John Peel is Dead

[Mulboyne]

If you love a certain style of music, you will be very sad that John Peel, a BBC Radio DJ, died today.
Legendary radio DJ John Peel dies
"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. "Hopeful bands all over the world sent their demo tapes to John knowing that he really cared. "His commitment and passion for new music only grew stronger over the years. In fact, when I last saw him he was engaged in a lively debate with his fellow DJs over the state of new music today.

[mr. sparkle]

Sad news indeed. He will be missed. Thank goodness he leaves behind his legacy, "Peel Sessions". If you did not know, these are recordings of bands that did Peel's show. Many of them are outstanding.


Chameleons UK

[mas]

So the question is, "Who ended up with his album collection."

Unfortunately, not me...

[Taro Toporific]

DJ John Peel's boss at Radio One, Rhys Hughes, in this interview describes the pongiesque, MELT BANANA as John Peel's recent favorite.

Influential DJ John Peel Dies
Listen to this story...Real or Windows Media 9 player
National Public Radio, All Things Considered, October 26, 2004
BBC disc jockey John Peel, whose nightly Radio One program is credited with launching the careers of bands including New Order and Joy Division, suffered a fatal heart attack Monday. Peel's boss at Radio One, Rhys Hughes, talks about his legacy.

MELT BANANA site

[Mulboyne]

Thanks for finding that Taro.
A lot of Japanese bands got airtime in Britain through John Peel. YMO and the Sadistic Mika Band followed by Frank Chickens and Friction in the early days. He was one of the few DJs to give any time to the noise scene so there will be tributes from Japan when the news breaks.

[Captain Japan]

Here's his show's webpage:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/alt/johnpeel/
You can listen to a number of past recordings.
When I was a kid I bought quite a few of the records recorded for his show, usually 4-track EPs. The covers of the albums were all the same; they just had the same seemingly neverending list of the bands he's had in the studio. For example:


It is truly too bad that he has passed away.

[Mulboyne]

Smashing Mag

A good friend of mine and one of the most imporrtant music persons in the history of rock music, a radio DJ, John Peel, passed away. He was the one introduced Jimi Hendrix or Marc Bolan to the mass first time and let us know about punk, reggae, all those indie bands or extreme outfits from all over the world. I was in his studio a couple of times and he was playing some Japanese bands in that evening. Thanks John, you did a great job and we all respect you., but I really do miss you hell of a lot...Feeling real sad, but the life goes on...

[Failsafe]

Such a tragic loss, he had a wonderful and diverse taste in music and even though we never met him hearing him play one of our tunes on radio one was as good as things ever got.

RIP big man.

[Mulboyne]

Bomp Web site

Bomp's founder, Greg Shaw, died on Tuesday, October 19, from heart failure at the age of 55. Greg's lifelong devotion to discovering, raving about and releasing authentic -albeit obscure- rock & roll, and promoting rock fandom over four decades was extraordinary.

Greg Shaw Bio PDF

Some people thought of Greg Shaw as "the Anti-Dick Clark", a behind-the-scenes character that had enthusiastic fingers in every breaking rock scene, in almost every media, for four decades. Many knew him from his background in punk (a Berlin newspaper referred to him as "The Pope of Punk"), while '60s cultists felt his efforts were behind the revival of garage-punk music. These are but a few of his many accomplishments, and his incessant drive to keep discovering new music emanated from his love of classic (but obscure) rock & roll and the rejuvenating powers of rock fandom.

2000 interview with Ken Shimamoto

[DrP]

Gregory was my "ex's ex" and a true friend to all around! Anyone who knew him was immediately entranced by hi passion for all things music and psychedelic. Through his long illnesses he remained steadfastly positive and committed to his son and the art he loved dearly. I, for one, will miss him so much!

Without Gregory tirelessly pushing the garage/indie/punk/psycho-noise scene it probably would have disappeared into commercial radio hell. Gregory had his hand and effort providing production, distribution and support to many of the bands we now label as 'legends' and 'unknowns' alike.

One cool dude -- I hope BOMP will thrive and continue the christmas cookies!

[AssKissinger]

I was just taking and shit and reading about John Peel in Uncut and ran into a little bit of J-Rock trivia. The last Peel Session he played on the air was by this Japanese band Polysics

[Mulboyne]

2004 Festive Fifty
Peel's listeners have voted for their best of the year. You can listen to it via your pc/mac on BBC Radio.

Saw Polysics play with Shonen Knife and Electric Eel Shock in Tokyo the other day. Captain Japan also in attendance. They were the best of the bunch.

[kotatsuneko]

can't remember the exact quote, but Jonathon Ross said last night on a quiz show that a week or so before Peel's death he sent him a card saying dont get sick and die suddenly (or words to that effect)

[NeoNecroNomiCron]

I hope he gets to heaven faster than all thoes 50000+ asians. My prayers are with him!


God Bless him. What a good fellow indeed.