Who was John Peel?

[Iam]

Unless you are all personal friends of John Peel then this largely backs up what I was saying...

How the fuck do you work that out?

You're suggesting you cannot appreciate someone's activities without descending into idol worship unless they're a personal friend?

I liked John Peel's radio show. He introduced me to a lot of music and bands that I've come to love and so came to mean something to me. I was a bit upset when I heard that he had died - not weeping in the streets upset, but a little moved.

Comparing that to the ridiculous scenes when certain members of the royal family shuffle off is assinine. It's nowhere near the same thing, no matter how much you endeavour to convince yourself otherwise.

A shame that you could only reflect on the part of laptop's excellent post that suggested you were jealous, and not the rest, which clearly exposed you as being wrong. But not really a surprise...

 

[mpython]

But not really a surprise...

I'm sorry, do you know me?

 

[Iam]

No, thank fuck.

 

[mpython]

No, thank fuck.

Excellent come-back.

 

[phildwyer]

I've not read that Burchill piece in a while. Although she does make some points and Peel did go through a schoolgirl phase, (i remember a old Melody Maker with Peel dressed in full St. Trinians outfit. Very disturbing) she paints Peel as a total and utter cunt, which is very much a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Peel was by no means perfect, he did fall into self-indulgence a hell of a lot, but his cultural impact is a hell of a lot more than Burchill who has spent the last 20 odd years spouting out bitter and twisted articles like that.

So lets see, Peel discovered dozens upon dozens of acts that helped change the face of music. Burchill wrote Sugar Rush. Nuff said.

Burchill wrote a lot more than that, and her own cultural impact shouldn't be underestimated. Of course that piece is OTT, but it makes some good points about the idolatry of celebrities--especially the fact that "alternative" culture is just as prone to this as the "mainstream" culture that worships the Queen Mum.

 

[King Mob]

Burchill wrote a lot more than that, and her own cultural impact shouldn't be underestimated. Of course that piece is OTT, but it makes some good points about the idolatry of celebrities--especially the fact that "alternative" culture is just as prone to this as the "mainstream" culture that worships the Queen Mum.

Alternative culture has always worshiped idols, be it Peel or Cobain or whoever. My problem with this article is that Burchil is that as you say she makes good points, but it's wrapped up in a pretty needless personal attack on Peel.

 

[chico enrico]

Burchill wrote a lot more than that, and her own cultural impact shouldn't be underestimated. Of course that piece is OTT, but it makes some good points about the idolatry of celebrities--especially the fact that "alternative" culture is just as prone to this as the "mainstream" culture that worships the Queen Mum.

yes. a good point. think she first made that in her book 'damaged goods' - about 25 years ago. It is also difficult to even work out what the fuck she means or what contentious crap she is spouting simply to consolidate her edgy, bete noir personna. As demonstrated by the fact she appears to go back on and contradict pretty much every pronouncement she makes in a matter of time.

Always thought the funniest thing Burchill said was her defense of the orangemen at drumkree as 'harmless little men in their funny hats'. Published the day they petrolbombed a catholic house, killing the 3 children inside.

Burchill is filth. A repulsive, vile self-obsessed cow.

Somehow doubt there will be any great 'idolatory' of her when she fucks off to the great groucho in the sky.

 

[Pie 1]

when I met him once he was utterly pissed and obnoxious

What happened? Did he tell you to fuck off or something?

 

[William of Walworth]

I see from a quoted post that the on-ignore (for me) dwyer is still singling me out for attacks** (while from what little I can see of his shite, he ignores all the other Peel defenders).

**And from Beyond the Grave of Ignore too!

This reply for the benefit of others :

Julie Burchill is scarcely any kind of objective critic. Are her OTT-seeming attacks on Peel backed up by other more credible sources?

And mpython never even mentioned her anyway. Lets accept for the sake of argument, that Burchill's stuff has some truth in it, then yes that doesn't look good at all. It relates though mainly to what he wrote in Sounds in his column for them well over twenty years ago, and to even earlier stuff -- since specifically apologised for and repudiated by him for the arsery it seems to have been.

