Margrave of the Marshes

How do you even begin to describe the impact John Peel had on the British music scene? He was beyond iconic - there was simply nobody else like him & I very much doubt there ever will be. I shan't write a review here - will simply just use this space to urge everyone to read this book. The second half, written by his wife, Sheila, aka The Pig, is simply unbearably sad to read in parts. I had tears streaming down my face when I read the final pages. This book is as much of a testament to Peel & Pig as it is about the music.

Intro: Any DJ who can survive the axe at the BBC Radio One station in England for almost 40 years, has to be England's, if not the world's, greatest DJ ever! John is credited with introducing an amazing array of artists to the British public - Captain Beefheart, Faces, White Stripes, all got their first UK airplay on his show. He died of a heart attack at age 65 while on holiday in Peru in October 2004. His Peel Sessions are best selling CD compilations of live shows, sometimes recorded at his country home in Suffolk. So here's a book, part autobiography and part biography - the first half written by John himself and the second by John's wife Sheila Ravenscroft, all this being because John died as he was midway through writing the book. And for us readers, in a sad way, this is a good deal since we get to hear from John and also from his wife who seems to have a similar "Peelian" sense of humour. If John had lived to finish the book, I'm sure we would not have been treated to his wife's detailed and witty observations. Myself, I grew up in the north of England in the fifties and sixties and used to faithfully tape (on an old cheap 2 track tape recorder) entire John Peel Top Gear shows and then listen to them over and over during the week as I slugged away at teenage homework. He was the voice in the wilderness to us starved music junkies looking for "underground" and alternative music to counteract the bland pop music of the day. Even if you have no idea who John Peel is, this book can stand alone as a great introduction to English life - public schools (a.k.a. private schools here in America), British Army life, the BBC, English countryside living and John's beloved Liverpool Football club. Not to mention lots of good music references. Read the book and celebrate the life! (and don't forget to play some music, drink a glass of red wine and sing-a-long!)