Tuesday 26 October
Just heard the news about John Peel.
Don’t know what to write. I’m gutted. I saw him on ‘Room 101′a year back, and he was talking about his fear of death. It left a real, deep impression on me. He was scared. I could so desparately relate. It made me so sad, seeing Peelie like that. I hope he resolved it before his end. I don’t know what to say. I t’s undeniable that his influence and musical taste and enthusiasm brightened up my own life, and that of fucking thousands of my friends. I never envied him, always admired him: felt that just once - just for one time - someone from our side had managed to slip through and infiltrate the mainstream. And he continued to work his enthusiasms and his passion for music all the way through, uncaring as to what others thought. He was also about the best presenter I think I ever heard on radio: I loved the way he’d um and ah, stumble over words, mumble, in a medium where brashness and glibness are prized above all.
Thanks for giving us so much, mate.
Posted on Tuesday, October 26th, 2004by Everett True
This is the saddest moment in radio in my lifetime.
Posted by Mark Connelly on October 26th, 2004 at 4:10 pm