John Peel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Peel OBE
Peel in a studio at Yalding House
Born	John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (1939-08-30)30 August 1939 Heswall, Cheshire, England
Died	25 October 2004(2004-10-25) (aged 65) Cusco, Peru
Occupation	DJ radio presenter record producer journalist
Spouse(s)	Shirley Anne Milburn ​ ​ (m. 1965; div. 1973)​ Sheila Gilhooly ​ ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	4, including Tom
Career
Country	United Kingdom

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (born 30 August 1939 – died 25 October 2004) was a famous English disc jockey (DJ) and radio presenter. He was best known as John Peel. He worked for BBC Radio 1 for a very long time, from 1967 until he passed away in 2004.

John Peel was one of the first people on British radio to play new types of music like psychedelic rock and progressive rock. He helped many artists become famous. He played music from many different styles, including pop, dub reggae, punk rock, electronic music, dance music, and indie rock. Another DJ, Paul Gambaccini, said John Peel was "the most important single person in popular music" for many years.

His shows on Radio 1 were famous for "Peel sessions". These were special recordings of four songs by a band in the BBC studios. These sessions often gave new bands their first big chance to be heard across the country. Another popular part of his show was the annual Festive Fifty. This was a list of his listeners' favourite songs of the year.

John Peel also appeared on TV sometimes. He was one of the presenters for Top of the Pops in the 1980s. He also did voice-overs for other BBC shows. Later, he became very popular on BBC Radio 4 with his show Home Truths. This program featured interesting and funny stories from listeners' everyday lives.

Early Life and Radio Beginnings

John Peel was born in Heswall, near Liverpool, England. He was the oldest of three sons. His father, Robert Leslie Ravenscroft, was a successful cotton merchant. John grew up in a nearby village called Burton. He went to a boarding school called Shrewsbury School. One of his classmates there was Michael Palin, who later became famous with Monty Python.

From a young age, John loved listening to the radio and collecting records. He listened to music from the American Forces Network and Radio Luxembourg. He always wanted to host his own radio show. He wanted to play music he loved and share it with others. One of his teachers even wrote on his school report that John might make a career out of his love for "unlistenable records."

After school, John worked in a cotton mill in Rochdale. In 1960, when he was 21, John went to the United States. He worked for a cotton company that did business with his father. He also worked as an insurance salesman.

First Radio Jobs in the US

While in Dallas, Texas, John got his first radio job. He worked for free at a station called WRR (AM). He presented part of a show called Kat's Karavan. When Beatlemania became huge in the US, John was hired by a Dallas radio station, KLIF. They hired him because he was from Liverpool, the Beatles' hometown. He was their official Beatles reporter.

Later, he worked for other radio stations in Oklahoma City and San Bernardino, California. He even used his birth name, John Ravenscroft, for a while.

Returning to British Radio

John Peel came back to the UK in early 1967. He found work at a "pirate radio" station called Radio London. Pirate radio stations were popular because they broadcast from ships outside British waters. This meant they could play more music than official BBC stations. John got a late-night show called The Perfumed Garden. On this station, he started using the name John Peel. He quickly became known for his unique radio style.

His show played music from the UK underground scene. This included classic blues, folk music, and psychedelic rock. He especially liked new music from Los Angeles and San Francisco. John's show was very personal. Listeners would send him letters, poems, and even records. This made his show a way for people to connect and share music.

When Radio London closed in 1967, John Peel joined the BBC's new music station, BBC Radio 1. It started broadcasting on 30 September 1967. John felt he was hired because the BBC needed people who knew about new music. He presented a show called Top Gear. He played a wide variety of music that he found interesting. He continued this throughout his career.

Another show he hosted was Night Ride. This show explored words and music. It played rock, folk, blues, classical, and electronic music. It also featured music from the BBC Sound Archive. John interviewed many guests, including musicians like Marc Bolan and John Lennon. This show captured the creative energy of the underground music scene.

The Punk Rock Years

John Peel loved playing music that was not mainstream. This sometimes caused problems with the bosses at Radio 1. Once, the station controller asked if John's show was playing any punk rock. The controller had read about punk in the news and did not like it. John's producer replied that they had been playing little else!

