Tonight on the Beeb

When I was younger, like maybe 12 or 13, I started noticing that a lot of my favorite bands had records out that were just called "Peel Sessions." At first, I didn't understand why they were called that, but I quickly figured out that these records were recorded live in the studio, which is actually the next best thing to live on stage. In some cases, it's actually better. Eventually, by cross-referencing different music reviews, interviews, and whatnot in SPIN magazine, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Option, and NME, I figured out that the "Peel Sessions" were recorded for John Peel, a DJ at the BBC. It took a little while to figure out that he was the patron saint of music on the fringe...and not just for Great Britain, bands from all over the world would send him their music because they knew that he really cared, and he would give them a chance. Through his radio shows on the BBC, he pushed so much music on the fringe whether it was Joy Division or the Undertones (whose single "Teenage Kicks" was his favorite single ever) or Goldie (drum & bass) or hip hop, he was there and on top of it. He was the Johnny Appleseed of all the music that exists just outside of the mainstream. He started in radio in the early 1960s on several American radio stations. He was born in Heswall, England (near Liverpool), but found his first radio jobs in America. He soon came back to the UK, and started in at the BBC on Radio 1. His influence on 'alternative' and 'college' rock was immeasurable. I've never even heard one of his radio shows live, yet I own several recordings from his shows including Joy Division, New Order, the White Stripes, Siouxsie & the Banshees, and the Dirtbombs. This past Monday night, while on holiday in Peru, the 65-year old Peel died of a heart attack. He will be missed.