I spent a most wonderful, romantic long weekend in Helsinki during the last week, and I've been looking forward to writing an entry about that here (and I certainly will); however, once again events have sadly overtaken my intentions.

I first became vaguely aware of John Peel sometime in the early seventies.  I'd notice his late night Radio One show advertised in the Radio Times, or, on one of those happy occasions when I was fortunate enough to spend the day in bed with flu listening to Radio One instead of attending school, I'd hear his show advertised during a break in Tony Blackburn's programme, or Noel Edmonds'.  But I didn't actually listen to his programme until January 1977, when David Bowie's Low album was played exclusively on his show in its entirety, a few days before its release.  After that, I listened quite often; popular music was, of course, undergoing something of a revolution in Britain at the time, and Peely was there at the barricades, playing music by the Clash, the Sex Pistols, Slaughter And The Dogs, Wire, the Lurkers and others, helping to cement Punk, and later what became termed 'New Wave' music, into the nation's musical landscape.

Two years later, in 1979, I studied for a degree in Humanities at Huddersfield.  During my first term there, my roommate Chris and I would often return from the pub early to listen to Peely over a few cans of beer (the hangovers which followed didn't normally affect our concentration at lectures the following mornings thankfully, because we didn't usually attend them).

Chris left the following term, and I remember countless evenings during my remaining two terms there sitting on my bed in my room on my own, listening to Peely's programme while poring over the NME Encyclopedia Of Rock (a gift from my cousin Katherine, and one of the best Christmas presents I've ever had) or idly twanging my acoustic guitar.  Peel would play Joy Division, the Cure, the Fall, exciting music that wouldn't be heard anywhere else.  I loved his anecdotes about his time in the US, his gruff, dry wit, his absolute lack of the professional, insincere polish associated with his profession: he was an utterly down-to-earth, unpretentious and genuine broadcaster.

I first heard The Smiths while driving along the A19 in 1983, listening to Peely on the car radio.  I first heard PJ Harvey on Peely in 1992 in Derby, driving back to Oakwood from Spondon.  Many are the bands and artists that I first heard on John Peel's long-running Radio One show; many are the bands who owe to him their careers.  No DJ anywhere ever did more to promote new, cutting edge music.

It seems terribly trite to say it I know, but he was almost like a favourite uncle; I remember his 40th birthday, his 50th, and his 60th.  He was with Radio One since the day it started in the sixties, and he was there until his death from a heart attack at the age of 65 on Monday.  He never lost his enthusiasm for new music and he never mellowed; a bit of an inspiration to me in both respects.


By the way, in honour of the wonderful city of Helsinki, this webpage has been rendered in yellow, a colour often displayed prominently to great effect on its beautiful architecture.

Sven-Goran Ericksson is, apparently, going to play three strikers in tomorrow's World Cup qualifier against Wales.

Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe have each made an irresistible case for inclusion in an England starting 11, and I've been waiting to see if Sven would finally drop Michael Owen, who has simply not done enough recently to justify a continued place in the squad, let alone the team. 


But it seems he just can't bring himself to do it, so he's going to play all three of them.  Why?  Has Michael come into possession of some incriminating photos?  A three-pronged strike force seems something of a luxury against the Welsh, who don't have an international class defence - and even then I'd greatly prefer to see Alan Smith join Defoe and Rooney up front.

Less controversially, it seems that Sven is planning to play Joe Cole on the left.  There's no denying Cole's a decent player, but I've seen him go for personal glory when he should have passed the ball too many times to feel comfortable seeing him in an England shirt.  A better bet would be to give Bayern Munich's Champions League winning midfielder Owen Hargreaves the nod - he's more talented than Cole, more reliable, and a phenomenal prospect for the future.  We need to be settling him into our international side as a regular fixture.

Unfortunately, some of the Welsh harbour hopes of qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.  Realistically, they have no chance, and even if they were to qualify by some miracle, they would be humiliated there.  So It's our sad duty to ensure that our fellow Britons leave Old Trafford without the points which would allow them to maintain an expectation that can only lead to unhappiness and disappointment.