John Peel
Also Known As: John Robert Parker Ravenscroft
Biography: John Peel was a British radio presenter, record producer and music journalist. He's best known for his regular "Peel sessions", a segment in his radio show on BBC 1 in which music bands introduced new songs live in the studio, and for his voice over work on BBC television documentaries.
Department: Acting
Place of Birth: Heswall, Wirral, Merseyside, England, UK
Adult: No
Birthday: August 30, 1939
Age: 85 years old
Gender: Male
Deathday: October 25, 2004
Popularity:
Known For:
Gimme Shelter
Overview: A charity music video collection from the UK-based music paper Melody Maker.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1987-01-01
Popularity:
Rock and Roll's Greatest Failure: Otway the Movie
Overview: Documentary about the rise and fall and rise again of the legendary John Otway.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2013-06-30
Popularity:
Fairport Convention and Matthews Southern Comfort
Overview: Directed by renowned British film director Tony Palmer, this film captures the band at the Maidstone Fiesta during the summer of 1970 as they run through their set of the time. This included various jigs and reels, and the songs Sir Patrick Spens and Now Be Thankful. The film also features two songs from Matthews Southern Comfort, the band led by former Fairport Convention member, Ian Matthews.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1972-05-22
Popularity:
The Fall: The Wonderful and Frightening World of Mark E. Smith
Overview: A 1-hour Documentary looking at the Manchester post-punk group and its infamous leader Mark E Smith. The Film follows the current band recording their final Session for the John Peel Show (they were his favourite group and recorded more sessions than any other band) as well as chronicling the chaotic history of the band & its numerous line-up changes.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-01-21
Popularity:
Five Seconds to Spare
Overview: A young musician travels to London in pursuit of his dreams, but winds up the sole witness to a bizarre murder.
Genres: Action Crime Mystery Thriller
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2000-10-30
Popularity:
Radio Wonderful
Overview: This documentary is about the first five years of BBC Radio 1 and contains interviews with the disc jockeys and other folk who were involved in the station's inception. It also contains footage from the previous pirate radio era as a means of explaining why Radio 1 came about.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1973-06-06
Popularity:
The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart
Overview: Elaine Shepherd’s classic BBC documentary, introduced and narrated by John Peel. Completely wonderful, a 50 minute joy: reviews, articles, blog posts, etc. relating to The Artist Formerly Known As Captain Beefheart.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1997-08-19
Popularity:
John Peel: Suffolk Comfort
Overview: A 30 minute documentary, made by BBC East in 1990: it was never broadcast at the time, for reasons which are currently unknown. The documentary follows John in his day to day life with his family, as well as documenting his career as a DJ. It also shows him attending a gig from Ipswich band Extreme Noise Terror.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1990-01-01
Popularity:
Do You Remember the First Time?
Overview: An unconventional promo for the 1994 single of the same name by British band Pulp. Various celebrities are interviewed about their memories of losing their virginity, and frontman Jarvis Cocker reminisces about his.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-05-01
Popularity:
Everyday Something: True Stories from the 21st Century
Overview: Based on the filmmaker's collection of newspaper cuttings the film presents private moments that give strange glimpses into everyday life.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2001-12-31
Popularity:
The Story of Microdisney: The Clock Comes Down the Stairs
Overview: In 1980, two Cork outsiders, Cathal Coughlan and Sean O’Hagan, met at a New Year's Eve party. Bonding over music, a friendship and songwriting partnership was ignited; the band they formed, Microdisney, was one of the best bands of the 1980s that you’ve probably never heard. Mixing Sean’s stunning melodic arrangements with Cathal’s poetic, angry lyrics, they recorded three brilliant LPs, gained critical adulation and an obsessive cult following. But a hit single eluded them, as did radio play and LP sales. By 1988, frustrated by their lack of progress, the band crashed and burned, leaving a trail of acrimony and broken friendships.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2024-03-15
Popularity:
Nul Points?!
Overview: Love it or hate it, the Eurovision Song Contest has not only redefined Europe, it has redefined music. Conceived in 1956 as a great televised musical event which would bring peace and harmony to Europe, it has since launched meteoric careers and made hits of songs such as Waterloo, Volare and Boom Bang a Bang. It has also bred an annual hotbed of political intrigue, racial rivalry, allegations of bribery and plain old sour grapes. In this programme Abba, Sandie Shaw, Cliff Richard and many others sing while Katie Boyle, Bucks Fizz, John Peel, Michael Ball and Johnny Logan try to explain that special Eurovision "ring-a-ding-ding".
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1992-08-31
Popularity:
Mr Trebus: A Life of Grime
Overview: A heartfelt tribute to Edmund Trebus, the UK's most famous hoarder, who gained national recognition through the documentary series A Life of Grime. This tribute delves into Edmund's staunch resistance against the council, which dismissed his cherished possessions as mere rubbish. We also explore his early life in Poland, his harrowing experiences as a prisoner of war, and the journey leading up to his later years and eventual passing.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2002-10-13
Popularity:
Vivian Stanshall: The Early Years
Overview: The great eccentric and raconteur Vivian Stanshall performs music pieces and talks to us about his early years leading up to his time in The Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band. Following Stanshall death, this program was repeated and repackaged as 'Diamond Geezer' with a tribute at the beginning from John Peel.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1991-01-01
Popularity:
Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mind
Overview: Documentary about the life of the Bonzo Dog Band singer.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-01-01
Popularity:
When Hippies Ruled The World
Overview: When Hippies Ruled The World takes a trip back to the end of the psychedelic Sixties - the dreams, trips, movies, and music - to a time that love was all that was needed. From 1967 to 1970, the hippie revolution gave us great anthems, great events, great sex and great big afghan coats. The music was by The Doors; queen of the hippies Joni Mitchell; and the world was set alight by the number 1 hit Fire by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. Hippies dropped out at the biggest festival, Woodstock, and were turned on by LSD and free love. The whole experience was literally set on film by Dennis Hopper and Peter Fonda in Easy Rider while the hippest of all looked East and followed in the trail of the Beatles to India.
