Im new onto this site and too late to vote but JP was an absolute legend. His influence on up & coming bands was immense, his tastes incredibly wide & varied, he continually refused to buckle to the demands of his employers to play more off their playlist - sometimes at the risk of losing his job.
'Peel plays Punk' was a cult T-shirt at the time, as he was at the beginning of UK punk (when the mainstream uk press were up in arms about/against the movement) the only guy who would play Punk - I still remember the thrill of hearing 'New Rose' on the JP show. He then, in the aftermath of punk, went on to champion numerous bands who normally wouldnt get played and was instrumental in getting many bands exposure and record deals. He spent numerous hours listening to hopefuls who sent in demos in the hope he would play them.
I recall shedding a tear reading the NME of the week he died. RIP John.
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