Former BBC Radio 1 DJ and High of the Pops presenter Andy Peebles dies aged 76

Former Radio 1 DJ Andy Peebles, one of many final individuals to interview John Lennon, has died on the age of 76, his household has confirmed.

He offered on BBC Radio 1 from 1978 to 1992 and in addition hosted quite a lot of editions of High of the Pops within the Nineteen Seventies and 80s.

Peebles interviewed Lennon two days earlier than the musician’s homicide in December 1980.

Associates and former colleagues have paid tribute, calling him “a beautiful man and a terrific broadcaster”.

Born in 1948, Peebles spent the late Nineteen Sixties as a nightclub DJ, earlier than turning his hand to radio.

He started his illustrious broadcasting profession at BBC Radio Manchester in 1973, earlier than occurring to assist discovered the unbiased radio station Piccadilly Radio a yr later, the place he first offered his Soul Prepare present.

In 1978 he moved to BBC Radio 1 the place he would spend the following 14 years. He additionally offered on BBC Radio Lancashire.

It was throughout this tenure that Peebles interviewed John Lennon – one of many final that the previous Beatle would do earlier than he was shot and killed in New York in 1980.

Following Lennon’s demise, Peebles maintained a friendship with the musician’s spouse Yoko Ono and interviewed her once more in 1983, in Tokyo, Japan.

Talking on CBS in regards to the interview with Lennon, Peebles stated “I do not suppose I’ve ever been so nervous in my life.

“I would grown-up not simply idolising him however the group [The Beatles] and every thing they’d carried out.”

Peebles was additionally one of many presenters at Wembley Stadium for the Reside Assist live performance in 1985, introducing artists together with David Bowie, Spandau Ballet and Paul Younger.

He would go on to broadcast for the British Forces Broadcasting Service and the BBC World Service.

His former Radio 1 colleague Mike Learn paid tribute on social media saying he was “devastated” by the information.

Learn stated Peebles “knew his music & cricket inside out. Elevate your bat & get pleasure from an extended relaxation within the pavilion”.

BBC broadcaster Tony Blackburn additionally expressed his unhappiness on the information, calling him “a beautiful man and a terrific broadcaster”.