Peel collection gets archived

AN A-PEEL-ING PROSPECT: The John Peel Centre for Creative Arts is working with partner Eye Film and Television on a project that will turn the vast record collection of legendary British DJ John Peel into an interactive online museum accessible by the public. The collection comprises 25k LPs, 40k singles and many thousands of CDs. The Arts Council will provide initial funding, and the BBC will provide support and development advice, after which further funding will be sought to complete the project and make every record available online. The longest-serving and most influential of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs—he was on the air from 1967 until his death in 2004—Peel championed hundreds of emerging bands, including Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley & the Wailers, The Smiths, Nirvana, Pulp and the White Stripes, which were recorded performing live in what are now known as the Peel Sessions. These recordings will be part of the archive as well. “The idea is to digitally recreate John’s home studio and record collection, which users will be able to interact with and contribute to, whilst viewing Peel’s personal notes, archive performances and new filmed interviews with musicians,” said Frank Prendergast, Eye’s creative director. (2/28a)