John Peel, fondly remembered

I was saddened by the news that John Peel has just died, aged only 65. Back in my formative years in the 70s, he was one of the most influential DJs on the radio and many a late night was spent listening to his wonderful show.

I remember back in 1975, I went to see Pink Floyd at the Knebworth Festival and John Peel was the DJ filling in between each of the bands. There was one point in the afternoon when we suddenly heard the opening notes to one of the Bay City Rollers singles. Of course, this was absolutely horrendous to anyone with the taste to enjoy the Floyd and almost instantaneously a hundred thousand people screamed at him to turn it off. John Peel quickly removed the record and said in his dry manner, "The surprising thing, is that you all recognised it instantly." Good one, John.

We'll miss you.