The BBC recently reported that a large portion of John Peel’s personal record collection (25,000 vinyl albums) is to feature online at a new website called ‘The Space’ which goes live in May 2012. It is understood that 100 albums will appear per week. Although the ability to listen to albums will depend on copyright issues. Fans of the late great man will be able to see the original album artwork and more importantly, John’s personal notes along with contributors’ stories and filmed interviews with family and musicians. There will also be access to the BBC radio archive of Peel Sessions.
Sheila Ravenscroft, John’s wife, said: “We’re very happy that we’ve finally found a way to make John’s amazing collection available to his fans, as he would have wanted.”
The aim of the project is, according to Director of the John Peel Centre Tom Barker, to “…create an online interactive museum which which answers the question ‘what is in John Peel’s record collection?’ but also provides the audience with a visualisation of it. We hope that giving them access to a particular band or their first album or listening to his show will inspire people to tell us their stories. This is the first step in the journey of making one of the most important archives in modern music history available completely.”
Video: John Peel’s Record Box
This documentary was first shown on Channel 4 in 2005, looking at the most prized records in John Peel’s huge record collection, which he kept stored in a special box.
John Peel’s Record Box Part 1
John Peel’s Record Box Part 2
John Peel’s Record Box Part 3
John Peel’s Record Box Part 4
Personally, we can’t wait!
http://www.thespace.org/
Also of interest: Kats Karavan – The History of John Peel on the Radio
(Boxset)