John Peel

John Robert Parker Ravenscroft (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004), known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio announcer and journalist. Although not known for doing a freeform show, the kinds of music and elements he incorporated into his programs were the same as many of the early freeform stations in the States. His eclectic taste in music and his honest and warm broadcasting style was akin to "The Father of Freeform," Bob Fass. Little known in the United States, John Peel was a popular and respected DJ and broadcaster in the British Isles. Amongst many other accomplishments, he was one of the first to play reggae and punk on British radio and was a significant influence on alternative rock, Pop, British hip hop and dance music. He was the longest-serving of the original DJs of BBC Radio 1, broadcasting on it from 1967 until his death in 2004...



There are extensive John Peel archives, with playlists and downloadable programs. Here's a good place to start:

Kats Karavan



For a good overview of who John Peel was and his contributions, please go to:

John Peel Wiki