It's strange, I never knew him but do have some personal memories of the man, ranging from drunkenly asking him to adopt me at a rock festival when I was 15 to laughing at the fact he had more attractive ladies around him at Sonar this year than any of the younger men, and it does hurt to think that he's gone.
What hurts even more is the suggestion his employer could partially be to blame http://www.manchesteronline.co.uk/entertainment/music/s/134/134956_john_peel_was_worn_out_by_bbc_schedule.html Sympathy to his family and friends, and to quote a band he probably never played 'Thank You For The Music' RIP -----Original Message----- From: Robert Taylor [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: 27 October 2004 07:11 To: Nicole Slavin; 313@hyperreal.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Re: (313) John Peel Bit late to pitch in, but I too was genuinely upset by his passing. I usually find public outpourings of grief rather distasteful and insincere (after the Diana fiasco), but can understand completely why in this case it is genuine. For most music fans, in the UK, at least, he was a constant fixture in their lives (I listened to his shows constantly from about age 14 to my mid 20s) and to hear this lovely man with a familiar and amiable voice so regularly playing records that blew our minds, it is no wonder that we felt such a connection to him, almost as if he was a relative or close friend. He is also irreplaceable - there is no one to fill his shoes, and if there was, I doubt the BBC would employ them. This is a devastating blow for the music industry cos he was the only chance many bands/producers had to get their music played on national radio. So I echo the calls for some kind of public memorial service for him. -----Original Message----- From: Nicole Slavin [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:59 AM To: 313@hyperreal.org; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Re: (313) John Peel So far there has been a pretty decent show of respect in the local media. I missed the early news slots but know he was featured, and newsnight had an entire feature on him including guests. One of these guests was Mark E Smith from The Fall which was absolutely hilarious as he was being really weird and belligerant in the way that he is. He kept on subverting all the compliments about John and then asked the reporter if he was going to be "allowed" to speak again. I think John Peel would have like it! ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <313@hyperreal.org> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: 26 October 2004 20:42 Subject: Re: Re: (313) John Peel > > i knew Greg would say it well, so i'll leave it at that. ironically, we > talked about that Sonar experience not too long ago. i'm sorry you > won't get that second chance as well. > > what a tragic, shocking loss. to call him a legend, in his own or any > time, is nearly a disservice. has anyone done more for music in > general, across as many genres, so faithfully? it's hard to imagine. > > i hope he is recognized by the state. both in saying farewell and also > in some sort of lasting memorial. a fund, scholarship, street, > program... something fitting. he more than deserves it. > > Garrett > > > > Greg Earle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote on 10/26/2004, 07:34:21 PM: > > Oh my God. I'm staggered beyond all belief. > > > > In the last 20 years I've had little trouble walking up to most any > > famous performer, DJ, band, whathaveyou, that I wanted to meet - > > either because they seemed like interesting people or simply > > because I respected their musical talent and wanted to say thanks - > > as it's been easy to rationalize (hey, they all put their pants on one > > leg at a time, just like me - and, as I've gotten older, invariably > > they're all younger than I am, which helps). > > > > Except for John Peel. > > > > At Sonar last year I saw him standing around in SonarVillage > > and I kept trying to get up the nerve to go shake his hand. > > > > I was too intimidated. Not by his presence - he seems jovial > > and approachable enough in person - but for an old fart like me, > > the man is simply a God among men. Back in the Punk days when you > > were lucky to get a beaten-up 6-8 week old copy of the NME in your > > local (US) record shop, the man and his playlists (and his end > > of the year Festive 50 lists) and of course the Peel Sessions > > were an absolute godsend to an overseas Punk fanatic. > > > > I told myself that if I saw him at Sonar next time 'round that > > I'd right the wrong and go up to him this time. Now I'll never > > get that chance. > > > > I see that Tony Blair chimed in with his 2p - do the right thing, > > Tony, give this man a state funeral. Few Britons over the last > > 35 years have been as important as this man was - to this overseas > > observer, anyway. > > > > - Greg ##################################################################################### Note: Any views or opinions are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Channel Four Television Corporation unless specifically stated. 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