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Thousands Attend Funeral of DJ John Peel

Yahoo! News - Thousands Attend Funeral of DJ John Peel

Fri Nov 12,11:59 AM ET

BURY ST EDMUNDS, England - Musicians, broadcasters and hundreds of music fans gathered at an English church Friday for the funeral of John Peel, an influential DJ beloved by generations of British Broadcasting Corp. listeners.

Jack and Meg White of the White Stripes, Pulp's Jarvis Cocker and Undertones singer Feargal Sharkey were among mourners at the service for Peel, 65, who died of a heart attack last month while on holiday in Peru.

Tributes outside St. Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St. Edmunds, eastern England, included a wreath of yellow roses from Elton John (news) with a card that read: "Thank you for all the great music. You were a hero for so many. Much love Elton."

Peel was a BBC fixture for almost 40 years, playing an eclectic assortment of tunes, often by unknown bands, that reflected his wide-ranging tastes. Peel promoted reggae, hip-hop and punk on the sometimes conservative BBC, and championed acts ranging from Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie (news) to The Smiths, The Fall, and Pulp.

"John Peel was simply the most influential music broadcaster in the U.K. His support for young musicians was unique," said the BBC's director of radio and music, Jenny Abramsky.

Some 1,000 mourners filled the cathedral and hundreds more listened on loudspeakers outside. Alongside the Lord's Prayer, a choral work by Mozart and the traditional hymn "Abide With Me," the service included the soccer favorite "You'll Never Walk Alone" — unofficial anthem of Peel's favorite team, Liverpool — and Howlin' Wolf's "Going Down Slow."

After the service, Peel's coffin was borne from the church to applause and the sound of his favorite song — "Teenage Kicks" by The Undertones.

November 15, 2004 at 10:07 PM in World Affairs | Permalink | TrackBack (11) | Top of page | Blog Home