What did John Peel say about teenage kicks?

‘TEENAGE KICKS’ by Undertones brought JOHN PEEL’s funeral to an emotional close today (November 12).

As the DJ’s coffin was carried out, a tape of a football crowd singing Liverpool FC anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ played across St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, before running into ‘Teenage Kicks’ – famously Peel’s favourite song.

The emotional public service opened with Mozart’s ‘Ave Verum’ was sung by Stow Market Choral Society – of which Peel’s widow Sheila is a member.

The Very Reverend James Atwell, Dean of the Cathedral, said opening prayers before the hymn ‘Lord Of All Hopefulness, Lord Of All Joy’ and am Old Testament reading from Isiah 40 vv1-8 by friend Clive Selwood.

As the service continued, ‘Going Down Slow’ by Howlin’ Wolf was played before a tribute from Peel’s friend Paul Gambaccini.

The broadcaster said: “You broke more artists than any broadcaster in the history of radio. You helped more artists become themselves than any other broadcaster… your loss galvanised a nation. You meant the same thing to successive generations. You gave them what meant the most to them.”

The Stow Market Choral Society then sang ‘Panif Angelicus’ by Cesar Franck before Peel’s brother, Alan Ravenscroft, read a second tribute, telling the congregation: “The response to John’s death has been overwhelming. Thank you all for your love, sympathy and support.”

The congregation then sang ‘Abide With Me’ before friend Chris Lycett read from 1 Corinthians 13, and Reverend Canon Dierdre Parmenter read the address.

After Roy Orbison’s ‘Running Scared’, friend of the family Charlie Bell paid a final tribute before Annie Hatt read Shelley’s ‘Love Philosophy’ and a recording of Rachmaninov’s ‘Piano Concerto No 2’ was played.

After prayers, commendation and blessings, the coffin was carried out.

Hundreds of mourners travelled to the town for the funeral, including Jack and Meg White, Michael and Emily Eavis and colleagues Steve Lamacq, Jo Whiley and Annie Nightingale.

There will now be a private service for immediate family and friends.

Songfacts®:

• The Undertones were a Northern Irish punk band led by Feargal Sharkey. This song got them a record deal when British DJ John Peel played it on his show. Peel was a very influential and well-respected DJ, and he raved about this, even playing the song twice in a row, something he never did before. With Peel's endorsement, it became a punk anthem and got the group signed to Sire Records.

• Sharkey: "Our only hope was John Peel, and we sent him a copy - that was the only copy we sent anyone"

• Peel died October 25, 2004. This was played at his funeral. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Mark - Burnley, England, for all above

• Guitarist John O'Neill (from Q Magazine): "In 1978 we didn't think 'Teenage Kicks' was the best song. True Confessions was the one we thought people would go for and we only named the EP after it because we were teenagers and it seemed appropriate. When John Peel played it twice on his show we were in shock. I came-up with the title. I was an MC5 fan and they had a song called Teenage Lust and we used to cover Route 66, so with the licks in the chorus I just made the connection. I was actually shocked that there wasn't already a song called Teenage Kicks because it's an obvious cliché. To be honest, I still don't think the song;s that good - it's the band's performance on record that gives it the special quality. We were just the right age at the right time. It's the strength of the voice, and the urgency of the drums and guitars, it seemed to capture the moment."

• A boy band called Busted performed this at the Brit Awards in 2003.

• The Undertones went on to have several UK hits, including "My Perfect Cousin." They split in 1983, but reformed in 1999 with Sharkey replaced by former Carralines singer Paul McLoone when Sharkey refused to participate. Sharkey had a solo hit with his cover of the Maria McKee song "A Good Heart," which went to #1 in the UK in 1985. In the '90s, Sharkey worked in the business end of the music industry as A&R manager for Polydor Records.

• The line, "teenage dreams so hard to beat" from this song was carved on John Peel's gravestone. His widow, Sheila Ravenscroft said: "We have put the words on the stone that he would have wanted. I wouldn't dare do anything else."

• Bass player Mickey Bradley never rated the song. He told Mojo magazine April 2013: "We didn't mind it being released, but we didn't think it was special on its own. I remember someone at the Casbah saying, 'Teenage Kicks' - that's your big song isn't it?' So we recorded some newer songs, which we thought were as good. But they weren't."

Who wrote Teenage Kicks by The Undertones?

When did the Undertones released Teenage Kicks?

Where are the undertones from?

Who is the lead singer of the Undertones?