I'm withholding judgement until others than Burchill and dwyer have something specific to say about it. Note -- I'm NOT defending Peel in that matter specifically -- I would need to know more from non-Burchill/non-dwyer/non-troll sources -- I have several times described Burchill as the arch-troll of print journalism, which she very clearly used to be.

In any case, all that doesn't contradict what others have posted about what a good DJ he was and his contribution to radio and music generally over his whole career.

 

[William of Walworth]

Clearly the above post makes me a Diana worshipper and a Peel idolotrer ....

 

[phildwyer]

I see from a quoted post that the on-ignore (for me) dwyer is still singling me out for attacks** (while from what little I can see of his shite, he ignores all the other Peel defenders).

Paranoid loon.

The troll that's beneath William's skin
Is actually the troll within
On every thread he finds a troll,
But they're expressions of his soul.
Though his troll-hunting through the night
Approaches the McCarthyite
He's searching underneath the bed
For what is really in his head.

 

[Iam]

On the plus side, you haven't quoted Burchill in your defence...

 

[Iam]

Excellent come-back.

Thank you. Hearty congratulations on neatly sidestepping any actual discussion.

 

[boing!]

comparing diana to Peel has to rank highly as one of the sillier things I've seen on these music boards.

Anyway... there was a good cd that came out this year i think called The Pigs Big 78s. Its full of weird music all from the section on his show of the same name. Lots of old crackly 78s of all sorts of shit. Pigs Big 78s.

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

Who was John Peel?

Who...was...John...Peel...????



John Peel was possibly the bloke many religious types mistake for God.

 

[mpython]

Thank you. Hearty congratulations on neatly sidestepping any actual discussion.

Actually, I can't get a decent discussion here. I'm only stating that John Peel was simply doing his job and for some reason people think of him as some sort of icon. It's purely my opinion and didn't require any input from Julie Birchill either. I didn't sidestep anything apart from a rather infantile exchange with you at that particular point in time.

Although, now I've read the Birchill piece I'm a little concerned that a grown man would think it funny to have been given a blowjob by a 13 year old child..

 

[Maggot]

Actually, I can't get a decent discussion here. I'm only stating that John Peel was simply doing his job and for some reason people think of him as some sort of icon.

Have you never admired anyone for 'simply doing their job'? never looked up to a great sportsperson, actor, musician, writer or artist?

 

[mpython]

Have you never admired anyone for 'simply doing their job'? never looked up to a great sportsperson, actor, musician, writer or artist?

Absolutely, but never felt that they were somehow my friend.

 

[Iam]

I couldn't be arsed to read the Burchill and my comment regarding her was directed to William and thence to someone else who I'm not going to invoke at this point, so apologies if I've seemed to tar you by association. Not a good thing to do with Burchill, and on this occasion worthy of this typing.

Now, if you'd put it like that initially - that you think he was simply doing his job and some people think of him as some sort of icon - I'd have been far more accepting of that pov.

I wouldn't have agreed - and that would have been my opinion, only. As I've said above, Peel actually kind of meant something to me. Not idolatry, but then, I don't idolise anyone. Except maybe John Reis a little bit. He didn't mean enough to have me weeping mighty outpourings in the street, but nor do I see myself doing this on behalf of anyone else who may meet their end.

He just helped me hear some good tunes.

 

[JoePolitix]

He played one of my tunes

RIP

 

[mpython]

I couldn't be arsed to read the Burchill and my comment regarding her was directed to William and thence to someone else who I'm not going to invoke at this point, so apologies if I've seemed to tar you by association. Not a good thing to do with Burchill, and on this occasion worthy of this typing.

Now, if you'd put it like that initially - that you think he was simply doing his job and some people think of him as some sort of icon - I'd have been far more accepting of that pov.

I wouldn't have agreed - and that would have been my opinion, only. As I've said above, Peel actually kind of meant something to me. Not idolatry, but then, I don't idolise anyone. Except maybe John Reis a little bit. He didn't mean enough to have me weeping mighty outpourings in the street, but nor do I see myself doing this on behalf of anyone else who may meet their end.

