The John Peel Archives

"...it's just a trick of the light..."

2011-04-11T12:39:00.008+01:00

Not been here for some time.

I will hopefully be posting some stuff this weekend for you to read time-premitting.

I actually lost my bloody password to admin the blog which hasn't helped at all to start with but now I am back again!

To start with in case nobody already knows, Mark Burgess of The Chameleons who I adore immensely and have great respect for the man, has released a fine book and it is available as a Ltd Edtn Signed issue and comes with....wait....waiiiittt....3 FREE plectrums if bought from http://www.chameleonsbook.com
Go get it now!!!

Also, lots happening with Mark B these days again - I am pleased to hear, so check him out at the following too:

http://www.thechameleons.com
http://www.chameleonsvox.co.uk/ChameleonsVox/Home.html

A thoroughly decent bloke in my opinion!!! (biased opinion!)

Back!

2010-11-07T08:56:00.004Z

Haven't been on here for months!!! No excuse - just forgot to post stuff!

It is November now and Xmas is nearly upon us all again - BAH HUMBUG!

Heard some good stuff recently though so here's one I really like.

I am a big 'Cure fan so was chuffed to hear this.

Nearly Summer!

2010-02-04T14:10:00.007Z

Due to people abusing the comments thingy all comments are now moderated - sorry about this but the plus side is I got to report a host of idiots for posting shite on my blog. If it ain't relative to what this blog is about you will never see it on here from now on :)

Great voice, great music!

Bassheads

2010-01-09T18:24:00.011Z

These (more will follow!!!) remind me of zooming (trust me - I do mean zooming...:) around the streets in my old trusty Ford Escort with Chris listening to ear-battering music!!!

"Red Light! STOP! STOOOOPPP! (personal joke!)

Looking back, I'm amazed I didn't kill us both!

Thanks for sticking by me matey! I will always owe you one!

...I'm Deeply Agonised

2009-09-25T05:43:00.009+01:00

A selection of some of the strangest videos I have seen will appear here...
and maybe some of the ones that are just damned good too.

This one is especially for Chris! My Wife describes this as the noise you hear in your head just before you are gonna pass out! HA HA

New Peel Boxset Due For Release!

2009-09-24T15:41:00.006+01:00

Announced recently, is the forthcoming release of a newly-assembled 4CD collection of some of the range of styles John used to feature in his shows.

Entitled Kat's Karavan, the set will cover a span of years - notable between the 1960s right up until his untimely demise, showcasing just a sample of the style of his great shows, we all came to love and crave for.

Due for release on 26th October in the UK, price I have today says £29.99.

No doubt as the time draws nearer it will be available from more and more retail outlets but for now I found it here.

Looking at the tracklisting, I have to say that although there IS a vast different range of music styles in there - I guess it is difficult to please everyone - for me I would have liked to have seen maybe a little more research done in the compiling of this boxset. For example, there is a distinct lack of twee stuff on there.

It would have been nice to see a TBRM track maybe?

Or a good 12" version of Simbleton & Quincy Bones thrown in for the reggae genre?

As I say - you can't please everyone - but it is good that people with their finger on the pulse still recognise the fact that there IS a demand for this type of stuff still. And it gives some much needed recognition to some of the great bands John played.

Maybe the BBC have a card up their sleeve for the future and might resurrect Strange Fruit sessions for us all?

Time will tell! We can only hope.

Tracklist: Kat’s Karavan: The History of the John Peel Show

Disc 1: ’60s and ’70s
1. “I Can Take You To The Sun,” The Misunderstood
2. “Coloured Rain,” Traffic
3. “If I Were A Carpenter,” Tim Hardin
4. “Lazy Sunday,” Small Faces
5. “Walk In My Shadow,” Free*
6. “Whiskey In The Jar,” Thin Lizzy
7. “Listen, Listen,” Sandy Denny
8. “Fear Is A Man’s Best Friend,” John Cale*
9. “Dry Land,” Joan Armatrading
10. “Back To Africa,” Aswad
11. “What A Way To End It All,” Deaf School
12. “New Rose,” The Damned
13. “Africa,” Rico
14. “Slip And Slide,” Medicine Head*
15. “In The City,” The Jam
16. “When The Summer’s Thru,” The Fabulous Poodles
17. “Looking After Number One,” The Boomtown Rats*
18. “Love And Romance,” The Slits
19. “Ku Klux Klan,” Steel Pulse
20. “Life After Death,” Funboy Five

