Will any radio DJ ever draw more respect than John Peel has? It seems unlikeÂly, espeÂcialÂly since so many fasÂciÂnatÂing artiÂfacts of his life and career have become availÂable on the interÂnet since his death in 2004. You can now explore, thanks to the John Peel Archive, Peel’s digÂiÂtized office, a reposÂiÂtoÂry of videos, sound recordÂings, phoÂtos and broadÂcasts. But for its obviÂous pièce de rĂ©sisÂtance, look no furÂther than Peel’s record colÂlecÂtion, made virÂtuÂal for your browsÂing enjoyÂment. There you’ll find streamÂable albums, pop-culÂturÂal artiÂfacts, and tesÂtiÂmoÂny from many a famous musiÂcian about the vital imporÂtance of John Peel to their careers. Those too young or too non-EngÂlish to have tuned in to BBC Radio 1 durÂing Peel’s heyÂday may not realÂize that this is no ordiÂnary record colÂlecÂtion. This is a treaÂsure trove of 25,000 LPs and 40,000 sinÂgles assemÂbled by a man who brought to the rock-enthuÂsiÂast pubÂlic the likes of BilÂly Bragg, OrchesÂtral ManoeuÂvres in the Dark, The Fall, PaveÂment BuzÂzcocks, Elvis CostelÂlo, David Bowie… the list goes on.
Peel showÂcased such artists on his famous Peel SesÂsions, which would bring these perÂformÂers into the BBC’s stuÂdios to lay down four or five songs. QuickÂly mixed and readÂied for broadÂcast, these songs would retain a rougher, loosÂer, often more improÂviÂsaÂtionÂal feel than the records that made these playÂers famous. Tapes of a band’s Peel SesÂsion thus immeÂdiÂateÂly became a hotÂly tradÂed comÂmodÂiÂty among that band’s fans. Today, Peel’s own fans have helpÂfulÂly uploaded a selecÂtion of his broadÂcasts, offiÂcial Peel SesÂsions and othÂerÂwise, to the audio-sharÂing site SoundÂcloud. PerÂhaps you’d like to hear a snapÂshot of Peel’s view or the rock world on ChristÂmas Eve 1979. Or how about OctoÂber 13, 2004? Maybe April 4, 1988? Then, when you’re ready — and if you use SpoÂtiÂfy — make a return to the John Peel Archive and pull up his SesÂsions with a favorite band, be it The Cure, SmashÂing PumpÂkins, PJ HarÂvey, CinÂeraÂma, or whomevÂer. You’ll hear why, 45 years on from his broadÂcastÂing debut and eight from his passÂing, John Peel remains the locus clasÂsiÂcus of knowlÂedgeÂable, disÂcernÂing rock-radio cool.
ColÂin MarÂshall hosts and proÂduces NoteÂbook on Cities and CulÂture. FolÂlow him on TwitÂter at @colinmarshall.
… and off it is.