Canadian CBC Arts Writer Places Stowmarket South Of London

[Tom Roche]

Late DJ John Peel to join U.K. Music Hall of Fame
Last Updated Tue, 26 Jul 2005 14:39:22 EDT
CBC Arts

http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2005/07/26/Arts/peel050725.html?ref=rss

The late but legendary BBC Radio DJ John Peel is to be named an 
honorary member of the U.K. Music Hall of Fame on the first 
anniversary of his death.

Peel was widely regarded as one of the most important spotters of new 
bands, which he played on his weekly show and recorded in what became 
known as "John Peel Sessions."



Before his death at age 65 last October while on holiday in Peru, he 
was the BBC's longest serving DJ, bridging the Woodstock, punk and 
rave generations.

Over the years he introduced listeners to the music of David Bowie, 
Sex Pistols, Pink Floyd, U2, the Smiths and the White Stripes.

Paul Gambaccini, a former BBC Radio 1 DJ who is on the hall's 
60-member selection committee, said he was thrilled that his hero, 
mentor and friend was being honoured.

"He was for many years the most important person in popular music in 
the western world," Gambaccini said.

Also this year, a BBC television documentary researched by Peel's son 
Tom Ravenscroft will examine Peel's gigantic record collection, which 
dominated his residence south of London.



Peel grew up near Liverpool where he first heard Elvis's  Heartbreak 
Hotel, in what Peel called a revelation, but it was in Dallas that he 
got his first DJ job. He returned to Britain in 1967, spinning 
records from an offshore pirate radio station before joining BBC 
Radio 1.

Some of his favourite bands over the years included Manchester's 
offbeat the Fall and Northern Ireland's the Undertones.

Peel's favourite song,  Teenage Kicks by the Undertones, would surely 
be in the small wooden box that held his most precious seven-inch 
singles. His son's documentary aims to tell the stories behind those.

Only in its second year, the U.K. hall will also induct Bob Dylan 
this October, following the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elvis 
Presley and Bob Marley in 2004.