John Robert Parker Ravenscroft
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Awards
John Peel, born John Robert Parker Ravenscroft on August 30, 1939 in Heswall, England, worked as a BBC Radio 1 DJ from the late 1960s. He played ‘Teenage Kicks’ by The Undertones and hosted Peel Sessions. He died on October 25, 2004 in Cuzco, Peru from a heart attack at age 65.
Names, aliases, and relatives of John Peel — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
John Peel by the numbers — life, work, and family.
John Peel — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft was born on August 30, 1939 in Heswall, Wirral, Merseyside, England. He attended Shrewsbury School, a boarding school. He moved to the United States and worked as a DJ under the name John Raven Croft on Radio KOMA in Oklahoma City.
Peel joined BBC Radio 1 when it launched in the late 1960s. He hosted Peel Sessions, which early featured acts like The Undertones. He said he never booked Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Police, or Dire Straits for sessions. In 1969, he founded Dandelion Records, which ran until 1973. He also presented BBC Radio 4’s Home Truths from 1998 until his death and appeared on Top of the Pops.
Peel married twice: first to Shirley Anne Milburn from 1965 to 1973, then to Sheila Mary Gilhooly from August 31, 1974 until his death. He had one son, Tom Ravenscroft, with Sheila. He supported Liverpool Football Club. He had diabetes. His funeral was at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, near his home.
John Peel influenced British music. On November 16, 2005, he was posthumously inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame. His favorite song, Teenage Kicks by The Undertones, became a tribute anthem after his death. He received an OBE and an honorary doctorate.
The complete filmography of John Peel — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by John Peel — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from John Peel — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
I Used to Go and See Genesis, and After About Three Minutes I’d Think, Oh, I Wish This Would Stop!.
When I Was Younger I Watched a Lot of Cartoons, Mostly of Seafaring Folk.
I Gave up Cycling After Being Victim of a Hit-and-run En Route from Broadcasting House to My Mum’s House in Notting Hill. It Involved Darth Vader, Men from the Middle East and Bodily Fluids – All of Them Mine.
I Never Make Stupid Mistakes – Only Very, Very Clever Ones.
The One Distinguishing Feature About Early-’70s Progressive Rock Was That It Didn’t Progress.
Little-known facts about John Peel — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
Peel often stated he never booked Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Police, or Dire Straits for Peel sessions because he did not rate them.
A lifelong supporter of Liverpool Football Club, Peel had a deep passion for the team.
From its launch in the late 1960s, Peel was a DJ for BBC Radio 1, and later presented BBC Radio 4’s Home Truths from 1998 until his death.
While working as a DJ in Dallas, Texas, Peel attended the press conference where Lee Harvey Oswald was presented after JFK’s assassination; he can be seen in archival footage.
Teenage Kicks by The Undertones was Peel’s favorite song. Following his death, radio stations and numerous bands performed or played it in tribute.
Peel first worked as a DJ under the name John Raven Croft on Radio KOMA in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
His funeral took place at St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, near his home.
On November 16, 2005, Peel was posthumously inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame for his outstanding contribution to British music.
In 1969, Peel founded his own record label, Dandelion Records, which operated until 1973.
Peel frequently narrated documentaries and performed voice-over work for advertisements.
Peel lived with diabetes.
His son is Thomas Ravenscroft.
In 1970, Peel’s favorite album was Michael Chapman’s Fully Qualified Survivor.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about John Peel.
Celebrities similar to John Peel — same craft, ranked by reach.
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