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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.

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John Peel Wiki
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Smash Hits

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Smash Hits Peel artists collage

a selection of Smash Hits covers featuring Peel session artists. Top: Skids, Siouxsie, Bottom: Specials, Undertones.

Smash Hits was a UK-based pop music magazine published from 1978 to 2006.

Initially a monthly, publishing lyrics to chart hits as well as features, interviews, singles and albums reviews, colour centrespread and full page posters, it soon became a fortnightly publication, appearing on Thursdays. The magazine featured an eclectic mix of pop, rock, new-wave, disco and even punk music in order to cater for all tastes in a time of rapidly changing musical styles.

Smash Hits was at its peak during much of the 1980s, always managing to move with the times and trends, despite competition in an evolving media market. Sales declined in the 1990s although the magazine still lasted until February 2006 when the final edition was published, 28 years after its debut.

Famous contributors in its early years include David Hepworth, Mark Ellen, both of whom became regular broadcasters and writers, and Neil Tennant who went on to form the Pet Shop Boys.

Links to Peel[]

Although Smash Hits attempted to cater for all tastes in its early years, focus was very much on new wave artists, many of which had been championed or featured by Peel on his show. Early cover stars include session artists such as Siouxsie Sioux, Billy Idol, Phil Lynot, Sham 69, Skids and many others.

1996-03-27 Smash Hits cover Bluetones

Smash Hits also carried an 'Independent Bitz' section until mid-1981, a page or more on artists and releases perhaps more at home in the NME than in the pop charts, but naturally featuring Peel regulars such as Cabaret Voltaire, Joy Division, Gang of Four, Slits, Pop Group and others. The 'Independent' section disappeared around mid-1980 replaced by the publication of just the Independent Charts, which also duly disappeared.

Other bands championed by Peel but which had crossed over to the mainstream and chart success in the late 70s/early 80s such as Human League, Frankie Goes To Hollywood, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Simple Minds and Ultravox, also became Smash Hits regulars, cover and poster stars. The last Peel session group to have appeared on the cover of the magazine were Bluetones in March 1996. (full list here)

Peel mentioned[]

1979-1981[]

  • Forty Is More Fun: Peel interviewed by David Hepworth. (1979-10-04, p.14) (article pre-announced in previous issue 1979-09-20, p.31)
  • Well, What Did John Say?: Peel competition with Virgin Records for new Motors single, “That’s What John Said” (1980-05-29, p.28) Peel also mentioned in magazine contents section, "Fancy watching John Peel eat his dinner?" (p.03[1])
  • Smash Hits Readers' Poll Results: Peel wins the radio show of the year (1981-03)
  • Night Moves: feature on 'electro-disco' and an interview with Rusty Egan, who states: "People have got to have something more to do than just listen to The John Peel Show in their bedrooms". (1981-07-23, p.38)
  • All Time Top Ten: Peel gives a list: "If you ask me again tomorrow, it'll probably all be different". (1981-08-20, p.12)

1982[]

  • Letters: Reader Lisa Bush of Southall enthuses about Peel's presentation of Top of the Pops (04 February 1982), "He deserves his own TV show with all that wit, charm, personality and sex appeal." Photo of smiling Peel also printed. (1982-03-04, p.42)
  • Get Smart!: a "Liverpool & Peel Fan" from Birmingham writes in to ask where he can get a Liverpool sweatshirt like the one Peel wore on TOTP on May 27th. (1982-06-24, p.30)
  • Personal Profile: Peel is asked about his memories, favourites amongst others. (1982-11-24, p.4)
  • Inside Radio One: Three page feature on the station's 15th anniversary including a section about Peel (1982-02-18. p.30)
  • The Young Ones: full page feature for Radio 1's 15th anniversary and the start of the "History of Pop Radio" (sic.) series in October [2]. The article shows photos of Radio 1 DJs in their younger days, including one of Peel in 1969 with the caption "Give him a break- everyone looked pretty "natural" back then." (1982-09-30, p.43)
  • 1982 Readers' Poll Results: Best Radio Show no.6 John Peel. 'Star Choice': Best Radio Show - David Jensen chooses "Peel's Pleasures"; Simon Le Bon chooses John Peel. (1982-12-23, p.27 & p.30)
Smash Hits caricature 1983-08-04