In 1976, John discovered the first album by the New York punk band Ramones. He said it was a huge moment for him. He played many songs from it on his show. He got letters from people who hated it and wanted him to stop. But John always went in the opposite direction when that happened. He played more punk, and his audience changed. He was very happy about this.

John Peel's reputation grew as a DJ who helped new, unsigned bands become famous. Young musicians sent him huge numbers of records, CDs, and tapes. He would listen to them all. For example, in 1983, the music publishers for Billy Bragg drove to the Radio 1 studios with food and a copy of his record. They heard John say he was hungry. John played Billy Bragg's song, and it helped launch his career.

Besides Radio 1, John Peel also broadcast on other stations around the world. These included the BBC World Service and stations in the Netherlands, Finland, Austria, and Germany. In Germany, he was even voted "Top DJ in Europe."

He also presented Top of the Pops on BBC1 regularly from 1982 to 1987. He often hosted the BBC's TV coverage of music events, like the Glastonbury Festival.

Later Career and Life

Between 1995 and 1997, John presented Offspring on BBC Radio 4. This show was about children. In 1998, it became Home Truths. This show was about everyday life in British families. John wanted it to be free from celebrities. He found real-life stories much more interesting. He also appeared on the TV show Grumpy Old Men.

In 2003, John Peel signed a deal to write his autobiography. It was called Margrave of the Marshes. Sadly, he passed away before he could finish it. His wife, Sheila, and a journalist helped complete the book. It was published in 2005.

Personal Life

In 1965, while in Dallas, Texas, John married his first wife, Shirley Anne Milburn. They divorced in 1973.

After his first marriage ended, John's personal life became more stable. He found friendship and support from his producer, John Walters, and his girlfriend, Sheila Gilhooly. John married Sheila on 31 August 1974. He wore his favourite Liverpool football colours (red). He walked down the aisle to the song "You'll Never Walk Alone". Their sheepdog, Woggle, was even a bridesmaid!

In the 1970s, John and Sheila moved to a cottage in Great Finborough, Suffolk. They called their home "Peel Acres." In later years, John broadcast many of his shows from a studio in their house. Sheila and their four children were often mentioned on his shows. John loved Liverpool F.C. so much that he named his children after famous Liverpool players and places: William Robert Anfield, Alexandra Mary Anfield, Thomas James Dalglish, and Florence Victoria Shankly.

When he was 62, John was diagnosed with diabetes.

Death and Tributes

John Peel passed away suddenly at the age of 65. He had a heart attack on 25 October 2004, while on holiday in Peru. After his death was announced, many fans and famous people shared their sadness. On 26 October 2004, BBC Radio 1 changed its schedule to play tributes to him all day. The London newspaper Evening Standard headline that afternoon read "the day the music died."

John Peel often joked about his own death. He once said he imagined he would die driving into a truck while reading a cassette. He wanted people to know that he would not have wanted to go that way! He also said that if he died before his producer, he wanted the song "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease" by Roy Harper to be played.

John Peel's funeral was held on 12 November 2004, in Suffolk. Over a thousand people attended, including many artists he had supported. His coffin was carried out to his favourite song, "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones. John had written that he wanted his gravestone to say, "Teenage dreams, so hard to beat," from the lyrics of that song. His gravestone now has these words and the Liver Bird symbol of Liverpool FC. He was buried in the churchyard of St Andrew's Church in Great Finborough.

John Peel's Impact on Music

Peel Sessions: A Launchpad for Bands

The John Peel Sessions were a very important part of his BBC Radio 1 shows. These were special recordings of usually four songs by a band. They were recorded at the BBC's studios. These sessions started because of rules from the Musicians' Union. The rules meant the BBC had to hire bands to play cover versions of songs. This was to create jobs and encourage people to buy records. Pirate radio stations did not follow these rules.

The BBC had its own bands and also hired outside bands to record exclusive songs for its shows. This allowed John Peel to use "session men" (musicians) in his programs. Sessions were usually recorded and mixed in one day. This often gave them a raw, live feeling. During his 37 years at BBC Radio 1, over 4,000 sessions were recorded by more than 2,000 artists! Many classic Peel Sessions have been released on record.

