Tony your poem is beautiful. I've been singing it to the tune of Rod Stewarts - Sailing. very emotional, but cracking.

I'll sing it on the vigil if anyone's up for it.

I have an anecdote that says something about the man. A mate who was a session bass player for Black Sabbath told me this:

Ozzie Osbourne telephoned the Peel household at four in the morning. Awoken, Peelie, demurred, ever so slightly grumpy, and replied: "We dont have a recipe for bat stew".
This was the only time Peelie lost his cool slightly, and wasn't thoroughly nice.

All the comments from music lovers have been great. You know why. Peelie was unique because there was no genre of music he didn't like. The only band he liked to dislike refused to play was Jethro Tull, so his enemies are few. You wouldn't catch me listen to Tull these days.

IM Might IM be inclined to do a special feature. Last call, anyone for a vigil outside his farmhouse

Thursday October 28, 2004

The Guardian


I was shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely passing of that great British institution, John Peel (Obituary, October 27). Not only has he made a lasting contribution to British popular culture, he was also instrumental in launching the careers of generations of musicians.
I owe him a special debt, as he was one of the only DJs who gave me a hearing on the BBC, thereby bringing my brand of reggae music into the mainstream. I am sure that I speak on behalf of the reggae community when I say that he will be greatly missed.
Linton Kwesi Johnson
London