R.I.P. John Peel

[BaroqueJim]

I just can't believe the best radio DJ in the world ever has just died. For over 30 years this guy has pushed, promoted and played some of the best alternative "real" music in the world, and leagues upon leagues of thankful people with eclectic tastes unrepresented by any other DJ have graciously listened to his show religiously, all over the world, on the BBC. So many bands in Britain got their start from his show, when they would have been ignored everywhere else. So many musicians said that the glory of being played by him was worth a thousand times more than reaching the top ten. My God, so much of my musical tastes were forged by listening to him. Not only that, but I don't think there has ever been a nicer, more charming DJ in the history of radio. I think most of the UK is in shock right now - I don't think I've ever been saddened so much by the death of anyone in the public eye. Princess Di - pah! Ronald Reagan - peh! John Peel - I actually feel like a family member has cashed their chips.

What a terrible day.

[anita]

yes, how very sad indeed... john peel was one of the rare individuals with excellent command of different musical styles that only seemed to grow broader with age. i actually met him some years ago -- what a superbly sweet man he was! he will be missed... :(

for those not familiar w/ john peel, here's a snippet of his brilliant career:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/picture_gallery/04/entertainment_the_john_peel_hit_list/html/1.stm

[Nic]

I thought if anyone would live forever it would have been John Peel.

[ercarta]

Ok. So this may sound silly. Who was John Peel and what is his significance, and I do not mean that facetiously?

[ercarta]

Scratch that last post, I just read BJ's opening statement in this thread. He covered that already. Yeah I concur, it really is too bad when good people like that go...