This page is to celebrate the life and work of the late John Peel the BBC Radio One DJ. He was born August 1939 as John Robert Parker Ravenscroft in Heswall, Wirral. After a public school education in Shrewsbury and two-year National Service he moved to the States and settled in Dallas, where he worked as a computer programmer for an insurance company. John Peel's annual rundown of listeners' fifty favourite tracks of the year, 'The John Peel Festive 50' became a Christmas institution more loved than fairy lights and Christmas crackers. Listeners of John's Radio 1 show picked the chart by voting for their three favourite tracks of the year before the end of November. The Festive 50 were then played on air. John originally let listeners choose their all-time favourite three tracks for the 1976 chart. The Beatles, The Doors and Jimi Hendrix all cropped up in the run-down, even though the Beatles had split up and The Doors' lead singer Jim Morrison and Jimi Hendrix were dead by then. John counted the listeners' votes and compiled the chart himself. Sadly, John Peel passed away on 26th October 2004 following a heart attack whilst on a working holiday with his wife Sheila in Peru. A real broadcaster and genuine person who is sorely missed by his friends, family and the listening public. I would also love to hear your memories of the great man. If you were a listener or in a band that he played, or maybe you recorded a session. Click on view my pictures to see some lovely pictures from down the years.
NEWS - CLUB CHAMELEON
I am supporting a night called Club Chameleon which runs loads of gigs featuring the finest up and coming bands. John Lever the Chameleons drummers moto is "Keeping the Peel flag flying" and what a fine job he is doing. His nights mainly take place in and around the Manchester area at present and his myspace page is essential viewing for Peel fans. The addy is WWW.MYSPACE.COM/CLUBCHAMELEON
Toni Tiger x
