Gigography

THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION

This page is intended as a foundation for listings of live music events with involvement from Peel, from working as a DJ, compere or announcer to gigs he attended and John Peel Roadshow events. Obviously, this is a fairly ambitious undertaking, but it is hoped that with as many sources as possible it will eventually be as comprehensive as it can be.

The format is likely to be adjusted as the list expands and separate pages may be created for different years.

The list below is still at a very preliminary stage and in the process of being sorted out. At present, listings are largely sourced from the International Times page and Marmalade Skies site and cover only the period from Peel's return to the UK in 1967 to the dawn of the 1970s. It is planned to expand the period covered in due course.

Numbered links at the end of each listing are online references for the source of the information or give further details of the events themselves.

In some cases, advertising may have been inaccurate or scheduled events did not take place. For example, in late 1968 Peel suffered a serious case of jaundice and may not have been able to fulfilled all his bookings. If such information is known, this will be indicated.

1967
April

29 Alexandra Palace, "14 Hour Technicolour Dream": Attended by Peel. Pink Floyd headlined the event

June

23 UFO Club, 10.30 pm - Dawn; "Liverpool Love Festival - a busload of Liverpool 8". Adrian Henri, The Scaffold, Brian Patten, Mike Evans, The Squares, The Trip, Andy Roberts, Graham Laydon. "Poetry and music of the Liverpool scene". Peel attended this event during his shore leave from Radio London. He mentions this on the Perfumed Garden of July 12, criticising the UFO audience for their lukewarm response to the performers. 

July

7 UFO Club, Denny Laine; Pretty Things. Mentions visit to the weekly club during previous week's shore leave on the Perfumed Garden of July 12, along with a visit to the Speakeasy in the company of Jeff Dexter; he met Jeff Beck.there, he says, and obtained a copy of Beck's new single to play on his shows.

10 Rhodes Centre, Bishop's Stortford. JP (on shore leave) hosted the "Radio London Night".

29 Alexandra Palace, "International Love-In": Pink Floyd, The Animals, Brian Auger Trinity with Julie Driscoll, Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Creation, Tomorrow, Blossom Toes, The Nervous System, Apostolic Intervention, Sam Gopal Dream, Ginger Johnson

Aug

26-28 Woburn Abbey, "Festival Of The Flower Children": Peel among the DJs. Small Faces, Move, Eric Burdon, Jeff Beck, Denny Laine, Alan Price Set, Zoot Money, Dantalian's Chariot, Marmalade, Tomorrow, The Gass, Tangerine Peel, Tiles Big Band, The Dream

31 Speakeasy, London: Cream, Frank Zappa (see Cream page)

Sept

23 Middle Earth: Debut of two-piece Tyrannosaurus Rex on bill headed by Denny Laine's Electric String Band, The Picadilly Line

24 Tiles Club: "John Peel's Perfumed Garden" - first of proposed weekly Sunday spot ("with supporting group"), but club closes down after meeting of creditors on Tuesday 26

30 Middle Earth: "Turn on to The Fairport Convention and Dreamland Express, plus Herbal Mixture and John Peel

Oct

10 Saville Theatre, London: Cream (see artist page)

21 Middle Earth: Ginger Johnson's African Drum Band, Ultradelic Alchemists

27 Middle Earth: The Nice, Eyes of Blues, Limousine, West Indian Steel Band

Nov

10 Middle Earth: Soft Machine, Zeus, Sensory Armada

17 Middle Earth: Fairport Convention, Crystal Ship, Jacob's Ladder Construction Co.

24 Middle Earth: The Pretty Things, Eyes Of Blue, Tyrannosaurus Rex (alternative listing has Geranium Pond as third on the bill )

Dec

1 Middle Earth: Electric Prunes, Eclection, Spell, Sensory Armada

15 Middle Earth: Pink Floyd, Fusion Fluff

20Roundhouse [Vietnam Solidarity Campaign organised by Circus Alpha Centauri] "Kaleidoscope of Word Music": Country Joe and the Fish, Pete Brown and the Poetry Band, The Liverpool Scene, Tom Pickard and the Living Mythology. John Peel as Compere.

21 Roundhouse [Vietnam Solidarity Campaign organised by Circus Alpha Centauri] Country Joe and the Fish, Incredible String Band, Al Stewart and the Piccadilly Line, Jansch Renbourn - The Pentangle. 