Disc 2: ’80s
1. “There Goes Concorde Again,” …and the Native Hipsters
2. “High Fidelity,” Elvis Costello*
3. “Art Nouveau,” The Bodies
4. “A Forest,” The Cure*
5. “I’m In Love With A German Film Star,” The Passions
6. “C ‘n’ C Hassle Schmuk,” The Fall
7. “Reggae Fi Peach,” Linton Kwesi Johnson*
8. “Turkey Mambo Momma,” Pulp
9. “Pass The Dutchie,” Musical Youth
10. “Song Sung Blue,” Altered Images
11. “Sunspots,” Julian Cope*
12. “Blue Canary,” The Frank Chickens
13. “Don’t Be Late,” Nick Haeffner
14. “Big Decision,” That Petrol Emotion
15. “You Sexy Thing,” Cud
16. “Convenience,” Bob
17. “System Enslavement,” Extreme Noise Terror
18. “The Big E,” A Certain Ratio
19. “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey,” Soundgarden*

Disc 3: ’90s
1. “Back Side Of The Moon,” The Orb
2. “Sheela-Na-Gig,” PJ Harvey
3. “Fascist Boom,” Marxman*
4. “Olympia,” Hole*
5. “Raindrops,” Tindersticks
6. “Protective Custody,” Dave Clarke
7. “Ping Pong,” Stereolab
8. “Monica Webster,” The Delgados
9. “Icicle,” The Tiger*
10. “Why?,” The Sweeney
11. “Sun Moon And Stars,” Thievery Corporation*
12. “IPC Sub Editors Dictate Our Youth,” Clinic
13. “Hawaiian Island Wranglers,” Grandaddy
14. “Real Action,” Justin Berkovi*
15. “Jam,” Ivor Cutler
16. “Oh My God! They Killed Kenny,” Cuban Boys
17. “Freckles,” Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci
18. “Xeroxy Music,” The Samurai Seven

Disc 4: ’00s
1. “Not The Tremblin’ Kind,” Laura Cantrell
2. “Little Rhymes,” Mercury Rev*
3. “Taking On The Sides,” Spare Snare
4. “She’ll Break Your Heart,” The Loves
5. “All The Records On The Radio Are Shite,” Ballboy
6. “Another Morning Stoner,” …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead*
7. “Archie Bunker Disciples,” Bong Ra*
8. “Fink For The Man,” The Datsuns*
9. “Maps,” Yeah Yeah Yeahs*
10. “By The Grace Of God,” The Hellacopters*
11. “Tulips,” Bloc Party
12. “Itsuko Got Married,” Bearsuit
13. “John Peel Is Not Enough,” CLSM
14. “I Am Connecting Flight,” YOURCODENAMEIS:MILO*
15. “Bored,” Steveless
16. “Does This Train Stop On Merseyside?,” Amsterdam

*Previously unreleased

Curd the Lion

2009-08-12T10:52:00.011+01:00

Today, whilst walking around Knutsford we walked into Waterstones.

In there was possibly the most interesting man I have ever met, signing copies of his new book.

He very kindly allowed me to take the photo above - thank you Alan.

Now I know this blog is all about music but I urge you strongly to try to visit this man and get a signed copy.

The author is Alan Gilliland and his new book 'The Amazing Adventures Of Curd The Lion (and us!) in the land of back of beyond', is out now to buy - but TRY to go and see him!

He is a most fascinating and nice man.

This is all about his book.

And you can reach his blog here.

Synopsis follows:

One day the Twins, Henry and Henrietta, are having a St. George-
and-the-Dragon battle in Mum’s bedroom with Curd as the Dragon, when they have a dreadful calamity and spill talcum powder all over
the bedroom!

