John Peel 1939 - 2004

I only just met John Peel when the Magic Band did a live session for his show in July, but was certainly aware of his far-reaching influence since my highschool days.

I remember asking my folks in 1969 to bring me back a copy of Syd Barrett's "The Madcap Laughs" from one of their trips abroad, and the sales clerk in the London record store pressed on them as well a copy of Siren's first album on Peel's Dandelion label, which I instantly fell in love with (he also got them to bring back Black Sabbath's first album, which I didn't fall in love with). Kevin Coyne and Siren was a real find though, and led me many years later to hook up and collaborate with the man once dubbed the British Beefheart (Kevin would be the first to disclaim this description!) - still cherishing the memories of my initial encounter with the guy's music courtesy of John Peel.

In fact Dandelion was a label worth listening to, and after I got to college I discovered the delights of Bridget St. John, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, Tractor, and of course, the immortal Stackwaddy...there was also a nifty sampler of Dandelion artists I found on import titled "There is Some Fun Going Forward" which sported pictures of Peel in the bath with a naked woman on the cover (a model, definitely not the Pig, he assured me when we met).

On my first trip to London in 1973 I remember sitting up late in my little hotel room near Euston Station and tuning into one of his live broadcasts, marveling at the variety of music that spilled forth from the radio.

Don always spoke reverently of John Peel, and dedicated one of our London Venue shows to him in 1980, but he didn't show his face on that UK tour, though we all kept hoping he'd turn up at a gig.

To receive the Peel imprimatur of approval without Don Van Vliet in the house was quite an honor in July--and I was really thrilled to hear that he played my own music, twice, on his show, in August and September this year ("The Mad World" from "The Edge of Heaven", and "It's Like a Wheel"
from "Street of Lost Brothers").

John Peel cast a very long shadow indeed, and I stand with everyone who ever caught his show - we miss him dearly indeed.