POSTS TAGGED : John Peel

#Keepingitpeel: The Flaming Stars – ‘Cash 22’

This year’s #keepingitpeel marks the eighth anniversary of John Peel’s passing, and for the third year running the John Peel Day for bloggers is taking place.

Peel was probably the greatest radio DJ in history. Peel’s influence on music fans and bands alike can’t be quantified and his love of, and attitude toward music makes him a unique figure. It would probably be more fitting to introduce some new artist or other, but as that’s what happens here most days, here’s one introduced to me by the man himself; Cash 22 by The Flaming Stars.

‘Cash 22’ appeared in some John Peel list or another, a number of years ago and it just grabbed me. There’s no bullshit bravado, just a track of real and genuine emotion that will make the hairs on your neck stand on end. This is ‘indie music’ at its very best. Since their first EP in ’95, The Flaming Stars went on to release a slew of albums yet remain something of unknown quantity, in fact, I still know very little about them, bar this song obviously.

Also there’s a special KeepingItPeel Podcast, ‘Peel Acres’, which you can listen too and download right here.

#Keepingitpeel: What Else But Some Half Man Half Biscuit?

This year’s #keepingitpeel marks the seventh anniversary of John Peel’s passing, and for the second year running the John Peel Day for bloggers is taking place.

Peel was probably the most influential radio DJ in history and had a huge influence on fans of music and bands alike. His love of, and attitude toward music made him a unique figure. He took music at face value not caring what others thought, if he liked it, that was good enough for him. It is this which continues to impress me most, if only there were more in the world willing to emulate this attitude, after all, music is a completely subjective topic.

How best to honour his memory and legacy? It would be most fitting to introduce some new and interesting artist, but blogs tend to do this on a daily basis. Instead, here’s a few tracks from Half Man Half Biscuit’s many ‘Peel Sessions’, quite fitting really as without the great man I would never have heard what have become one of my favourite bands which he coined, ‘a national treasure’. I would be inclined to agree. 

 via HMHB

Mp3: Half Man Half Biscuit – Four Skinny Indie Kids (5 July 1998)  

Mp3: Half Man Half Biscuit – Tonight Matthew, I’m Going To Be With Jesus (2 February 1997)

Mp3: Half Man Half Biscuit – 24 Hour Garage Peopl (9 September 1999)