After telling them off and tidying up, Mum accidentally leaves Curd
the Lion and her favourite jewelled brooch unnoticed beside the bed.
A Raven flies in and steals it.

Mum blames the Twins and says that, unless her brooch is returned before their Birthday in four days’ time, she’s not only going to cancel their Party but also give their four Animals, Curd the Lion, Pilgrim Crow, Sweeney the Heenie and O’Flattery the Snake, to the Charity Shop!

Curd leads the Animals out that night, all the way to the Back
of Beyond, to try to find the Great Raven and rescue the brooch,
seeking clues from all the creatures they meet.
And so begins an Amazing Adventure…

------------------------

You can order a copy via this link.

Do it, or I shall ask Alan to send Mr Balloonifuss around to sit on you!

Catch him here on these dates:

Friday 14th August - Waterstones, Altrincham, Cheshire
Sunday 16th August - Borders, York
Monday 17th August - Borders, Leeds
Tuesday 18th August - Waterstones, Manchester Trafftrd Centre
Weds 19th August - Waterstones, Northallerton
Thurs 20th August - Waterstones, Darlington
Friday 21st August - Waterstones, Durham
Saturday 22nd August - Waterstones, Middlesborough
Monday 24th August - Witney near Oxford,
Tuesday 25th August - Banbury, Stratford-on-Avon
Wednesday 26th August - Worcester, Cheltenham
Thursday 27th August - Bristol galleries

The book is age-free and would make a lovely present for a child (for Xmas???) or just for the child in yourself! It is a good read and totally gripping.

Mr Gilliland has had a fascinating life. He is a freelance illustrator, information graphic artist & designer, working for publishers, architects and developers producing cutaway drawings and explanatory graphics.
Starting out in film - then architecture - student, the author worked as a news-photo-journalist for 8 years before transferring to graphics & illustration.

He is a former graphics editor of The Daily Telegraph.

Impressive CV.

He has had numerable awards including; 19 national/international graphics awards, British Press Awards, three-times winner, Graphic Artist, twice runner up, (G.A. Image of Year), Team Award (winners for Iraq War coverage). Society of News Design USA: Silver awards & awards of excellence. Newspaper Industry Awards: Linotype Award for text & graphics.

Good luck with the book Alan - can't wait for the sequel!!!

Michael Jackson dies of massive cardiac arrest

2009-06-26T09:06:00.017+01:00

Yesterday, 25th June will be remembered as a special day for all the wrong reasons.

Michael Jackson died of a massive heart attack and his life was cut short in the ER room at UCLA Hospital, despite numerous attempts by Paramedics to revive him enroute from his rented home.

I wasn't a particular avid fan of the man but he had a talent and it is a sad loss.

He will be remembered for all the right reasons I hope.

A very misunderstood person.

A musician in his own right.

Glastonbury 2009

2009-05-21T12:50:00.020+01:00

Like last year I will have videos, and hopefully live streams on here again this year soon...

Live BBC Feed:

Peel Quotes

2009-05-21T12:45:00.002+01:00

"I'm back, and I'm fat"

"We've been eating artichokes in our house, that's how middle class we've become"

"All songs are about shagging, you can't deny it"

"There's another one of those tracks that goes all muffled at the end. I wonder if they have a special muffle button to do that? There's a good chat up line - 'Hey baby, can I press your muffle button?' "

"As an honorary doctor, I am allowed to loosen people's clothing in a responsible manner"

"That's what we doctors call 'pissed off' "

"Some people have suggested that I only play records at this point because the title has rude words in it. Nonsense - here's 'Inverted Throat Fuck' "

"To get to my page on the website, go to the homepage and click on my face. I bet you'd all like to do that"

"...and this is called 'I'll Turn You On'. Highly unlikely I think"

"We're sitting here tapping our toes in a frankly arthritic manner"

"That's what George Bush would call 'Inspookulate' "

"Inspookulation is occuring"

"I have taken the competition prizes before, and I'll probably do it again"

"I used to do loads of gigs in Scunthorpe, thoroughly enjoyed it, although whether the audience did is open to question"

"If the emergency tape comes on, you'll be listening to something ghastly like Destiny's Child"

"Pedro the fisherman is always singing- no, whistling, sorry"

"...and there's an e-mail here... no, not an e-mail at all, a postcard..."

