Pete Townshend, The Who Guitarist, To Deliver First John Peel Lecture

Pete Townshend To Deliver First John Peel Lecture

The Who guitarist Pete Townshend is to discuss the future of the music industry when he gives the first John Peel lecture in honour of the legendary DJ.

The inaugural lecture is dedicated to the memory of Peel, who spent more than 30 years on Radio 1.

The lecture, which will look at the impact of free downloads and whether the kind of music Peel championed can survive in the internet age, will be broadcast live on BBC 6 Music.

Peel's son, Tom Ravenscroft, said: "We have in the past few years had trains, housing estates and a restaurant named after Dad and so I think he'd have been both bemused and delighted to see he now has a lecture and that Pete Townshend will be delivering the first of them."

The lecture will be given at the Radio Academy Radio Festival at the Lowry Theatre, Salford.

Peel, who died in 2004, was one of the first DJs on the newly launched Radio 1 in 1967 and was known for his commitment to promoting original music.

Among the bands he helped promote were Pink Floyd, T Rex, The Faces and countless lesser names who were invited to record sessions for his sh

Close

What's Hot