BBC's legendary Radio 1 DJ John Peel dies at 65

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts) - The legendary BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel has died from a heart attack while vacationing in Peru. He was 65.
His wife Sheila was with Peel when he died.

"John Peel was a broadcasting legend. I am deeply saddened by his death as are all who work at Radio 1," Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt said. "John's influence has towered over the development of popular music for nearly four decades. He will be hugely missed."
Peel had championed many diverse musical genres during his 40 years of service at Radio 1.

It is so true that it is almost a cliche, that John Peel was a broadcasting legend. He was the only DJ who joined Radio One in 1967 from pirate radio who actually stayed the course. There have been purges and firings aplenty over the years, but there was always one constant - John Peel.

He was a true legend and such a likeable guy. Right from his pirate Radio & Radio 1 days in the 60s he introduced us to such acts as John's Children & Tyrannosaurus Rex (both feat. the late Marc Bolan), David Bowie, also US psychedelic acts (known as Garage rock) such as Jefferson Airplane, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Mothers Of Invention, Big Brother & The Holding Company and Electric Prunes.

In the 70s he was the main influence in bringing Punk Rock, & Reggae into the mainstream and also European acts such as Kraftwerk.
In the 90s he introduced Techno Trance & Rave into the UK and ofcourse US RnB scene.
In fact he was the first DJ to play music by The Rasmus, Rammstein, Nightwish, Scorpions etc. on UK Radio.