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.
Cranebuilders were an English indie band formed in Liverpool in 2000 who took their name from the city’s former Music Shop Bell & Crane Music, where guitar player Simon Reynolds and singer/guitarist Tommy Roberts used to work and where the band would rehearse before the shop went into receivership. The group originally consisted of Tommy Roberts on vocals and guitar, Simon Reynolds on guitar, Helen Turner on keyboards, Matt McPartin on bass and Steve Keast on drums. The band released several singles before releasing their only official album in 2005.
The band's first EP got the attention of Peel whom invited them to London to record their first session for the BBC. The release of their following EPs led to the American only limited edition, release 8 Songs (Devil In The Woods) and a second Peel Session along with a personal invite to perform as the BBC Radio 1 representatives at the Eurosonic Festival in Groningen, Netherlands which was later broadcast on his show.
In an 2003 interview with Penny Black Music website, singer Tommy Roberts claimed that the Music Shop Bell & Crane Music, which the band was named after, was the record shop Peel bought his first records. Later on in the interview, he was asked how his two Peel sessions went:
"The first one for me was a bit too tense. It was the first time we had been down there. I wanted it to be really enjoyable and it was good, but we had a different manager there and we knew that we were going to release it as the B sides of the first EP and I just wanted it to be a bit more relaxed. The second one was absolutely fantastic though." [1]
In 2005, a year after Peel's death, the band paid tribute to him on John Peel Day, by performing at Liverpool's live music venue, Las Vegas, which was hosting a special John Peel event.
