The publisher of JOHN PEEL’s autobiography has confirmed that the book will be released next autumn.
Transworld Books, a division of Random House, bought the rights to his life story last year, paying a reported £1.5m advance to the veteran DJ, who died of a heart attack last month.
As previously reported on NME.COM the autobiography was in doubt after Peel was thought to have written only 1,500 words of the proposed 100,000 before his death.
But Transworld managing director Larry Finlay has now said: “There will be a book, obviously a different book from the one we wanted, coming next autumn.”
He refused to reveal exactly what will be in the autobiography but he said that an announcement will be made next week, reports the BBC.
Peel’s wife Sheila could finish the book or it could be completed by a collection of tributes, according to reports.
In related news, Radio 1’s Steve Lamacq is set to host a special John Peel tribute night on December 16.
The show will feature contributions from bands he championed including Undertones, The Cure, Supergrass, Robert Plant, [/a], Siouxsie Sioux and [a].
A host of bands will also be performing live on the show such as [/a], The Wedding Present and [a].
Lamacq said: “It should be a really special night, for friends and family. Many of the bands and DJs who are coming down are part of Peel’s extended musical family – and everyone’s been terrifically helpful and enthusiastic in organising the show. We want it to be pretty spontaneous in honour of the great man.”