The Festive Fifty: Listeners' Choice

The Festive Fifty was an annual tradition on John Peel's Radio 1 show. It was a countdown of the best songs of the year, voted for by his listeners. Even though John played all kinds of music, the list often had many "white boys with guitars," as he joked.

After his death, the Festive Fifty continued on Radio 1 for two years. Then, it was given to Dandelion Radio, an internet radio station inspired by Peel. It is still compiled today.

His Own Record Labels

In 1969, John Peel started his own record label called Dandelion Records. He named it after his pet hamster. He wanted to release the first album by a singer named Bridget St John. The label released 27 albums by 18 different artists. It closed in 1972. Dandelion Records was not a huge success, but it helped some artists get their music out there.

In the 1980s, John Peel also started Strange Fruit Records. This label released music that had been recorded by the BBC for the Peel Sessions.

His Favourite Music

John Peel wrote in his autobiography that the band he owned the most records by was The Fall. This band was often on the Festive 50 list. Their singer, Mark E. Smith, had a very unique voice. The Fall became very closely linked with Peel's Radio 1 show.

The Misunderstood was the only band John Peel ever personally managed. He met them in California in 1966 and convinced them to move to London. He always supported their music. He once called their 1966 song "I Can Take You to the Sun" "the best popular record that's ever been recorded."

His favourite single was widely known to be "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones. In 2001, he said, "There's nothing you could add to it or subtract from it that would improve it." He also loved "No More Ghettos in America" by Stanley Winston and "There Must Be Thousands" by The Quads.

In 1997, The Guardian newspaper asked John Peel to list his top 20 albums. He chose Captain Beefheart's Trout Mask Replica as his number one. He had called it "a work of art." His top 20 also included albums by The Velvet Underground, The Ramones, Pulp, Nirvana, and The Rolling Stones.

A longer list of his favourite singles was made public in 2005. This was from a wooden box where he kept the records that meant the most to him. Out of 130 vinyl singles in the box, 11 were by The White Stripes. This was more than any other band.

Awards and Recognition

John Peel won many awards during his career. He was named Melody Maker′s DJ of the year 11 times. He won the Sony Broadcaster of the Year award in 1993. In 1994, he received the Godlike Genius Award from the NME magazine. He also won a Sony Gold Award in 2002. He is a member of the Radio Academy Hall of Fame. After he died, he was named Hero of the Year at the NME awards in 2005. A special award for "Lifelong Service To Music" was also given to him.

He received many honorary degrees from universities. In 1998, he was appointed an OBE for his contributions to British music. In 2002, the BBC held a vote for the 100 Greatest Britons of all time. John Peel was voted 43rd.

His Radio Shows

John Peel's Legacy

Since his death, many people have honored John Peel's influence. A stage for new bands at the Glastonbury Festival was renamed "The John Peel Stage" in 2005. In 2008, a train was named after him.

The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts opened in Stowmarket in 2013. This center is a place for live music and performances. It also serves as a community meeting point.

In 2005, a special day called "John Peel Day" was held. It marked the anniversary of his last show. The BBC encouraged bands to play gigs on this day. Over 500 gigs took place in the UK and other countries. These included bands that John Peel loved, like New Order and The Fall. Many new and unsigned bands also played.

In John Peel's hometown of Heswall, a pub was opened in his honor in 2007. It was called The Ravenscroft, after his birth name.

In 2012, John Peel was chosen to appear in a new version of the famous Beatles album cover, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. He was one of the British cultural icons selected by artist Sir Peter Blake.

Several music albums have been released since his death that celebrate his work. These include John Peel and Sheila: The Pig's Big 78s: A Beginner's Guide and Kats Karavan: The History of John Peel on the Radio (2009). Many fans also share recordings of his old radio shows online.

Blue Plaques Honoring John Peel

In 2009, special blue plaques with John Peel's name were put up in Rochdale. These plaques were placed at former recording studios. They recognized his important contribution to the local music industry.

In June 2017, John Peel's wife, Sheila, unveiled another blue plaque. This one was in his honor in Great Finborough, where they lived.

Images for kids

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  Peel in a record shop in Bochum, Germany

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  Peel Acres in Great Finborough, Suffolk

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  Studio at Peel Acres

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  John Peel's grave

See also

In Spanish: John Peel para niños