Genres: No genres available
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2002-04-10
Popularity:
It's Not Repetition, It's Discipline
Overview: Dandelion Records and DVD's present Probably the nearest you will ever get to an official documentary on Mark E Smith and The Fall. Put together over a period of 13 years by three Danish Fall fans and with full involvement from Mark E Smith this film gives a real insight into the mechanisms of The Fall. Features many live clips and rehearsals of both The Fall and Smith and Ed Blaney. The cast list includes Mark E Smith, John Peel (a real in depth contribution from Peelie), Henry Rollins, Thurston Moore, David Gedge, Stephen Malkmus, Dee Dee Ramone, Peter Hook, Grant Showbiz, John Cooper Clarke, Damo Suzuki, Gary Lucas, Ed Blaney, Jim Watts, Spencer Birtwistle, Ben Pritchard, Zlatko Buric, Alan Wise, The Other Dave and Fall Fan Dave. Bonus material includes a great interview with Mark E Smith in what was his favourite pub near Heaton Park in Manchester (sadly the pub is now closed)
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2014-10-15
Popularity:
The Fall
Overview: Mick Middles's previously unreleased documentary on The Fall from 1994. Made available as an extra on Northern Cream: The Fall DVD That Fights Back in 2009.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2009-01-01
Popularity:
Smashie and Nicey: The End of an Era
Overview: A mockumentary, rockumentary featuring the spoof radio DJ's from Harry Enfield's sketch shows. Telling of their rise to fame, their influence on music history and fall from grace in a parody of real life radio presenters.
Genres: Comedy
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1994-04-04
Popularity:
Here Comes the Summer: The Undertones Story
Overview: In 1978 the Undertones released Teenage Kicks, one of the most perfect and enduring pop records of all time - an adolescent anthem that spoke to teenagers all over the globe. It was the first in a string of hits that created a timeless soundtrack to growing up, making the Undertones one of punk rock's most prolific and popular bands.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2012-09-07
Popularity:
Brass Tacks Punk Documentary
Overview: Brass Tacks was a current affairs programme shown on BBC2 between 1977 and 1988. On this episode called Punk Rock, broadcast on 3rd August 1977, it focuses on the Manchester Punk scene, bands and its iconic club, The Electric Circus.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1977-08-03
Popularity:
Marc Bolan: The Final Word
Overview: A documentary which examines Marc Bolan's childhood ambitions of fame and where it led him, using previously lost TV and radio interviews, rediscovered Top of the Pops recordings, unseen concert footage and unique home movies.
Genres: Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2007-07-28
Popularity:
The Story of the Undertones - Teenage Kicks
Overview: Veteran BBC Radio DJ John Peel takes his first visit to Derry and discovers for himself the band that forged his favourite pop song 'Teenage Kicks'.The film, through the use of interviews and archive footage (of Derry and The Undertones), takes us back to 1975. To a time when it would have been normal, even expected, for five Derry teenagers to get together and have a riot. The Undertones got together, formed a band and created their own form of riot, bursting into a vigorous and joyous celibration of their own existence.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2002-02-01
Popularity:
King Rocker
Overview: How does a working class autodidact, with no visible means of support, maintain his role as the leader of a cult British underground band into its fifth decade? Comedian and writer Stewart Lee, director Michael Cumming and James Nicholls investigate the mysterious existence of Robert Lloyd, Britain’s ultimate post-punk survivor. Robert Lloyd’s Prefects played with The Clash on the White Riot tour in 1977, and their ongoing incarnation, as Birmingham’s Captain Beefheart suffused post-punk poets The Nightingales, recorded more John Peel sessions than any other band. Ever. But what were the social, cultural and economic circumstances that enabled and sustained such outsider artists in the punk and post-punk eras, and how has the world changed to the point where such figures are unlikely to flourish in the same way today? Lloyd’s own odyssey echoes how abstract notions of social mobility, of the value of culture and music, have changed in the last five decades.
Genres: Documentary Music
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2020-10-31
Popularity:
Funk Me Up, Scotty
Overview: JP takes us on a 15-minute trek through the musical careers of assorted crew members of the Enterprise (and others). Broadcast in 1996 as part of a BBC Star Trek Night.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 1996-08-26
Popularity:
John Peel's Record Box
Overview: John Peel's Record Box is a documentary film made by Elaine Shepherd, released on 14 November 2005 on Channel 4. It was nominated for Primetime Emmy Award. It is about a small private collection of the British radio DJ John Peel who died in 2004 at the age of 65. Peel's main archive contained more than 100,000 vinyl records and CDs. This smaller private collection, however, contains 143 singles - some of them doublettes - stored in a private wooden box representing some of his personal favourites. According to the documentary, there are no singles by Peel's favorite group, The Fall, because he kept them in a separate box. The film features interviews with John's wife Sheila Ravenscroft, radio DJs and artists like Mary Anne Hobbs, Sir Elton John, Ronnie Wood, Roger Daltrey, Fergal Sharkey, Jack White, Michael Palin and Miki Berenyi.
Genres: Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2005-11-14
Popularity:
Richard Thompson: Solitary Life
Overview: A portrait of Richard Thompson, co-founder of folk-rock group Fairport Convention and also an eminent singer/guitarist/songwriter in his own right.
Genres: Music Documentary
Original Language: en
Release Date: 2003-02-02
Popularity: