Andy Peebles, a former DJ and presenter for Radio 1, who had the distinction of being one of the last individuals to interview the late John Lennon, has passed away at the age of 76, as confirmed by his family.

Peebles started his career in radio at Manchester in 1973 and joined Radio 1 in 1978, where he became a recognizable presence over the span of 14 years.

His colleague and friend, Mike Read, expressed his grief on social media, stating “We joined Radio 1 together. Knew his music and cricket inside out. Raise your bat and enjoy a long rest in the pavilion.” Read even shared a picture of a recent lunch with Peebles and other former Radio 1 DJs.

Tony Blackburn, the first DJ on Radio 1, shared his sorrow upon hearing the news, calling Peebles “a lovely man and a great broadcaster”.

Peebles considered the interview with John Lennon in 1980 as the highlight of his career. The interview lasted for three and a quarter hours. It was bittersweet because Lennon was fatally shot by Mark Chapman two days later.

Peebles’ final interaction with Lennon was at Mr Chow’s in Manhattan post-interview, where Lennon interactively engaged with Peebles, acknowledging how much safer he felt in New York compared to London.

Peebles, born in 1948, started his career as a club DJ in the 1960s later hosting at BBC Radio Manchester and launching his weekly Soul Train program. After joining BBC Radio 1 in 1978, he went on to host various shows including My Top Twelve where music stars shared their favorite records and discussed their careers.

He also hosted 15 episodes of Top of the Pops and several Radio 1 roadshows. Post-Radio 1, he worked at Smooth FM and Jazz FM. In 2011 he was inducted into the Radio Academy’s hall of fame.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/23/andy-peebles-former-radio-1-dj-presenter-dies-aged-76