On this day five years ago, John Peel was getting ready to present another episode of his radio show. Unfortunately, it would be his last as a heart attack would take his life a few weeks later while on a working holiday in Peru. He had been best known as a disc jockey and champion of the musical underdog on BBC radio. His Peel Sessions gave many bands their first chance of airplay and a load of them went on to have successful careers in the music business. Sadly, I never got to hear his shows as it was not possible for me to listen to BBC radio when he was around. Nevertheless, I’m grateful to him for giving a first chance to many bands that I count among my favourites. For example, he once announced on air that he was feeling a little peckish. A cheeky chappy from Essex heard this and he delivered a Biryani to the studio along with a copy of his demo! He was offered a session straight away and Billy Bragg has become a very respected songwriter with loads of albums under his belt

He gave The Undertones’ Teenage Kicks its first airing and then returned the needle to the start of the groove and played it a second time! The song became his favourite and would be played at his funeral. He was also a big football fan and had been present at Heysel Stadium in 1985 when dozens of football fans lost their lives. He stopped attending matches for a few years after that and was also upset by the Hillsborough tragedy in 1989. In 1991, he appeared as himself on the long-running BBC radio soap The Archers and was awarded the OBE in 1998. To tie in with Football & Music‘s tribute to the great man, I’ve put together a mix of some of my favourite Peel sessions and songs by bands that Peelie championed

A Legend in His Time

Transmission – Joy Division

Bread And Butter – Ivor Cutler