In Memoriam: John Peel (1939-2004)

A number of you wrote in with the sad news that legendary BBC broadcaster John Peel has died at the age of 65, while on holiday in Peru. He was BBC Radio 1's longest-serving DJ and in recent years had also presented Home Truths on Radio 4. He was most famous for being one of the first DJs to give exposure to punk, reggae and hip-hop, long before they crossed over into the mainstream. He was equally renowned for his legendary "John Peel sessions".
where bands were invited to record exclusive tracks for the programme in a BBC studio. Sessions were usually four tracks recorded and mixed in a single day; as such they often had a "rough and ready", demo-like feel, somewhere between a live performance and a finished recording.

Peel was Melody Maker's DJ of the year eleven times, Sony Broadcaster of the Year in 1993, "Godlike Genius Award" from the NME in 1994, Sony Gold Award winner in 2002 and is a member of the Radio Academy Hall of Fame. He gained several honorary degrees including two doctorates and an honorary fellowship of Liverpool John Moores University. He was appointed an OBE in 1998, for his services to British music.

He will be greatly missed, and we wish the best to his family and friends.