22 "Christmas On Earth Continued", Kensington Olympia: Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Eric Burdon's Animals, Move, The Pink Floyd, Keith West &amp; Tomorrow, Soft Machine, Graham Bond Organisation, Sam Gopal, Paper Blitz Tissue. (The Who apparently didn't show up)

1968
Jan

20 Middle Earth: Captain Beefheart &amp; The Magic Band

Feb

23 Middle Earth at the Roundhouse, London: Country Joe and the Fish, Fairport Convention, Blossom Toes, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Nick Drake (Drake's first ever live performance - moved from the Covent Garden venue).

Mar

9 Leeds University: Rave, Nice, Spencer Davis, Tony Rivers and the Castaways, The Chicken Shack, The Attack 

April

5/13 Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall: Tyrannosaurus Rex (Oak, Ash and Thorn. "Narrating Narrator John Peel")

14 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Doctor K's Blues Band, Junior Eyes

May

13 Middle Earth: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Junior's Eyes, Beowolf

19 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Captain Beefheart &amp; The Magic Band (see venue page for details)

19 Middle Earth "Gandalf's Garden Benefit": Bill includes Tyrannosaurus Rex, David Bowie - advertised but Peel presumably cancelled his appearance to attend the well-documented Beefheart gig on the same date (above)

24 Aston University, Birmingham: Liverpool Scene (IT 31 article on with gig listings for band)

26 Middle Earth, "Oz Magazine Benefit" Pink Floyd, The Pretty Things, Social Deviants, Blonde On Blonde, Alexis Korner, Miss Kelly, The Flamingoes, Buddy Lloyd

27 Portsmouth Guild Hall "Dance of Words" event, proceeds to Proceeds to Campaign for Advancement of Civil Liberties &amp; Release: (poets), Pete Brown's Poetry Band, Adrian Henry, Adrian Mitchell, Brian Patten, Spike Hawkins; (music) Alexis Korner, Fairport Convention, Tyrannosaums Rex, The Exploding Galaxy, and JP

June

3 Royal Festival Hall: Tyrannosaurus Rex and Roy Harper, with Stefan Grossman and David Bowie supporting ("Vibrations by John Peel") IT 31 back cover ad

3 Middle Earth: King Ida's Watch Chain, The Battered Ornaments

17 City Memorial Hall, Sheffield: Tyrannosaurus Rex, The Liverpool Scene

23 Mothers, Birmingham: Tyrannosaurus Rex

29 Hyde Park free concert: Pink Floyd, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Roy Harper, Jethro Tull

July

17 Southport Pier: Traffic, Family, Spooky Tooth 

Aug

9 Roundhouse, "A Freak Show" in aid of community charities: Family, Action, Deviants, Eclection 

11 8th National Blues Festival], Kempton Park Racecourse, Sunbury: Traffic, Spencer Davis, John Mayall, Fairport Convention, Chicken Shack, Jethro Tull, Dynaflow Blues, Tramline

31 Theatre Royal, Bury St. Edmunds: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre, "Guff" Putkowski  - appears to clash with event below

31 to 1 Sept: Isle Of Wight festival, Godshill ("The complete festival will be compered by John Peel"): The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, Jefferson Airplane, The Move, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Fairport Convention, Aynsley Dunbar, Retaliation, Pretty Things, Plastic Penny, Orange Bicycle, The Mirage, Blonde On Blonde

Sept

1 Isle Of Wight festival continues

6-7 Roundhouse: Doors and Jefferson Airplane (JP not listed in ad but said to have compered this legendary event ) 

7-8 First National Blues Convention at Conway Hall: Alexis Korner, Champion Jack Dupree, Davy Graham, Dynaflow Blues, Stefan Grossman &amp; others. Recitals by John Peel, Paul Oliver, Albert McCathy &amp; others  

15 Mothers, Birmingham: Tyrannosaurus Rex ("make it to Mothers!")

29 Croydon, Fairfield Hall: Jethro Tull, Eclection, David Ackles, Alan Price Set, Spooky Tooth, Julie Driscoll & The Brian Auger Trinity

Oct

6 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Tea &amp; Symphony, Jo-Ann Kelly (see venue page for details)

18 Lanchester College of Technology, Coventry: Savoy Brown, Alexis Korner, Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments, Jo-Ann Kelly (IT 41, p.20)

20 Frank Freeman's Dancing School, Kidderminster: Eclection (see venue page for details)

22 Lanchester College, Coventry: Blues with Savoy Brown, Alexis Korner, Pete Brown's Battered Ornaments, John Peel, Jo-Ann Kelly – check against previous listings

