Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this report from Dimbola Museum and Galleries. Ed
On Friday morning, we witnessed an historic face-to-face meeting at Dimbola when veteran DJ Andy Peebles met Jimi Hendrix – or his bronze statue to be precise.
Andy had just officially unveiled the refreshed Isle of Wight Festival historical archive. A montage of colour photographs taken at the 1970 Afton Festival by BBC cameraman Charles Everest takes pride of place.
Impressed with updated Festival archive
Andy was obviously deeply impressed with what he saw and immediately launched into an impromptu exchange with invited guests. His encyclopaedic knowledge of music came to the fore.
Dr Brian Hinton, of Dimbola Museum and Galleries introduced Andy Peebles and invited him to open the revised exhibition. In response he referred to the fact that he was often called the man with ‘The Perfect Face For Radio’ and he said it was originally coined by Kenny Everett.
Andy recalled it was the producer of ‘Top Of The Pops who would often say to him, “For God’s Sake Smile!”
Last Briton to interview John Lennon
As the last Briton to interview John Lennon in an epic seven hour stint, he revealed that it was years after John’s death before he could publicly talk about the experience.
Andy said he recalled John told him he knew it was time to call a halt to touring when they played Shea Stadium in the States. Fame was so noisy that while performing ‘Twist and Shout’ he actually sang “I’m xxxxxx with Gout.”
Extraordinary line-ups
Referring to Joni Mitchell, Andy said that she was one of his top three interviews, adding he thought the early Isle of Wight Festivals had some extraordinary line-ups. He was very impressed with the full-landscaped photo of the 1970 Festival and congratulated photographer Chris Weston.
After he mentioned that he had seen Jimi Hendrix on tour in 1967 he was very pleased to view his statue outside of Dimbola. On recalling previous visits to the Island he remembered arriving on a powerboat from Poole in 1968. We remembered meeting him at Cowes in the 1980s. On this occasion he was on a Radio 1 Roadshow tour with Peter Powell and Tony Blackburn.
Cricket commentating
Speaking about his 27 years reporting and commentating on Cricket he said that this came about when Radio 1 controller Derek Chinnery wanted a programme combining sport and music.
Ian Botham was his first guest and the result was an invitation from ‘Test Match Special’. Andy is a lifelong member of Lancashire CCC and said he got to know the Hampshire Squad. Proving his Cricket knowledge he told us that Colin Ingleby- Mackenzie’s record score for Hampshire was hit on the J.S. White’s Ground in Cowes.
Although he played Rugby at school he started supporting Manchester City from about 1963. For a time he was the club’s tannoy announcer.
Image: © Suzanne Whitewood
