John Peel Wiki

Changes to the look of John Peel Wiki will take place in the near future due to a new skin being rolled out over Oct/Nov across Wikia. Please see the Wikia Staff Blog for further details. On this site, the changes will affect the navigation from the left menu, as well as introduce a fixed page width with narrower content space. Please be patient while adjustments are made for the switch to the new system.

UPDATE: As the change is now in force for some users, I have switched the navigation to the simplified one for the new system. Please check Navigation in the Help section if you can't find things. I also initially made small adjustments to the front page layout, but have now reverted to the old look until all users are on the new system.

COUNTDOWN: Just a reminder for people still using Monaco that the final switch to the new skin is due on Nov. 3. After that, it will no longer be offered as an option. Sorry. Nothing to do with me.

Steve W

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A Witness

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A Witness

A Witness are an English post-punk/indie rock band formed in 1982 in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England, by Rick Aitken (guitar), Vince Hunt (bass) and a drum machine, in 1986 replaced by Alan Brown (of Big Flame fame). Keith Curtis (vocals) and Noel Kilbride (guitar) joined the group in 1983. Their career was brought to a halt with the death of guitarist Rick Aitken in 1989. Founder member and songwriter Vince Hunt revived the band with a new line-up for a series of UK-wide dates in 2014 marking the 25th anniversary of Aitken's death, and the band continues to play live.

Links To Peel[]

Their first EP Loudhailer Songs and début album I am John's Pancreas brought them to the attention of BBC Radio 1 disc jockey John Peel, for whom they recorded four sessions. I Am John's Pancreas is not a tribute to the DJ, who brought the group to listener's attention, but apparently a series of features in the Readers Digest, which Peel explained in detail on his 07 November 1986 (BFBS) show:

"The LP is called "I Am John's Pancreas," and in case this sounds like a strange title for an LP, as indeed it is, it apparently derives from a whole series of features that were in the Reader's Digest for many years, alongside things like "Pre-Marital Hand-Holding: A Communist Plot," that kind of stuff. There was a series explaining the functions of the human body, of the "I Am John's Stomach," "I Am John's Pancreas," "I Am John's Sub-Navel Delights," that kind of thing, so that simple folk could understand how their bodies worked or didn't work."

After Rick Aitken's death, Peel paid tribute, by playing their Zip Up track on his 17 October 1989 show. After the song, Peel hoped that Strange Fruit got round to releasing some of their sessions, which they did so by the end of the year.

Sessions[]

Two sessions from 1988 are available on The Peel Sessions album (1989, CD/LP, Strange Fruit)

1. Recorded: 1985-12-15. Broadcast: 06 January 1986. Repeated: 17 February 1986

  • The Loud Hailer Song / Smelt Like A Pedestrian / O'Grady's Dream / Sharpened Sticks

2. Recorded: 1986-11-16. Broadcast: 09 December 1986. Repeated: 12 January 1987, 18 February 1987

  • Faglane Morris Wind / Nodding Dog Moustache / Raw Patch / Hard Day's Love

3. Recorded: 1988-01-10. Broadcast: 19 January 1988. Repeated: 08 February 1988, 06 April 1988

  • Zip Up / Sunbed Sentimental / Take Me Up To The Earth / Mcmanus Octaphone

4. Recorded: 1988-11-20. Broadcast: 30 November 1988. Repeated: 20 December 1988, 31 January 1989

  • Life The Final Frontier / I Love You Mr Disposable Razors / Helicopter Tealeaf / Prince Microwave Bollard

Other Shows Played[]

A_Witness_-_A1.Lucky_In_London

A Witness - A1.Lucky In London

1985
A_Witness_-_Sharpened_Sticks

A Witness - Sharpened Sticks

1986
A_Witness_-_Hard_Days_Love

A Witness - Hard Days Love

1987
A_Witness_-_A1.Raw_Patch

A Witness - A1.Raw Patch

1988
A_Witness_'I_Love_You,_Mr_Disposable_Razors'

A Witness 'I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors'

1989
1990
  • 11 January 1990: I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors (album - Double Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 14 February 1990: I Love You Mr Disposable Razors (LP - Double Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • February 1990 (BBC Radio East Anglia): I Love You Mr Disposable Razors (LP - Double Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 01 March 1990: I Love You, Mr. Disposable Razors (album - Double Peel Sessions) Strange Fruit
  • 17 March 1990 (BFBS): 'I Love You Mr. Disposable Razors (LP-Double Peel Sessions)' (Strange Fruit)
  • 25 November 1990: I Love You Mr Disposable Razors (v/a 2xLP - Manchester, So Much To Answer For) Strange Fruit
1991
  • 07 July 1991: Tomorrow Never Knows (EP - I Love You, Mr Disposable Razors) Vinyl Drip
2000

See Also[]

External Links[]

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