He wasn’t given the chance to complete his last work: John Robert Parker Ravenscroft – better known by his pseudonym John Peel – died unexpectedly of a heart attack on October 25, 2004 at the age of 65.
His wife Sheila Ravenscroft took on the half-finished memoirs and saw what John Peel had begun through. His story had to be told, as the man we are talking about – and this is no exaggeration – is the most influential DJ in the world. Over the course of a career spanning more than 40 years, he catapulted countless artists and bands into mainstream relevance – such as the Sex Pistols, Joy Division, David Bowie and Nirvana, to name but a few – and sometimes helped entire genres such as punk rock, reggae and hip-hop to achieve widespread popularity.
Without adhering to a fixed chronology, the book takes an episodic look at Peel’s life and work, from his time in the USA in the 1960s, during which he witnessed the assassination of JFK, to his work at the pirate radio station Radio London and later at BBC Radio One, right through to his final years. In particular, the fact that around half of the material was compiled and written by Peel’s widow from his notes and diaries adds a rare and valuable second perspective to the memoirs, allowing the reader to get to know Peel not only as a DJ, but also as a child, a father, a husband – in short, as a person.
This book thrives on the countless encounters Peel has had with musicians, fans and colleagues over the course of his career, which he brings vividly to life for the reader with his very special sense of humor. It not only traces his career, but also the period of music history that he has significantly influenced. Through his eyes, we meet a young David Bowie before his time as a superstar or experience the frustration of his superiors in the face of his music program before he was able to assert himself and get his own show. In these anecdotes, Peel reveals his characteristic quality as someone who always shunned the mainstream and obsessively sought out the unusual.
John Peel – Memoirs of the World’s Most Influential DJ is more than just an autobiography; it is a contemporary document of the music history of the last five decades. It is a must-read for all music lovers who want to understand how music is shaped not only by artists, but also by people like John Peel who are willing to discover and promote new sounds.
John Peel – Margrave of the Marshes
By John Peel, Sheila Ravenscroft
Corgi Books