Today I heard the sad news that John Peel has died of a heart attack while in Peru.
I grew up with John Peel. First hearing him in about 1976 when the older kids at school were playing him on the radio in the dormitory, by the time I was at college at the end of the 70s I was listening to his whole show just about every night it was on and being exposed to things like Misty In Roots or the Fire Engines.
Even now, for old times’ sake, I have been listening in to a bit of his show, amazed that he can still be excited by new music and be more open to new ideas than people a fraction of his age. The other week, in amongst all the obscure unsigned artists, singles on tiny labels picked up in overseas record shops, and other curiosities, he had the last laugh I think by suddenly deciding to play a Status Quo song.
I don’t suppose he was on my radio enough in recent years for me to say I will actively miss him, but I’m really sad to hear about his death. I can honestly say he was one of my favourite people and the world is a worse place now he has gone.
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