Come Back' he threatened to come round and break wind in people's kitchens if the record was not at number one the following week.

 

[Beach Hut]

Special program on the great man 22:00 hrs BBC 2 this Saturday

 

[dougdeep]

Special program on the great man 22:00 hrs BBC 2 this Saturday

The tribute on VH2 was good at the weekend.

 

[Deano's Right Foot]

More than twenty years ago and mate and I were running a one night club at Gossips in Dean Street called the Jive Dive, playing old swing, jive and blues. We also managed a band called Roman Holliday playing Haircut 100 style dross, and we persuaded them to write a whole set in the style of the music we were playing at the club.

I wrote a hopeful letter to John Peel asking him to come along. He rang me up the night of the show and said he'd love to come along after his show. He came, he saw then band, and immediately booked them for a session. Peter Powell heard the session and booked them for a session for his show, and then they got a deal with Jive and Roman Holliday had their 15 minutes of fame.

We bumped into each other a couple of times after that and even went out for an Indian late one night after his show / my club. I was touched when he sent me a postcard (in lieu of a Christmas card) that Christmas, and signing it Jonny Plee.

He was a man who was very generous with his time, and listening to his show over the years has had a huge influence on my musical tastes. A true legend.

 

[Northstander]

To me he is a legend!

I always found when he spoke you listened!!

He was just so Knowledgable and knew excatly what he was talking about!!

I think Glastonbury could well be one the best ever this year!!

 

[readingstockport]

Did you hear Home Truths last Saturday? Amazing. Truely stunning stuff.

And at the end, no continuity, no 'and now the news', no talk at all. Just a few seconds of silence that had me in even more tears than I had been earlier.

Still gutted. RIP John

 

[Northstander]

TOTALLY!!

 

[readingstockport]

Funeral details

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3982631.stm

 

[Northstander]

there will be bleeding hundreds, maybe thousands attending that!