John Peel died 6 years ago today. And while I never listened to him at the time, being in Ireland, I've come to realise the influence he's had on music and radio. I've worked in radio and was lucky enough to be left alone to do what I wanted. Reading John's Margrave Of The Marshes autobiography (that his wife finished after he died) gave me confidence to play something that would drive fickle listeners away but would keep long term listeners who knew they wouldn't hear that wide a range of music anywhere else. His attitude to radio is a breath of fresh air in such a stifling and conservative medium.
He was an original "pirate radio on a boat" DJ with no boundaries at all. Punk, Hip Hop, Dubstep, he caught on to most things and championed them before pretty much anyone else on radio this side of the world. His Peel Sessions are still regularly played on BBC 6 Music and the list of bands he had in to play is staggering, as is the range of styles.
He championed Napalm Death, Birmingham Metal band. And played their song You Suffer four times in a row. Cos it's 2 seconds long. Have a listen!
Napalm Death - You Suffer Alt
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