"I feel like smashing something up, but I'm afraid someone will say 'That was ours and you smashed it up - we're going to hit you for it', otherwise I'd do it all the time"

"The temptation is to yell 'Yee-Hah!', but I'll resist"

"And now for the stars of tonights show, apart from me of course, goes without saying..."

"I have a bad back, an aching tooth and a sore thumb, but the show must go on - what a hero"

"...since then, their numbers have swelt to six, just like mine"

"Fishfingers anyone?"

"The gods are extraordinarily angry with us tonight"

"If anything else goes wrong, I'm going to saw my face off as an act of pennance"

"Emeticide - mmm..."

"We don't know what that is, do we? Anyone? No? Probably some horrible medical condition involving foreskins"

"The problem is, once you get into these sex-starved sluts, it's jolly hard to get out of them"

"We've had a flood of e-mails... actually, no - more like an incontinent trickle"

"It's so complicated that if I try to explain it, my eyeballs will probably bleed"

"...and he says "stay golden". Well I'm actually a sort of greyish-pink, but I'll do my best to become golden"

"If you've got a CD that's not working, just wipe it on your trousers, and if you're not wearing any trousers, put some on"

"I've obviously offended lots of people - let's move on"

"I just sit in the corner and weep in my capacity as a sad old man"

"You'll notice I've perked up in the last ten minutes - this is one of the benefits of having diabetes and then eating a biscuit. Fantastic!"

"I really like the word Fenacitin, it's such a great word. If we had another child, I'd be tempted to name them Fenacitin"

"My car smells of fish, as though someone had nailed a mackrel under the seat"

"If you don't know what I look like, I look like the old man who hangs around in the shopping centre, looking at all the young people"

"WIDE!"

"Hey hey hey hey"

"Rewind Selecta"

"Dubbin' it up in a one-drop stylee"

"Wugga wugga wugga wugga"

"If the audience are leaving in ambulances, you know you've done a good job"

Free Albums! Recession-busting 100% Legal MP3's For Free!

2009-05-18T13:21:00.017+01:00

Townsend Records are giving away a free album to download.

Don't ask why - I didn't either - just grab it!

It has an excellent live track by The Icicle Works on it.

And all for free!!!

Get it here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Nine Inch Nails are giving away an album too (the world has gone mad!).
It is available in various formats, MP3 is a direct free download but the other formats like FLAC etc. are torrent links. Legal to do so don't worry but you are gonna need a torrent application to get them!

You can get that from here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Coldplay are ALSO giving away an album!

According to the band, the give-away is meant as a recession-busting mark of gratitude to everyone who's supported them: "Playing live is what we love. This album is a thank you to our fans – the people who give us a reason to do it and make it happen."

The album was recorded over the past year in various cities around the world on the Viva La Vida tour. Its tracklisting is as follows:

1. Glass of Water
2. 42
3. Clocks
4. Strawberry Swing
5. The Hardest Part/Postcards From Far Away
6. Viva La Vida
7. Death Will Never Conquer
8. Fix You
9. Death And All His Friends

Get it here.

NB: There has been a HUGE response to Coldplay's free offer and their servers are finding it hard to cope! HA HA! So, if you cannot download this album, then please let me know and I will upload it here! What a nice guy I am!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Doves are giving away an acoustic version of 'Birds Flew Backwards'.

In their own words:

"Birds Flew Backwards | Exclusive acoustic free download in BlogPublished May 10 2009 20:22The BBC (rather brilliantly it must be said) compared the original to "Wally Stott arranging the Beach Boys", it's the only Doves song ever to feature a Delruba (an Indian instrument that is a cross between a sitar and a cello, fact fans) and Andy recently told the Line of Best Fit website that the original demo for the song made him think of 'Nobody's Fault But My Own' from Beck's 'Mutations' album. We're talking, of course, about 'Kingdom Of Rust's delicate centre-piece 'Birds Flew Backwards'.