Nov

2 London School of Economics: Chicken Shack, Blonde on Blonde, John Peel, Occasional Word Ensemble 

3 Mothers, Birmingham: Joe Cocker 

23 Middle Earth presents at the Roundhouse: Juniors Eyes, Writing On The Wall, Arcadium, The Gun, Auriel, Sleepy

24 Mothers, Birmingham: Jethro Tull 

26 Royal Albert Hall: Cream (farewell concert) (see artist page)

Dec

14 Middle Earth presents at the Roundhouse: Principal Edward's Magic Theatre, Uriel, sitar master Pandit Trika, 3rd Year Band, Radha Krishna Temple

15 Mothers, Birmingham: The Nice

19 Country Club, Haverstock Hill, London "John Peel plus poets, groups, singers"

22 Mothers, Birmingham: Ten Years After

24 Mothers, Birmingham: Family, Action

26 Mothers, Birmingham: Chicken Shack, Tea &amp; Symphony

27 Middle Earth: Special Christmas show with John Peel

28 Middle Earth: Special Christmas show with John Peel

31 Mothers, Birmingham: Jethro Tull, Savoy Brown, Bakerloo Blues Line

1969
Jan

10 Plymouth, Van Dyke Club: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre

13 Queen Elizabeth Hall: Tyrannosaurus Rex

17 Royal Albert Hall: Georgie Fame, Ten Years After, Family, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre

24-Feb 1 Coventry, various venues, Lanchester College Arts Festival: Music includes Peel, Pentangle, Jeff Beck, Eclection, Family, Duster Bennett, Champion Jack Dupree, Liverpool Scene, Jo-Ann Kelly, Simon &amp; Steve, Sydney Carter, Davy Graham, Ron Geesin. 

Feb

5 Bradford University: Fairport Convention, Bridget St. John, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre 

18 UMIST, Edgar Broughton, Liverpool Scene, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre

Tyrannosaurus Rex tour, with Vytas Serelis (sitar), John Peel ("catalyst"). Bowie supports "with mime act about a boy's escape from the Chinese invasion of Tibet"
 * 15 Birmingham Town Hall (Peel talks about this concert on the following day's Top Gear)
 * 16 Croydon Fairfield Hall
 * 22 Manchester Free Trade Hall
 * 23 Bristol Colston Hall

Mar

Tyrannosaurus Rex tour continues
 * 1 Liverpool Philharmonic
 * 8 Brighton Dome

2 Mothers, Birmingham: Chicken Shack 

3 Sunderland, Whitburn, The Bay Hotel: Van de Graff Generator, Earth (Black Sabbath)

9 Mothers, Birmingham: Spooky Tooth

20 West Ham College, E.15, Release Benefit (“Folk evening presented by John Peel”): Occasional Word Ensemble, Mike Hart, Dr. Strangely Strange &amp; Bridget St. John 

21 ICA: Principal Edwards Magic Theatre + lantern lecture by John Peel ("if he can find his way there") 

23 Mothers, Birmingham: Crazy World Of Arthur Brown

24 Royal Festival Hall “Folk Meets Pop”: Fairport Convention, Pat Sky, Sallyangie, Al Stewart 

28 Lyceum Ballroom, Strand, London: Country Joe and the Fish, Roy Harper, Yes, Van Der Graaf Generator, Junior's Eyes, Andromeda, Turnstyle, Hard Meat and DJ John Peel

30 Mothers, Birmingham: Country Joe &amp; the Fish  

April

6 Roundhouse, YCND benefit night: Artists to include Alexis Korner, Pete Brown and his Battered Ornaments, The Straw, The Egg, Mike Stevens and Gary Farr, Deviants, Amber Cat, The Screw, The Exploding Galaxy Light Show, Dennis Gould. 

11 Lyceum “John Peel's Midnight Court”: Tyrannosaurus Rex – Peel’s name used but apparently he wasn’t there in person. Friday night gigs at Lyceum continued under the “Midnight Court” banner (JP name dropped) 

13 Mothers, Birmingham: Fleetwood Mac

20 Mothers, Birmingham: Blodwyn Pig, Doctor K

26 St. Pancras Town Hall: The Liverpool Scene  

27 Mothers, Birmingham: Pink Floyd (see also Mothers page)

May

2 Manchester College of Commerce: Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Chicken Shack, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre

9 Bristol Colston Hall: Jethro Tull, Ten Years After, Clouds

10 Nottingham, Notts County Football Ground, 1969 Pop and Blues Festival: Fleetwood Mac, The Tremeloes, Marmalade, Georgie Fame, Love Sculpture, The Move, Pink Floyd, Keef Hartley, Status Quo, Duster Bennett, Dream Police, Van der Graaf Generator

12 Hornsey Town Hall "In the Cool of the Evening": Liverpool Scene, John Fahey and others 

23 Mothers, Birmingham: John Fahey

25 Roundhouse, benefit for Fairport Convention after their motorway crash: Blossom Toes, Deviants, Eclection, Family, Mick Fleetwood, Mimi + Mouse, Jack Moore, Pink Floyd, Pretty Things. 

