When Peter Sellers died - I didn't Cry.
When Frankie Howerd died - I didn't cry.
Tonight - I'm crying buckets!!
When Frankie Howerd died - I didn't cry.
Tonight - I'm crying buckets!!
R.I.P. John Peel
In case you haven't heard the news (where have you been?), veteran broadcaster John Peel died early this morning.
This is my own personal tribute to him.
There are very few people on this Earth who I can say changed my life for the better, but, John Peel is one of them.
He inspired me not only to make electronic music (15 years later I have a home studio and are about to start shipping out demos of my own tunes), but, he also opened my mind (and heart) to so much more than just electronica.
He gave me a musical education and an enduring passion not only to seek out the new, but, to CREATE the new as well.
He introduced us to Glam Rock, Punk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Rave, Jungle, Techno, Britpop, African music, Latin music and latterly supported new movements like Grimee and Dubstep.
A true champion in a mainstream position for alternative culture if ever there was one.
He made it easy for us as artists to take risks, to be original thinkers, because you always knew that there would be at least one person who would entertain your madness!
It's fair to say that not only British culture, but, global musical culture will be all the poorer for his passing.
It will also be that little bit harder for new, upcoming experimental artists to get radio airplay now.
We had better all hope that there will still be public service broadcasting after the BBC charter comes up for review, so those few radio DJs who also have an open mind for new music will have an outlet, because, let's face it, the track record for commercial radio for promoting new talent is pitiful.
If there is an afterlife, I look forward to meeting him there, although, I suspect I may have to fight my way to the front of the vast crowd of admirers to chat to him!
Rest In Peace, old friend.
I'll Love you forever.
An end of an era for sure.
******
P.S. Love and Respect to his family as well.
This is my own personal tribute to him.
There are very few people on this Earth who I can say changed my life for the better, but, John Peel is one of them.
He inspired me not only to make electronic music (15 years later I have a home studio and are about to start shipping out demos of my own tunes), but, he also opened my mind (and heart) to so much more than just electronica.
He gave me a musical education and an enduring passion not only to seek out the new, but, to CREATE the new as well.
He introduced us to Glam Rock, Punk, Reggae, Hip Hop, Rave, Jungle, Techno, Britpop, African music, Latin music and latterly supported new movements like Grimee and Dubstep.
A true champion in a mainstream position for alternative culture if ever there was one.
He made it easy for us as artists to take risks, to be original thinkers, because you always knew that there would be at least one person who would entertain your madness!
It's fair to say that not only British culture, but, global musical culture will be all the poorer for his passing.
It will also be that little bit harder for new, upcoming experimental artists to get radio airplay now.
We had better all hope that there will still be public service broadcasting after the BBC charter comes up for review, so those few radio DJs who also have an open mind for new music will have an outlet, because, let's face it, the track record for commercial radio for promoting new talent is pitiful.
If there is an afterlife, I look forward to meeting him there, although, I suspect I may have to fight my way to the front of the vast crowd of admirers to chat to him!
Rest In Peace, old friend.
I'll Love you forever.
An end of an era for sure.
******
P.S. Love and Respect to his family as well.
Comments
Hide the following 8 comments
Some of us owe it to .. .
26.10.2004 23:07
Without our JP educating me through sound I certainly would'nt be the anti-authoritarian bastard I am today.
Peace John, hope you're DJ'ing and educating on the otherside!
"God" will be partying tonight for sure!! Ha Ha .. .
Sn|per
Are you somekind of weirdo
26.10.2004 23:33
You have created your God out of a DJ who boosted the careers of Rod Stewart and the Undertones. Apart from that his influence on the British music scene is incalculable - that means noone can tell. I'd say not far off zero. His influence on you is to distort and commodify your cultural and creative identity.
..
Cant Stand Him
26.10.2004 23:48
The music he played had no good tunes in it, - it was crap.
Harry Hamlet
Foolish trolls
27.10.2004 00:47
si
Home truth
27.10.2004 09:44
You people are such idiots. I can't believe it took me so long to see it.
Converted
Seriously. Interesting DJ - Certainly The Best On BBC - But Leave It At That
27.10.2004 11:37
But, if there are many who read these pages who were politically educated by Peel, we might as well pack up and go back to our families and shut out the world. Peel was a Benite in the late seventies, but later he became apolitical and conservative, and then a reactionary.
