The Olivetti Chronicles [Hardcover]

"Fit to burst with colorful commentary . . . he crams in references to music that will have you in hysterics over his sumptuously structured prose." "--London Lite" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

The selected wit and wisdom of a national treasure --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

John Peel is best known for his four decades of radio broadcasting. His Radio 1 shows shaped the taste of successive generations of music lovers. His Radio 4 show, Home Truths, became required listening for millions. But all the while, Peel was also tapping away on his beloved Olivetti typewriter, creating copy for an array of patient editors. He wrote articles, columns and reviews for newspapers and magazines as diverse as The Listener, Oz, Gandalf's Garden, Sounds, the Observer, the Independent and Radio Times. Now for the first time, the best of these writings have been brought together - selected by his wife, Sheila, and his four children. Music, of course, is a central and recurring theme, and he writes on music in all its forms, from Tubular Bells to Berlin punk to Madonna. Here you can read John Peel on everything from the perils of shaving to the embarrassments of virginity, and from the strange joy of Eurovision to the horror of being sick in trains. At every stage, the writing is laced with John's brilliantly acute observations on the minutiae of everyday life. This endlessly entertaining book is essential reading for Peel fans and a reminder of just why he remains a truly great Briton.

John Peel is best known for his four decades of radio broadcasting. His Radio 1 shows defined popular culture and shaped the taste of successive generations of music lovers. His Radio 4 show, Home Truths, became required listening for millions. But all the while, John was also tapping away on his beloved Olivetti typewriter, committing his laconic brilliance to paper. He wrote articles, columns and reviews for newspapers and magazines as diverse as The Listener, Oz, Gandalf’s Garden, Sounds, the Observer, the Independent and Radio Times. He was even, briefly, a correspondent for Bike magazine.
Now for the first time, the best of these writings have been brought together – selected and introduced by John’s wife, Sheila, and his four children. Music, of course, is a central and recurring theme, and he writes on music in all its forms, from Tubular Bells to Berlin punk to Madonna. Here you can read John Peel on everything from the perils of shaving to the embarrassments of virginity, and from the strange joy of Eurovision to the horror of being sick in trains. At every stage, the writing is laced with John’s brilliantly acute observations on the minutiae of everyday life.
This extraordinary, inimitable and endlessly entertaining book is essential reading for Peel fans and a reminder of just why he remains a truly great Briton.

'a welcome addition to Peel's printed oeuvre'

Nicholas Lezard, Guardian

'wonderfully surreal'

Sunday Times

John Peel is best known for his four decades of radio broadcasting. His Radio 1 shows virtually defined popular culture. His Radio 4 show, Home Truths, was required listening for millions. But all the while, John was also tapping away on his beloved Olivetti typewriter, writing articles, columns and reviews for an array of newspapers and magazines.

Now the best of these writings have been brought together. Read his thoughts on everything from the perils of shaving to the embarrassments of virginity; from the strange joy of Eurovision to the horror of being sick in trains; and on musicians as diverse as Captain Beefheart and Madonna. At every stage, the writing is laced with John's brilliantly acute observations on the minutiae of everyday life.

This endlessly entertaining book is essential reading for Peel fans and a reminder of just why he remains a truly great Briton.

9780552157049

www.rbooks.co.uk

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

John Peel was born shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939. The influence of his thirty-eight-year career as a radio DJ is well documented and the artistes he championed over the years too numerous to mention - David Bowie, Roxy Music, T Rex, The Undertones, Joy Division, The Fall, The Smiths, Pulp and the White Stripes are but a few. He lived in Suffolk with his wife Sheila and their children William, Thomas, Alexandra and Florence, plus various dogs and cats, until his death in October 2004.