John Peel is dead.

[denny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/3955289.stm "Veteran BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65" Obituary: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3955369.stm I can't find the words for this. Anyone who cares at all will know why this is so hugely tragic for the British music scene.

Comments

[ninneviane.livejournal.com]

Isn't it :(

Thanks for the link to the obituary :)

[deano977.livejournal.com]

He's one of those bits of the world that have always been there and are surely always going to be there because anything else just wouldn't make sense.

A John Peel story. About 18 months ago, I was driving thedivineoliver and rathenar home from the pub. We had the radio on (Peel) and, typically, he was playing some bizarre squiggly industrially noise. Our initial reaction of 'what the bloomin heck's this' changed through curiosity to fascination over the next 20 minutes or so as we drove home without the track finishing... When I got into the house I put the radio on. And it was still going.

Somewhere in the universe, that track is still playing, and John trying to decide what to put on next.

[djlongfella.livejournal.com]

For years, I would catch the dulset tones of John Peels show, thinking what a boring bastard, but something always drew me back to his show, it wasn't till I entered the music industry that I realised how much of a difference this one man was making to the music listened to by the masses...I'm sure that many bands we listen to today were featured prior to signing on John's show.

The entry level for the music industry, is the hardest level to crack, I have friends and professional acquaintences who are established bands who pay " pluggers " a bucket load of money, just to pester the powers that be to get a few plays on Radio 1.

With John this was not the case, his passion for music and respect for creativity was all that was needed to get anything innovative or above competant, some serious air play. Being played by the likes of Moyles and Colin and Edith, may sell units of singles, but they work to dictated playlists, so it's a back scratching game within the record industry that gets the air play..However, being played by The Mr Peel, was truly an accolade of accomplishment.

I believe that without his, or a kin spirit influence to step into those massive boots left behind at Radio 1, that the already corporate warzone, that is the music industry will become almost a closed shop, for the indipendant frontliners, that will be next years artistes.

Today is a very sad day for musicians and the music industry, although I fear the latter will not realise it until it is too late.

< bows head >

Good night John, and thank you.