June

5 Royal Albert Hall: Richie Havens, Caravan, Eclection, The Poet &amp; The Man Band 

7 Mothers, Birmingham: Procol Harum

14 Mothers, Birmingham: Deep Purple, Group Therapy

28 Bath Festival Of Blues: Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Ten Years After, Led Zeppelin, Nice, Chicken Shack, Jon Hiseman's Colesseum, Mick Abraham's Bloodwn Pig, Keef Hartley, Group Therapy, Liverpool Scene, Taste, Savoy Brown's Blues Band, Champion Jack Dupree, Clouds, Babylon, Principal Edward's Magic Theatre, Deep Blues Band, Just Before Dawn

July

2 "Pop Proms", Royal Albert Hall: Incredible String Band, Family (Fairport Convention)

12 Nottingham Racecourse, "12 Hour Happiness": The Nice, Eclection, Yes, King Crimson, Juniors Eyes, Edgar Broughton Band, Idle Race,Status Quo, Caravan, Streets Of Sadness

Aug

16 Beckenham Recreation Ground, Beckenham Arts Lab free concert: Juniors Eyes, Bridget St. John, John Peel, Amory Kane - Peel isn't mentioned in this report on the event

16 Beach House Gardens, Worthing, free concert: "The performers include Steamhammer, John Peel and the Entire Sioux Nation" – appears to clash with event above

Sept

8 Friars, Aylesbury ("the only progressive rock club in the country...where John Peel tells the truth"): Quintessence with John Peel

15 Friars, Aylesbury: Atomic Rooster

20 Queen Elizabeth Hall: Third Ear Band, Bridget St John, Sam Hutt

26 Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshre: Fleetwood Mac, Family, East Of Eden, Edgar Broughton, Glass Menagerie, Spirit Of John Morgan

Dec

19 Royal Albert Hall, charity concert for Shelter: Family, Graham Bond, Sam Apple Pie 

1970
Jan

25 Coventry, Lanchester Festival: Ron Geesin, Bridget St John, Principal Edwards Magic Theatre (Others appearing at the ten-day included Jack Bruce, Yes, Free, Roland Kirk, Chicken Shack, Roy Harper, Duster Bennett, the Strawbs )

April

17 Royal Albert Hall, CBS Records' "Sounds of the 70s" concert:Steamhammer, Flock, Johnny Winter

18 Royal Albert Hall, CBS Records' "Sounds of the 70s" concert: It's A Beautiful Day, Taj Mahal, Santana

May

15 Mothers, Birmingham

June

1 Royal Festival Hall: Van de Graff Generator, Audience, East of Eden

27-29 Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music Bath Festival of Blues and Progressive Music: Formerly Fat Harry, ,Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Keef Hartley Band, Donovan, Joe Jammer, Fairport Convention, Colosseum, Its A Beautiful Day, Steppenwolf; Johnny Winter, Pink Floyd, John Mayall, Canned Heat, Frank Zappa, Santana, The Flock, Led Zeppelin, Hot Tuna, Country Joe McDonald, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Dr John (Peel advertised as one of two continuity announcers but was apparently prevented from getting to the stage by Hell's Angels security for at least part of the event). 

Sept

20 Blisworth, Helenors Club (Blisworth Hotel): "John Peel invites Van der Graaf Generator and Medicen light show (bar) 8/-"

1971
March

6 43 King Street, Covent Garden (The Old Middle Earth), "Oz Police Ball - A Gala Benefit For The Oz Obscenity Trial": "A star-studded all nighter starting at 8.30 with: Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come/Viv Stanshall's Seanhead Showband/Gene Vincent's Houseshakers/Pink Fairies/Egg/Third World War/Gnidrolog and John Peel holding it together." 

May

9 Roundhouse, BIT Benefit: Funkadelic, Little Free Rock, National Head Band, Good Habit, Zoo, Zoot Money