JOHN PEEL DAY

This documentary was broadcast on BBC Radio 1 shortly after John's death in 2004.

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This special one hour documentary celebrates the life and work of John Peel. Presented by Jarvis Cocker, it features contributions from artists and DJs such as Led Zeppelin, Billy Bragg, Pink Floyd, Ash, Orbital, the Cure and Captain Beefheart.

Jarvis Cocker (Pulp)
“I’d heard all about something called punk rock but my local radio station refused to play it. One night I started twisting the dial, hoping that something would happen, and then… it did. I caught the end of an Elvis Costello track followed by a low, droning voice that I would come to know very well, introducing me to a whole new world. That’s where for me, and countless others, it all began.”

John ‘Drumbo’ French (Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band)
“When we came to London he was very hospitable. He brought a big bag of cereal to our hotel and told us we should eat it every day to stay healthy. He came with us to the venue and we had trouble getting through the crowds and asked him what the big event was? He said, ‘They’re here to see you.’ We didn’t even realise that he had made us a big name in the UK from his pirate radio station.”

PJ Harvey with John at Peel Acres
“Throughout my time of knowing him we kept in touch and sent postcards. Whenever I demo’d a new record I’d send it to him. I always wanted to know his opinion on things because I think he had really great taste.”

John Peel on his friendship with Marc Bolan
"People would phone me up from places like Exeter and say we’d like you to come down and do a disco. I’d say I’ll only do it if I can bring Tyrannosaurus Rex with me and they’d say, ‘What’s that?’ and I’d explain as best I could. We’d hire a car and set off and turn up and do the gig. By and large they wouldn’t go down terrifically well. And then we’d have to drive back to London because we couldn’t afford to stay anywhere."

Robert Smith (The Cure)
"From ’78 though to 1981 he was just around, a very caring, paternal figure. He was genuinely concerned about all the bands that had done sessions on his show. You felt like he kind of felt responsible, it was really sweet."

Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) on the early Peel Sessions
“It was very hard to get the engineers used to recording music at the volumes that we liked. We were constantly being told by everyone to keep the amps down. I can’t remember whether any of the sessions were ever worth keeping.”

Pete Shelley (Buzzcocks)
“No one was playing punk. It wasn’t seen as music at the time. It had the same reaction as rock ‘n’ roll did in the 50’s – it was really, ‘Lock up your children’ and the ban thing.”

Johnny Marr (the Smiths)
“Songs were written because of the Peel Sessions. ‘This Charming Man’ for instance was written cos we didn’t have enough songs. We had a session on the Friday, it was like the Tuesday and I just got out of bed and wrote this song for it. The versions for Peel pretty much became the definitive versions of our songs around that time. Those sessions taught me how to make records.”

Mike Oldfield
“Someone said John Peel was going to play Tubular Bells. I switched on the radio to listen and he played the whole thing – both sides of it, an hour’s music. I sat there completely stunned. After he played it people started to believe in it. It went on to sell millions and topped the charts for nearly two years. So really I owe him my life.”

Billy Braagg playing at Peel's 40th party
“It was the night that I tuned in to listen to a session by the ‘High Level Ranters’ who were a Northumbrian pipe and clog band, and that was when I first heard the Sex Pistols.”

Orbital on Peel's Funeral
"When people were giving their speeches in the church you could hear rounds of applause from outside the church and you realised there were thousands of people outside as well. It was incredible, it was so moving."

Tom Robinson
“I think once he met Sheila you could tell that his life suddenly found its sense of purpose. The tone of his letters changed. There was a nice postcard that said, 'I’m much calmer and more together now. My record company makes nice records which nobody buys much. But we now have five hamsters, four Chinese, one of which is wandering round the flat having left her cage two weeks ago. They all, plus Sheila and I, send love to you and those you love. John Peel.'”

Jarvis Cocker
"John was a launchpad for a thousand careers, including mine. No one in any medium could match his influence as a supporter of new talent … without commercial interest or intent. Someone who attempted to please nobody but himself ended up forging one of the most profound links with his listeners in the history of broadcasting. He was an ordinary bloke with an extraordinary love for music. I and many others will never forget him."

Relevant Links:
Keeping it Peel documentary 2005