Indeed, the BBC celebrating their very own bette noir is something that would have seemed impossible during some periods of his career with Auntie. Having said that, there was a fine start to the week as after Gilles Peterson’s show on Sunday night, there was a One World special called ‘John Peel Around The World’, “From Brussels to Japan, Sonar to the Eurovision Song Contest One World tries to cram in as much as we can.” As Mary Ann Hobbs said in her introduction, “John played it all from all over the world.”

Peterson’s ‘Worldwide’ show used to follow Peel when they were both on a Wednesday night a couple of years ago. Although Peterson will be in the States promoting his next compilation CD, he did mention that the special gig at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London (12th October) featuring some of John’s favourite artists, including New Order, The Fall and Misty In Roots. Highlights are to be played on Radio on the following night’s six-hour show dedicated to Peel with Steve Lamacq, Jo Whiley, Annie Mac, Rob da Bank and Colin & Edith.

I’m sure John would have expected us to go to see a band rather than stay in to listen to the radio. So off we went to one of my favourite student pubs, The Registry in Portsmouth. The line up for the Fresher TTT night was DJ’s Will Chump, Pnormaix, Django, Matt Tako and DJ Andy (Portishead) Smith. Andy Smith’s Document CD-mix series has that eclectic package that Peel himself is renown for. Document saw Tom Jones next to Marvin Gaye. Last week saw the release of Document 3 and this time, he’s mixed the likes of Freda Payne, Black Sabbath, The Kinks and Ohmega Watts.

So I was looking forward to hearing a Breaks / Pop Rap / Heavy Metal / Breakbeat session but unfortunately, the door staff took exception to one of our party which was a shame (but check Andy’s web site below). Undeterred, off to the alternative event in town at the Edge Of The Wedge in Southsea.

At this stage on Radio 1, Jack White of the White Stripes is telling us of his position as surrogate son of Peel and the time they first met at BBC Maida Vale studios where John was in tears (as he often was in his later years). It turned out that all was OK as Peely was overcome by Liverpool FC winning that night. Also check out Stanley Winston, ‘No More Guettos’ on listen again (see Links below).

At the Edge, just caught the end of Maria Szyrtisz and The Pyramid Of Mars (aka John) with a keyboard based one-man band set that Peel may well have enjoyed being of the DIY-Jawbone approach. The DJ “playing Peel favourites” failed to show up so it was left to Red Letter Day to entertain us with an acoustic set of tracks from their new CD. With the pioneer spirit of punk bands like UK Subs/Sham 69 they have some strong tunes in ‘Insomnia’ and particularly ‘Butterfly’.

Back in the car and more reminisces via Ivor Culter, Captain Beefheart, PJ Harvey and appropriately after RLD, The Ruts. At the end of the night, Mary Ann Hobbs was live in Liverpool for a Kid606 gig. Last year, I was on my way back from a gig in the car and Peel was playing a Kid606 session. I admit I turned the radio off. Venezuelan breakcore was too much for me at the time of night but how I wish I had the chance to listen to Peel. And would you believe it, the Kid606 live broadcast also got pulled when the swearing started (this was at 12.45!). Fair play to da Bank as he then immediately played Roy Harper’s ‘When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease’. Peel would have enjoyed that.

Much better than last year by Radio 1. The 6-hour show was a great tribute to the man. The idea of a ‘John Peel Day’ seems to have really caught on as there were about 300 events at the start of the week that had increased to 500 by the day itself. Start planning your own tribute for next year and raise some money for charity (his favourites Shelter and Médecins Sans Frontières). Global respect. Keep dreaming John, Teenage Dreams So Hard To Beat.

As a post-script, so many of the acts that feature on the ‘What’s Going On Gig Guide’ that went live on FLY on ‘John Peel Day’ had Peel connections, from world music DJ protégé, Andy Kershaw, folkies Fairport Convention, June Tabor, Oysterband and Kate & Anna McGarrigle, to African artists such as Manu Dibango and Kanda Bongo Man (unsurprisingly Peel’s choice over Oasis at Glastonbury) to Reggae star Eek-A-Mouse to mainstream artists Bob Dylan and Robert Plant. “JOHN, WE MISS YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

P.P.S. “He spent his life discovering others, now it’s time we discovered him” - Read exclusive extracts from John Peel’s autobiography, this weekend in The Sunday Telegraph’.

Links:
John Peel: Around the World Show broadcast on Radio 1, Monday 10th October 2005: 0100-0300
The Registry +44 (0) 23 9288 2981 TheThursdayThing (TTT) DJ’s Matt Tako (UYN/Phase2) ‘A hybrid decks and laptop set mashing up indie/techno/breaks/rock/hiphop/the kitchen sink Think 2manydjs… ‘, DJANGO (=RAD=/1eyeddogallstars) will chuMp (CHAOS/Delight/TTT) playing breaks and alternative… students and non students welcome … DJ Andy Smith www.djandysmith.com
John Peel - Tracklistings: 12/5/2004 : Stanley Winston - ‘No More Guettos In America (LP - More Great Moments Of Vinyl History)’ (Wrasse)
The Edge of the Wedge +44 (0) 23 9229 3301 - Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth www.wedgewood-rooms.co.uk
Red Letter Day www.redletterdaymusic.net “New Everything Matters available 17th October…we hope to be booking loads of shows in support of our new album just as soon as we fill our bass player vacancy”. Contact Ade “I was deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of John Peel earlier today…John was the first DJ to play the Day on national radio and we had the honour of recording a session for his show way back in 1986” Ade, Red Letter Day, November, 2004.
John Peel Day
Kid606 www.brainwashed.com/kid606.
Keep It Peel @ Queen Elizabeth Hall 12th October
It’s the night before the massive John Peel Day happening across the country and around the world on Thursday 13th October. Tickets have sold out. Artists confirmed to play so far are: New Order, Super Furry Animals, The Fall, Laura Cantrell, Misty in Roots, Venetian Snares, Jawbone (one-man punk-blues band).
Independent On-line Review
Médecins Sans Frontières www.msf.org
Shelter www.shelter.org.uk
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