Well today, and for a limited time only, Doves.net are giving you the opportunity to download an acoustic (and scandalously beautiful) Mp3 version of the track exclusively through the website… simply because we can and we thought you might like it!

All you need to do to get your hands on the Mp3 is visit this link and type in a few details. Hurry though because we’re only allowed to make it available for a couple of days!"

More here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Twang are giving away a free track called 'Another Bus'.

More on this here.

Again, if anyone finds they cannot get ANY of these freebies - I have them all, so leave a comment and I will post them or suchlike for you all.

Draped in black...a static white sound.

2009-05-16T11:22:00.004+01:00

Hello again!

Sorry I haven't been on for a while - got a bit busy doing nothing!

I wonder....I need to know if anyone who reads this has a track they simply cannot get anywhere - maybe I have it on one of these Peelie sessions for you?

Drop me a comment under here and we'll see shall we! You never know...

Am in the process of putting a new playlist together so check back soon.

Whilst you are all waiting, tell me....what is your fave track of ALL TIME?

Fairlight

2009-03-17T16:17:00.005Z

We reach for the past...

2009-02-25T13:51:00.004Z

Just been listening to an old cassette called 'Discreet Campaigns'. Brought back some great memories I tell you.

WeePOP! Newsletter

2009-02-25T13:31:00.003Z

Hello,

Uff, hasn't this been a busy month?! The eps by the Just joans and Mexican kids at home are out now, and Colin Clary's "Every little thing counts" is available to pre-order!

Colin will be landing in London tonight, and will play two gigs at the London popfest: with Dana on thursday as Let's whisper and again on the saturday all-dayer with the Smittens. And hopefully we'll be able to see some of his solo stuff at some point as well.

It is such a nice little treat to have an indiepop festival right in the middle of the winter, and this one promises to be awesome. Over the weekend there will be over twenty bands playing in four venues, fanzine and record stalls, pop quizzes, films screenings and mix cd swaps. If you have the chance, please come!

Oh, and I'll be spinning some records on saturday, along with Sprial scratch, Half my heart beats and Fraction discs. Fun!

More info on the festival on londonpopfest.com, and tickets available on wegottickets.

xx

www.weepop.net

"we've been drifting for a long, long time..."

2009-01-21T22:22:00.006Z

Found a rather interesting site recently.

I am quite an ardent fan of WeePOP! Records so went hunting.

Cloudberry Records describe themselves as; "Iindiepop label purveying the sound of jangly guitars based in sunny Miami, Florida."

So - inauguaration party over? Then head over & check them out!

I personally haven't bought anything yet but soon as I do will no doubt rant & rave about them here when I review some of their output.

John has a train named after him!

2008-12-07T09:09:00.005Z

John would be proud and laugh at this one!

Merseyrail have named a train in honour of the great man and yes, it stops in Liverpool!!! How ironic it will be to have his own train taking Anfield fans to a match in the future!

Ian Prowse of the band Amsterdam performed the track 'Does This Train Stop on Merseyside?' at the event in front of guests.

John once said the song was his second favourite ever. Mrs Ravenscroft said: "John just loved the song. He always became emotional when he played it.

"He wasn't capable of playing it without crying. If he played it on the radio he'd have to put something on straight afterwards because he wouldn't be able to speak.

"When he played it at home, he'd always need a cuddle afterwards. We are just really delighted that John is being honoured with this train. He would have loved it."

The train naming ceremony will take place two days before the anniversary of his death, aged 65.

Copies of a new book, a collection of Peel's writings edited by his widow called The Olivetti Chronicles will be given out to passengers on the train during the journey.

Ian Prowse plays live on the 'John Peel'

Ian Prowse at the opening ceremony.

New Book Out!

2008-12-06T23:15:00.003Z

There is a new book out.

Get it here.

The biggest load of shit I have ever read...

2008-12-06T22:30:00.005Z

RIGHT! Straight to the point here!

Firstly, VASTLY sorry there has been no playlist for fucking months!

Shit has happened and been a bit busy.

BUT - I stumbled across an article on the guardian's website today where some wise-arse asks if we should all stop worshipping the Late Great John Peel!!!