In the sixties and seventies he championed liberty, particularly sexual freedom which he famously practiced with gusto. In the last twenty years he put the family at the centre of the world, and quite literally too in his world; politics, or for that matter, anything else, was way down the line, insignificant. This became the theme of his Radio 4 'home truths': the family, at the end of the day, is best suited to resolve all problems.
Of course the family is a construct that lies at the heart conservatives and far-right thinking. They are the units that build and hold society together, while capitalism acts to tear it apart. These forces devastate many lives and constrain dissent, and radical change.
That's what the cosy home truths is doing, that's it's propaganda value, and Peel was only too happy to lend his myth - the revolutionary who worked inside the systems and stuck up his V’s up to it as he secretive played anarchic punk.
With the Peel myth the propaganda was even more nuanced and effective - it says even the most liberated, alternative cool dudes think the family is number 1, and that Middle England is really cool. Peels services to the angst ridden middle class went further in providing an outlet for teenage rebellion. His services to Middle England have been legion for which he was rewarded the Order of the British Empire. His cosy middle class friendly image earned him a fortune in revenue for adverts from a range of products.
Not unsurprisingly said he was wonderful. Two ex-public school boys , who were first and foremost tell their fans they are family men - thought each other wonderful.
Come on. How can this man be idolised on these pages
HH
Peel is a Bit of a King
27.10.2004 13:45
Apart from not finding the "comment on this article" button soon enough see "on our wavelengths published above at 11.45 27/10
HH's analysis above (12.37, 27/10) gives me food for thought of course, but in the land of media folk the one bearded man is a bit of a king surely
cheers
tony
Tony Hillier
e-mail:
tony.hillier@ntlworld.com
Fair Comment...
29.10.2004 01:24
And yes, he did choose to be 'apolitical' (to a degree), but, then I also know plenty of other people who choose to do that as well, and don't think any the worse of them - it's their call, their life, and I don't feel I'm in any position to try and ram my beliefs down their throats.
Ever heard of the phrase "agree to disagree"..?
Well, it applies here.
And yes, of course he only ever REFLECTED the times - he wasn't making the music, just giving it airtime.
I'm not quite sure what your point is here.
As for the OBE, well, many chancers get put up for such things, and yes, they are very dubious in the reasons they exist.
Many of us (including myself) wouldn't even consider those kinds of 'accolades' because of all the cultural baggage that comes along with them.
He knew what he was doing, so, again his call, he had to live with that decision.
I seem to recall though that he also had an honorary degree in music (someone correct me on that if I'm wrong), which I'd say he definitely deserved.
As for 'The Family' being a political contrivance, well yes, in a certain form it is.
But, then tell me a time when it HASN'T been this?
I think it we should work on the proviso that we all have a conception of what 'Family' is, and it's different for each one of us.
Just because the media (including JP) tells us it's one thing doesn't mean we have to buy into that notion, does it?
I suspect he did this show ('Family Values') for personal rather than political reasons, but, I can't step into his head and tell you what his motivations are, so, I won't try.
But, on another level he was one of this country's best musical talent spotters, so, the way I see it, if the sponsorship (which didn't really hurt anything except his own credibility) allowed him to continue doing this job, then fair enough.
As I hinted, only time will tell what kinds of mainstream outlets new artists will have in his absence, but, do not underestimate the cultural impact that this man had, and do not underestimate how much harder it will now be for upcoming artists to get exposure.
He did what because he believed in it, and because he loved music, and for that I salute him.
Also bear in mind that he educated millions of people to the fact that there is more to music than just manufactured pop pap.
Oh yes, and my own first politicisation came courtesy of Public Enemey, KRS ONE, Grandmaster Flash ('The Message', remember?) and their ilk, so, don't you dare knock the power of music in this respect - there's nothing wrong with an artist using their position of influence to try and educate others.
If I'm ever in a similar postion, I too will attempt to do the same thing for the next generation (by means of reportage and commentary), as I think it's a far better way to utilise your skills than to just squander it all by using it as an excuse to snort powder up your nose, get tacky sex and planet-wrecking motor cars, so don't be so patronising.
******
N.B.
The above may sound like my being an apologist for him - I'm not.
He did things I would never do (the OBE, ad voiceovers etc.) - I was just trying to answer your queries as best I can, but, the truth is I don't have all the answers (I can't climb inside the man's head and tell you what he was thinking)) so I won't pretend that I can.
Peelspotter