DAVE Gedge has described John Peel, who died ten years ago next week, as the most important DJ who has ever lived and believes that his life would have taken a different course if the radio broadcaster hadn’t been so supportive of the Wedding Present in the early days.

“I’ve played to 50,000 people at Reading, done gigs in Japan, Argentina and Australia, and appeared on Top of the Pops, but nothing could match hearing my first song, Go Out and Get Them Boy on the John Peel Show,” said Gedge.

“I ran down the street shouting and screaming, ‘Whoah!

“That was the moment for me – nothing could better that in my musical career because I was an obsessive listener of his programme.

“He played the song nine times after that and overnight that just changed the whole scene for us.

“ It coloured your life then, getting your record played on his show, because suddenly people were coming to see us because of John Peel.

“That three minute segment changed my life and as a broadcaster he has proved to be irreplaceable.”

The Wedding Present played at Peel’s 50th birthday in London and Gedge said: “That’s something that I will always treasure. His death hit me hard and I’m sure a lot of people felt that too because he did play a big part in our lives if you loved music.”

Remember the catchy Brass Neck or I’m Further North Than You? The Wedding Present spun out a host of top 40 tunes and they also appear in the Guinness Book of Records for the only group to release a dozen singles in a year, a record only equalled by Elvis Presley.

“I’m really proud of that because a lot of people said we wouldn’t last two years,” said Gedge.

“I couldn’t imagine being here nearly three decades later, but then there’s a part of me that’s driven to do this.

“I got into a band to make records, not because I wanted to be famous.”

Gedge has remained the only constant member in The Wedding Present, but the musical landscape has changed beyond recognition since Peel played the band’s first single on his BBC show.

Watusi is being reissued next week and they will play all 12 tracks from the album on their November tour, plus a sprinkling of the other hits that made The Wedding Present one of Peel’s favourite bands.

“Watusi polarised opinion like no other of our albums before or since,” added Gedge.

“A lot of Wedding Present fans didn’t like it because it was so different than what we’d done before. Personally, though, I’m very proud of it.”

“It has a very eclectic sound, and people tell me that they’ve grown to love it over the years.

“We’ve a back catalogue of 200 tracks, but I came to the realisation that the past is just as important as the future for a group.”