I mean.

What a load of crap.

I can answer him easily - NO! Fuck Off!

To rub salt in the wound - get this - he says; "...The online John Peel Archive Movement collects his radio shows as if they were treasures of antiquity."

Erm! 'HELLO' - they fucking ARE!

I ask everyone to Email the author and tell him to mind his own business.

Darragh obviously knows fuck all about the effect this great man ahd on people like myself. Not his fault I suppose.

More like - bonus to me FOR having been effected really! HA HA

The article can be found here. Have a read and come back and tell me what you all think.

...don't be afraid to care...

2008-09-20T14:37:00.009+01:00

A very very great loss.

A great bloke - a true legend and a fantastic keyboard player.

I went to see Pink Floyd at MCFC Maine Road, Manchester in 1988 and it was the BEST concert I have EVER been to in my opinion.

I will miss him but treasure his music deeply.

I am sure we will all be thinking of his family and friends at this difficult time and send our sincerest sympathies.

Richard Wright

28th July 1943 ~ 15th September 2008.

Why there hasn't been any mooooosic of late...

2008-09-18T13:11:00.004+01:00

OK - real sorry folks but not been posting MP3's for a while because I have been decorating!!!

Hopefully will post summat this weekend.

The Green Man Festival 2008 - 15-17 August

2008-08-06T00:47:00.007+01:00

OOOHHH YEAH!

Hallelujah Momma!

Offset Festival 30-31 August 2008

2008-08-02T04:30:00.003+01:00

Indietracks Compilation Out Now!!!

2008-07-31T14:01:00.002+01:00

Indietracks say they are; "....pleased to announce the forthcoming release of the official Indietracks compilation, released on 30th June by Make Do And Mend Records.

It comes as a 2 CD set and features 45 of the bands and artists who are playing at this year's festival on 26/27th July, some of them exclusive tracks!"

Sounds good to me!

Available from here.

FREE Front 242 mp3s!!!

2008-07-29T19:06:00.002+01:00

Side-Line are hosting the option to get a FREE 2-track set by the great Front 242.

Haven't heard it yet but give it a go right???

UPDATE: the files are issued as a bloody torrent so unless you can download torrent files forget it!

I can't!

Onle Little Indian Records - Independents Day 2008 FREE MP3s!!!

2008-07-13T12:26:00.002+01:00

Right. Now pay attention! I will only say this ONCE!

those grrreat people at One Little Indian, have issued a free - YES - F R E E - album to celebrate Independents Day 2008.

You can get it from here.

In their own words:

"To celebrate our love of music, the ethos of being independent and Independents Day 08, we want to share with you the reasons why we value our independence and our artists so much.

We, In association with The Independent, have a specially assembled, free 10-track collection of theirr new singles, some of which have yet to be released.

On the compilation we have Canadian noiseniks Land of Talk, New York troubadour Jesse Malin, hotly tipped Northampton indie band The All New Adventures of Us and one of our favourite singer-songwriters, Michigan’s Chris Bathgate, as well as tracks from HK119, Matthew Ryan, Stalkers, Shelleyan Orphan, Rose Kemp and Underground Railroad.

From today for seven days, listen live to the exclusive FREE Independents Day tracks courtesy of One Little Indian by clicking on the links below!

Make sure you check out the Independents Day 08 website for information on all other events that are going on today

Land of Talk, Summer Special

Chris Bathgate, Restless

HK119, Mind

The All New Adventures Of Us (Tanaou), 45 Forever

Stalkers, In Your Street Today

Underground Railroad, Sticks And Stones

Rose Kemp, Nannys World

Matthew Ryan, It Could Have Been Worse

Jesse Malin, Russian Roulette

Shelleyan Orphan, Something Pulled Me"

Glastonbury Festival 2008

2008-06-21T12:05:00.030+01:00

Today is the 1st Day of Summer (and it rains!).
But, more importantly, it is also the Summer Solstice!!!

Slight change to the 'usual' Peel-related format whilst Glasto is on!

So, wellies out, and down to Somerset then...

Full 2008 Line-Up Here