25th October 2004, John Peel died in Cuzco, Peru of a heart attack, aged 65. He was BBC’s longest-serving radio DJ.
He had championed many bands over the years, one of his early favourites being Captain Beefheart and then on through 4 decades of music to the White Stripes.
In later years inviting some of them to record sessions at his home, where he also broadcast the show from, in East Anglia.
In 1976 he was to play the first punk records to his audience. He would listen to tapes and records sent in from unknown artists and always gave them equal time as the known bands, even calling them personally on some occasions. All the groups new the debt they owed to a John Peel play.
Proof of the man’s legacy is that the anniversary of his passing has become an annual day of celebration, with gigs, radio shows, record fairs and even specific releases happening in his honor.
So to mark this anniversary today, here are a few minutes from the beginning of the hour broadcast of his first punk show on 10th December 1976. There has never been anyone since to replace his presence on radio. It's unlikely there ever will be.
