Why John Peel Was Right About New Music
John Peel joined Radio 1 in 1967 and stayed until his death in 2004. In all that time he never stopped looking for the next thing. Punk, reggae, hip hop, drum and bass, grindcore, Ukrainian folk: if it was new and it was interesting, it got played.
It's the idea this website was built on. Peel couldn't understand why people happily watch new films as they get older but stop listening to new music. We can't either.
The "it was better in my day" trap
Most of us lock in our musical taste somewhere in our twenties. After that, life gets busy: work, kids, mortgages. There's less time to dig around for new bands, so we stick with what we know. Before long, "new music" means "not as good as the music I already love".
But the music we loved when we were young didn't arrive fully formed. We found it. Someone played it to us. We took a chance.
How to listen like Peel
- Give things more than one play. Peel famously played records he didn't like at first, and changed his mind.
- Follow the thread. Love a band? Find out who they love, and who they've toured with.
- Go to the support act. The band on at 8pm could be the headliner in two years.
- Ask your kids. They might roll their eyes, but they'll probably play you something brilliant.
Keep your ears open
None of this means giving up The Jam or Pink Floyd. It means adding to the collection rather than freezing it. That's what My Dad Rocks is for: reviews, features and news about new artists, written for people who never stopped caring about music.
