Yesterday afternoon came the very sad news that John Peel, British broadcasting legend, had passed away whilst on a working holiday in Peru. Peel had championed new and exciting music for almost 40 years, earning the respect of all parts of the music industry.

Liverpudlian Peel's long career started when his term in National Service ended in 1962, when he started working for US radio stations - his extensive knowledge of music and the emergence of The Beatles opening many doors for him there. 1967 saw the US "underground" scene rise, in part a resistance to the British pop sound of the era. John caught on to this new scene, and returned to England, where the fledgling Pink Floyd and others were playing their shows at UFO. This started a love of the group's music for him that persisted for many years.

It was at this time that BBC Radio One started up, and John joined the station, staying with them to the present day. It was in those early days that he brought the Floyd sound to wider audiences, with Peel presenting Top Gear sessions, and his voice will be familiar to many introducing the songs in the oft-heard 1970 BBC sessions. His close association with the band certainly lasted until 1975, when he was the compère for the Floyd's Knebworth show.

One of his well-known commentaries about the band, resulted from the June 1968 Hyde Park Free Festival - which featured T-Rex, Roy Harper and Jethro Tull, alongside Pink Floyd:

      "I always claim that the best outdoor event I've ever been to was the Pink Floyd concert in Hyde Park, when I hired a boat and rowed out and I lay in the bottom of the boat, in the middle of the Serpentine and just listened to the band play. I think their music then suited the open air perfectly. It was - it sounds ludicrous now, it's the kind of thing that you can get away with saying at the time and which now, in these harsher times, sounds a bit silly - but I mean it was like a religious experience, it was that marvellous. They played A Saucerful Of Secrets and things. They just seemed to fill the whole sky and everything. And to coincide perfectly with the lapping of the water and the trees and everything. It just seemed to be the perfect event. I think it was the nicest concert I've ever been to..."

His comments at the show about the band making the sound of universes dying, earned him a place in Private Eye magazine's Pseud's Corner (which Peel was very proud of!).

Of course, Peel also championed many other artists over the years - artists such as The Fall, the Buzzcocks, The Smiths and many others. Many artists got their break into the music business after sending a demo tape to his legendary evening show on Radio 1.

The BBC website gave the comments of Radio 1 Controller Andy Parfitt:

      "John Peel was a broadcasting legend. I am deeply saddened by his death as are all who work at Radio 1. John's influence has towered over the development of popular music for nearly four decades and his contribution to modern music and music culture is immeasurable. Hopeful bands all over the world sent their demo tapes to John knowing that he really cared. His commitment and passion for new music only grew stronger over the years."

BBC Director of Radio & Music Jenny Abramsky added:

      "John Peel was a unique broadcaster whose influence on Radio 1 could be felt from its very first days. He nurtured musicians and listeners alike introducing them to new sounds. His open minded approach to music was mirrored by his equally generous approach to his audience when he went to Radio 4 to present Home Truths. He had a remarkable rapport with all his listeners.

Everyone at BBC Radio is devastated by the news. John is simply irreplaceable. Our hearts go out to Sheila and his children."

A tribute programme was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 last night, and included a contribution from Nick Mason, who said: "The most admirable thing about John was that he loved the music. He didn't care too much about the bands themselves. He was a great supporter of new bands." Nick's contribution came around 18 minutes into the programme, prefaced with a clip from one of their sessions hosted by Peel, which Nick commented that "only John would have let us do them!" You can listen to the show for the next seven days through this BBC link.

Throughout his career, Peel won many awards, most recently "Lifetime Acheivement" awards, the NME's "Godlike Genius Award", honorary degrees, and an OBE from Her Majesty The Queen. More than that, John will be remembered fondly as a lovely, down-to-earth, friendly bloke who knew much about music, and was never afraid to admit liking anything. He is survived by his wife Sheila, two sons, and two daughters.