When it came time to publicize Sweet Pea Releases back in the 1990s, BBC Radio 1 made the mailing list because of The Great John Peel. He was a legendary DJ, record producer and journalist, probably Britain’s most famous. He also was a great guy, as we would come to learn later.
So we sent him Number One Cup’s first 7″, Connecticut. One day, I arrived home to the following message on my answering machine.
It was a big thrill. People thought we were joking when we told them about it. John later told us that he absolutely loved tiny indie releases that came in janky packaging like ours. For ours, I used cut-up box squares from the auto parts store up the street, and taped it on all sides with packing tape. It was free packaging — and, in hindsight, adorable.
John went on to be very good to Number One Cup. He met the band during one of their tours in England and had the band record a couple of Peel Sessions. He once sent us a postcard, which I will post if I can find.
He helped thousands of artists gain their footing, including one of ours. I do credit him with being one of the reasons Number One Cup did so well in England, especially “Divebomb.”
R.I. P., John Peel. You were one of a kind.
— Jane HIrt
