It's Only Music John

A Personal Tribute To The Late John Peel by Nick King

“I CURSE YOUR PREOCCUPATION WITH YOUR RECORD COLLECTION … IT’S ONLY MUSIC JOHN”
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF MARK EDWARD SMITH.
“IS THERE ANYBODY OUT THERE?”
WE SAY “YEAH”
BLOWN OUT WITH SADNESS
WHY DID WE ADMIRE HIM?
IT’S WISDOM ISN’T IT?
IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE STRICTLY TRUE
BUT WHY WORRY ABOUT THE LITTLE THINGS?
IT DEPENDS ON HOW MUCH YOU BELIEVE
“WHEN WAS THE LAST BROADCAST?”
“FROM THE ZOO?”
“NO – FROM HOME – JOHN’S BOLTHOLE”
I CAN JUST SEE YOU RETIRING
INTO ENDLESS RUNNING ORDER
ASSEMBLING ON ‘”GHOST FM”
KNOCKING COFFEE ALL OVER THE FADERS
THE LATER – A MUSHROOM BIRYANI AND A FEW BEERS
HE MADE YOU FEEL BETTER, WHEN YOU WERE MISSING OUT ON EVERYTHING
FRIENDLY BUT GRUMPY, QUIET BUT EFFECTIVE
THERE HASN’T BEEN “A VERY BRITISH COOP” FOR 40 YEARS
“HONESTY” WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?
THAT’S WHAT WE LIKE TO HEAR – PASSION –
A QUEST TO FIND ENERGY IN THE NEW YOUTH
AND “A REFUSAL TO LOOK BACK”
WE WERE THE YOUNG BLOOD
AND WE WERE HAVING NONE OF IT
I USED TO TALK A LOAD OF BOLLOCKS BACK THEN
“SO YOU CAN ADMIT YOU’RE NOT A TEENAGER ANYMORE?”
“EVERYONE ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE A TIT NICK
AND YOU’RE NEVER TO BE FORGIVEN FOR THAT”
“HAVE YOU GOT ANY IDEAS IN THERE NICK?”
“LISTEN. I’VE GOT TOO MANY IDEAS IN HERE
IF YOU HAD AS MANY YOU WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO DO YOUR JOB”
“YOU REMIND ME VERY MUCH OF WHEN I WAS YOUNG
AND I’M WINDING DOWN NOW AND I’M NOT TOO HAPPY
ABOUT THAT … PROVE ‘EM WRONG. SET YOURSELF A GOAL
DON’T MATTER IF IT’S THE HEAD OF THE BBC”
“BUT WHEN U GET THERE WHAT ARE U
GONNA DO WITH IT?”
IF YOU’RE STUBBORN YOU’RE STRONG ENOUGH
TO ARGUE THAT “ALL CHANGE IS WRONG.”
SEEMS LIKE I’VE EXPECTED TOO MUCH OF ADULTHOOD
AND EXPECTED TOO MUCH OF MYSELF
“HONESTY – WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?”
FOR ME, IT’S ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATION
GETTING OLDER – I’VE REALISED – MY FREE
SPIRIT CAN TAKE IT MORE –
IT’S BEEN NOTICED – NOONE GIVES A FUCK
WE ALL KNEW HE’S BE YOUR FRIEND
FOR LIFE HE KEPT US SAFE AND KEPT US BUZZING
BEING YOUNG AND LIVING SOMEWHERE
HORRIBLE IN THE EIGHTIES
FAMILIES ARE CRUEL AND UNFORGIVING
WE ALWAYS KNEW HE WAS RIGHT
REMIND YOURSELF OF WHAT MUSIC WAS THERE
FOR IN THE FIRST PLACE
I WAS IN THE GLOBE WHEN WE GOT THE
WORD FROM PERU
I LIKE THAT GUY “JONO” HE’LL TALK TO ANYONE
I SHOULD’VE BEEN IN FLOODS OF TEARS
THAT’S WHAT WE’RE STILL HERE FOR
BUT I DON’T LIKE PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF EMOTION
“THE PLATTERS THAT MATTER”
“THE KNOB ON MY TURNTABLE IS TOO
BIG FOR THE HOLE IN YOUR PEEL SESSIONS”
“JUST COASTING IF U ASK ME!”
A GENUINE EXTERIOR
HIDES A GENUINE INTERIOR

© Nick King