Veteran radio DJ John Peel dies of a heart attack
John Peel – Radio 1's longest-standing DJ and a true musical icon – has died of a heart attack, aged 65. He was on a working holiday in Peru at the time.
Peel had been a Radio 1 jock since the station opened in 1967 and was a national institution, championing new and experimental music throughout his career. Having been largely responsible for breaking punk in the ’70s, he was also one of the first Radio 1 DJs to play house music, and over the past 10 years had been an unlikely champion of both drum & bass and hard dance.
He is survived by his wife Sheila and their children.
Author: Russell Deeks