1983[]

  • When I'm Sixty-Four[3]: Various personalities are asked about what they think they will be doing when they reach that age. Peel: "I imagine I'll be doing a bit of writing, preferably something not to do with music..", "Survival is really main interest, and staying good friends with my children", "I hope...Liverpool won't be winning everything..". (see caricature right) (1983-08-04, p.34)
  • START! Christmas comes but once a year. Short feature on Radio 1 Christmas party, hosted by Mike Read and according to the photo, attended by most Radio 1 DJs, including John Peel. The 'party' was recorded and broadcast on Christmas Day.[4] (1983-12-22, p.05)
  • 1983 Readers' Poll Results - Best Radio Show No.10 John Peel (1983-22-22, p.20)

1984[]

  • Radio Gaga: Bitz news item about changes in Radio 1. "Mike Smith leaves, Gary Davies moves and John Peel stays where he is....for the time being." Rumours and speculation about Peel leaving the station or at least be moved to weekends only, as bosses want a more "laid back" late night show. Gary Davies' Saturday late show remains vacant so there is still some speculation that "John Peel might get shunted there". His contract had just been renewed for a year. (1984-02-16, p.16)
  • Get Smart (letters page): a reader writes in from Dundee asking which tracks were nos. nine and ten in the 1983 Festive Fifty. Linda is happy to reply having spoken to "John Peel's assistant, whose real name is Sue but everyone calls her Brian". (1984-03-01, p.29)
  • The Rise and Rise of Mike Read: article mentions how Read's own daytime radio show features "less predictable" music and has thereby "..pushed Peelie out into some strange left field..". (1984-01-19, p.09)
  • DJ in Radio 1 Split Shock Horror!: feature in Bitz about David Jensen leaving Radio 1 and the BBC. Jensen's 'one big regret' is breaking up the 'rhythm-pals' act with Peel. "I'm really sad about not being able to do things like Top of the Pops with Peelie anymore....Peel said to me the night it (Jensen's departure) was announced that he was sorry I was going and said he supposed he wouldn't see me any more. I just said don't be silly, I'll be visiting a lot, going out for meals with him etc. It was a very sad moment". (1984-07-05, p.17)
  • Bitz: the regular news section featured Radio 1's announcement on schedule changes as from 29 September, which included Peel's show being cut back to three nights a week, leaving space for Tommy Vance on a Thursday night. (In the same schedule changes Janice Long was to take over David Jensen's slot). (1984-08-30, p.10)
  • 5th Annual Smash Hits Readers' Poll, Best Radio Show - Peel voted no.10 by readers. (1984-12-20, p.39)

1985-1989[]

1990s[]

  • New Albums: Nirvana - Incesticide (review) Mentions that the album contains material from John Peel sessions, "This old material punches you in the face, as if it knew that one day it would be the stuff of rock legend." (1992-12-09)
  • Hip Hip Hooray! "It's all change at Radio 1 "FM" from a week on Monday (Oct 25).." - feature on who's going out, who's coming in to the station and of ".. John Peel presenting his first daytime show for 20 years.", (Saturdays from 4.30-7.30 pm). Also mentions Peel getting an In The City award for, ".. his stint sitting in for Jakki Brambles this summer". (1993-10-13, p.06)

Sound Recordings[]

Smash Hits also occasionally issued its own single-sided flexi-discs, cassettes and CDs. Some of these featured Peel session artists:

Flexi-discs[]

Xtc-skids_smash_hits_flexi_ten_feet_tall-olympian

Xtc-skids smash hits flexi ten feet tall-olympian

See also: Flexipop

Cassettes[]

  • Various Artists – 12 Slammin' Bangin' Hits! incl. Sleeper - What Do I Do Now? (issue dtd. May 1996)

CDs[]

  • Various Artists – Smash Hits 100% Pure Pop! incl. Bluetones - Down At The Reservoir (issue dtd. 06 May 1998)

Notes[]

  1. ↑ for their second session (first broadcast 06 January 1987) the group recorded a 4-second track called Listen To This.
  2. ↑ Both tracks are introduced by Richard Skinner.
  3. ↑ Foxx had recorded a Peel session as lead singer of Ultravox.
  4. ↑ All members, except lead singer Midge Ure, had recorded a Peel session.

External Links[]

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