He just helped me hear some good tunes.

 

[John Quays]

Paranoid loon.

The troll that's beneath William's skin
Is actually the troll within
On every thread he finds a troll,
But they're expressions of his soul.
Though his troll-hunting through the night
Approaches the McCarthyite
He's searching underneath the bed
For what is really in his head.

Dudes, aside from recognising your names here and spending ages skulking in the drugs forum I don't know you or anything about the animus between you... but this is a pretty funny poem.

That's all. I also know that William lives in Walworth.

And John Peel was fabulous: my time was the early nineties, when I'd make a bad-tempered fuss if I couldn't listen to and tape the Friday and Saturday shows. I fell away then when I got seriously into my black metal, but listened a bit more at the turn of the century. A normal guy, is what I wanna say, with no doubt the shitey parts making up the whole just as with anyone.

&Don't go for Burchill much. She's always 'wanting a medal for that', as I do believe the good folk say these days.

 

[William of Walworth]

Got me into lots of tunes and bands!

I'm in agreement with Iam too, so no more arguments?

Sorry about my overreacting to your earlier post, mpython -- yer clearly not a troll. Sorry 'bout that ...

Peel obviously wasn't a god or anything but he's more than OK in my book -- for 'doing an excellent job' reasons ....

And getting me into much more varied music than I'd heard off other stations DJs prior to when I started listening to his show in the late 70s. To him I'm grateful ....

 

[mpython]

I'm in agreement with Iam too, so no more arguments?

Sorry about my overreacting to your earlier post, mpython -- yer clearly not a troll. Sorry 'bout that ...

Peel obviously wasn't a god or anything but he's more than OK in my book -- for 'doing an excellent job' reasons ....

And getting me into much more varied music than I'd heard off other stations DJs prior to when I started listening to his show in the late 70s. To him I'm grateful ....

Can't think of anything to say but It's still just possible that he liked sweet sherry and hated punk....

 

[Iam]

I could live with the sherry...

 

[BadlyDrawnGirl]

But Peel was a god. Not the god...but a god.

Fact is, music is fucking sacred - and he spread the gospel. And literally hundreds of great bands...and, probably more importantly, an entire - and massively influential - musical school of thought (i.e. the ragged glory of DIY; the virtue of not being Clapton when it came to technical ability for a meagre two examples) would simply not have been supplied the oxygen to breathe if it hadn't been for the Peel.

And mainstream radio would have been pretty fucking flat - Simon Bates, anyone?

 

[William of Walworth]

It's still just possible that he liked sweet sherry and hated punk....

I'd have put him down as a real alew man, but that's pure speculation!!

Don't think the not liking punk thing is all that likely really -- he listened to and played far too much of it to be forcing himself to do it artifically, I reckon.

 

[phildwyer]

Although, now I've read the Birchill piece I'm a little concerned that a grown man would think it funny to have been given a blowjob by a 13 year old child..

It seems weird to us today, but in the 70's Peel was far from alone in boasting of such encounters. Off the top of my head I can think of three rock songs in which the putative lover is thirteen: "Francine" by ZZ Top, "Stranglehold" by the UK Subs and "Dogfood" by the Stooges. And no-one said anything at the time.

 

[mpython]

It seems weird to us today, but in the 70's Peel was far from alone in boasting of such encounters. Off the top of my head I can think of three rock songs in which the putative lover is thirteen: "Francine" by ZZ Top, "Stranglehold" by the UK Subs and "Dogfood" by the Stooges. And no-one said anything at the time.

Same way in which we put up with the slightly questionable teachers who spent far too much time hanging around the 5th formers. It never occurred to us to tell our parents. I remember it being a source of amusement. John Peel reminds me of those teachers, or one of those really embarrassing fathers who were so 'right-on.'

(Am I now going to be pilloried again?)

 

[King Mob]

And mainstream radio would have been pretty fucking flat - Simon Bates, anyone?

Bates was one of the first Radio One DJ's to start playing indie music during the day. This was about 89/90 when he started to realise that perhaps playing The Reynolds Girls was not making him look cool and hip.