1939-2004 9 releases on my indie label Third Mind: a Steve Gallant – HMV Phil Hartnoll – Orbital marathon, triple C60 compilation cassette I never met John but, like many people of my John Peel has been with me from the age of 14 package entitled Rising From The Red Sand pts generation, I picked up on so many bands from to 40 and I feel privileged to have met and 3-5. hearing them on his show, when they couldn't worked with him. I did two Peel sessions: one in When I approached John at the DJ booth, he get airplay anywhere else. I don't think there has the early stages of my career and one in July of immediately knew which tapes I was talking been such an eclectic radio programme in the this year which was the last ever performance about. Then, at the end of the show, we walked history of broadcasting. Peel was clearly one of that Orbital did. It was on this occasion that I had back in the direction of his car. When he opened the guys who loved the music more than the the opportunity to embarrass him by giving him the door he showed me a box of tapes on the business. a cuddle and telling him how much he meant to passenger seat and my cassettes were sitting on me, and for this I will always be grateful. top of the pile. Mike McCormack – Universal Publishing Idealistic, music crazy and just out of my teens, I John’s influence didn't burn brightly for a short Sean Devine - ASCAP took it for granted at the time that he would have period of time and then disappear like so many, I find it hard to find words to describe the spent hours poring over the mostly dark it shone (bar the odd flicker) for nearly 40 years. pleasure that Peely has brought to me and my ambient/second wave industrial/not exactly Peel In a compromising world he always seemed to friends over the years, his late night radio show show friendly tracks that I had sent him. With stand alone and although his music taste was always sparked debate in the playground the hindsight, and knowing these days how difficult mostly alternative and un-commercial, next morning and nothing happened in my it is to find the time to listen to unsolicited remember that he was still the first DJ to play house on a Saturday morning until Home Truths material, it really made me appreciate the sheer Dire Straits! was digested. A great man and a sad loss. dedication to duty that he had. Tony Wadsworth – EMI Gordon Charlton – Polydor Ed Bicknell – Manager If we who are lucky enough to work in this When I started my first scouting job for CBS in I was really, really shocked and saddened to hear industry could set our standards for integrity, 1982 the first two bands I tried to sign (the Lotus this. In the first instance, it's a tragedy for his wife quality, humility, humour and inspiration against Eaters and Dead Or Alive) had done sessions for and family, but it's also a very, very sad day for those of John Peel, the industry and the world him. the British music industry and BBC radio in would be a better place. As a very early Joy Division fan I would always particular. Thanks to John for turning us on to such a lot of listen eagerly whenever they did sessions and great music. subsequently with New Order. Peel was also the John Giddings - Solo only person who played records by bands from I remember listening to him on a Sunday and Elliott Randall - Musician my hometown (Luton) when I was a teenager. finding out there were other people who liked John was a true friend of progressive music, and God bless you John Peel, you were truly an the same music as me. He was one of the one of the finest radio personalities we’ve ever immense man. greatest influences on modern musical taste known. He will be sorely missed. Lee Thompson - Freelance Jake Burns – Stiff Little Fingers How can anyone involved in the UK music Paul and Katie Conroy – Adventure Records I remember when I was younger, lying in bed industry fail to have shed a tear when they heard It's at this time that words seem inadequate. and listening to John Peel on a hidden transistor the news of his passing? John Peel was the greatest DJ and broadcaster radio. The shows would always finish with I remember clearly the very first time I ever got of our generation - and his loss is immense. He Grinderswitch's Picking the Blues and Peely to hear his exclusive play of the still-stunning was a true champion of new and different music would always say: "Here comes the good bit", The Queen Is Dead by The Smiths in 1986, and that he believed in. Countless bands and just as the track got noisy. The guy was an before even that, the Jesus & Mary Chain making musicians owe their careers to his early absolute hero in the days when I considered their glorious noise, Billy Bragg's first ever acceptance. He changed the way that a DJ was most DJ's complete buffoons. sessions, long forgotten gems from groups like viewed in this country and with his passing, When we sent him Suspect Device and he not Unknown Cases, Young Marble Giants and so we've lost a true radio great whose warmth and only played it, but eulogised over it and played it many, many more - basically the soundtrack to personality entered the lives of millions. for something like 10 nights in a row, I was my youth. ecstatic. And the night we received the ultimate One of the saddest things however was how the David Bates – db Records Peel endorsement of, "And that was Stiff Little rolling news organizations seemed to pull totally One of my special memories of John was at a Fingers, of course," I was beside myself with unsuitable people out of the woodwork to pay special, one-off Was Not Was gig for media at happiness. As others have doubtless said more tribute. Peely would have been horrified to see the Wag Club on Wardour Street, when the band eloquently than myself, the world is a sadder Messers Bates and Bruno Brookes eulogizing on first came to the UK. place with his passing, but wasn't it fucking his contribution to the music in this country yet The Wag club was tiny but somehow we glorious to have had him? the ITV News Channel trotted them out to crammed in 150 people where there should pontificate. Wrong in every conceivable way - have been 50. The band started and the place Skreen - Waverunner they should have left exclusively to Gambo, went wild. Their bizarre, take on jazz, R&B and I was fortunate enough to be considered a Jensen, Andy Kershaw, Janice and Mark funk took hold and there at the very front, member of John Peel's extended family, an Radcliffe on the broadcasting side as they're the normally calm and considered but now with his honour bestowed upon me when the Cuban only ones qualified by having been so close to jacket off and doing his finest impression of the Boys ran riot on his show prior to the explosion John professionally. ‘Frug’, was our John. of label and media interest in our Hamsterdance I didn’t know he could dance. I’m not sure he song of Xmas 1999. But unlike most of the Andy Davies – BBC Radio 2 knew he could dance. But there he was enjoying people who emerged to champion us at that When I went to Radio 1 as a young producer, it himself. time, John was still there for us post-boom, was not the excitement of working in such an always receptive and always offering support institution that grabbed me but the fact that I Willie Morgan – Diamond Media and love for new projects. Without John, the was working in the same building as the Like many, I believe that the key to Peely's Cuban Boys wouldn't have that entry in the inspiring John Peel. That would have been longevity and the esteem to which he has Guinness Book Of Hit Singles, the joy of winning enough, but to meet the great man was a lasting deservedly been held, was not just his aim to the Festive 50, or the pride of recording two memory that I will treasure. always find something new and exciting, but sessions for the BBC - but most of all, we When I heard of his death, that meeting came also the incredible teamwork and relationship he wouldn't have so many great memories of such flooding back, along with the memories of all shared with the great John Walters. No one can a great man. My world will be an emptier place those great records that would never have ever replace either of them, and perhaps it is without him. touched me if it weren’t for him. Life is so very only the likes of Andy Kershaw and Nick Stewart cruel when it takes someone so special, but I'd who can truly demonstrate the single- like to think that John is already up there mindedness of their approach to music on the spinning some great tunes and continuing to radio, that John Peel exemplified.