Alan 'Fluff' Freeman dies at 79
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Topic: Alan 'Fluff' Freeman dies at 79
Posted By: richardh
Subject: Alan 'Fluff' Freeman dies at 79
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:02
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Sad to report, I heard this on the news this morning.He was one of the reasons I got into prog in the first place.Fluff used to have a 2 hr radio show on the BBC in the seventies playing exclusively hard rock and prog rock.He was a genuine fan of bands such as ELP,Yes,Genesis and Pink Floyd and his programme was one of the few places you could get to hear prog on the radio in the UK. Famously he played all of Wish You Were Here when it was released in 1975.Will be very sadly missed.Keep on proggin up there in heaven Fluff.RIP. |
Replies:
Posted By: Atavachron
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:08
| Sounds like an important figure...may he sleep soundly. |
Posted By: Wilcey
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:22
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oh, that is indeed sad, sad news Fluff was known and loved by the whole nation, he is everyone's best uncle.........
Be in Peace Fluff. P-C |
Posted By: iguana
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:24
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i remember his statements on the "welcome back" DVD (then VHS) by ELP.
i am well aware of his stature in british rock and prog. RiP – and remember to sit down with john peel and tommy vance for a chat! ------------- progressive rock and rural tranquility don't match. true or false? |
Posted By: Drachen Theaker
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:26
Sad news indeed  - this man is a legend.
There was so much great music I first heard on his show and was inspired to go out and buy - Epitaph, Child in Time, Karn Evil 9, Sound Chaser, Hamburger Concerto. He was the only DJ at the BBC in the late 70s who was playing this stuff when everyone else had gone over to new wave. Farewell Fluff , and wherever you are "Let's have some more Heep, Tull, Floyd and Sabbath - all right?"  ------------- "It's 1973, almost dinnertime and I'm 'aving 'oops!" - Gene Hunt |
Posted By: Easy Livin
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:37
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"Fluff" was probably the most important figure in the promotion of prog on radio in the UK during the 1970's.
That apart, he seemed like a true friend to all who listened to him, his boundless enthusiasm and passion being ever present.
RIP "Fluff" Freeman
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6187762.stm - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6187762.stm
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Posted By: Phil
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 03:39
| Sad news, Paul Gambaccini has paid tribute to him on Radio 4 this morning. I'll always remember listening to him on a Saturday afternoon to see what prog gretas he'd be playing! |
Posted By: mystic fred
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 04:10
I remember on January 1st 1977 he played the "new"Genesis album "Wind and Wuthering" in its entirety. Apart from being a huge Genesis fan, he was also known as " the grandfather of heavy metal".
 -------------  Prog Archives Tour Van 
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Posted By: NutterAlert
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 04:11
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me too, always used to do my physics homework listening to his show on saturday afternoon.
great bloke. not 'arf ------------- Proud to be an un-banned member since 2005 |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 04:24
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Ah, sad news indeed. I wasn't aware of Fluff in his heyday, but I've heard a lot about him since then. Requiscat in pace, Alan. -------------   
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Posted By: Norm Cash
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 04:38
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I'm sorry to read of the passing yesterday of former BBC DJ Alan "Fluff" Freeman (see news.bbc.co.uk for obituary). Freeman was very instrumental in bringing rock music - and prog rock in particular - into mainstream radio broadcast in Britain during the '60s and '70s. In addition to my friends, he was one of those who had a great influence on the music that I listened to and grew to enjoy. Britain has never really had the same culture of "specialist" radio stations - in the same way they do in North America - which played a particular genre of music. During those early prog years, you had to rely pretty much exclusively on BBC Radio 1 for your popular music needs, and the DJs who pushed the envelope to play stuff outside of the Top 40 environment were few and far between. John Peel was one, Freeman another. Freeman's Saturday afternoon programme would regularly feature Yes, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, PFM and many, many others. Thanks, Alan, for being one of those people who helped me to find my way along the path to good music!
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"We did it....you and me! Put him right under the table!" |
Posted By: Neil
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 05:04
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I had the pleasure of working with him a couple of times in the 90's. First at Radio 1 and then Capital Gold. He was a top bloke, always polite and friendly unlike many of his colleagues in radio.
Rock on Alan, not arf. ------------- When people get lost in thought it's often because it's unfamiliar territory. |
Posted By: chopper
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 08:14
| Another great DJ who will be sadly missed. |
Posted By: CandyAppleRed
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 09:10
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Ah, sad indeed.
He once played Earth & Fire’s “Storm and Thunder” for me in the 70’s when he did his Saturday afternoon Prog show, and read out a letter I sent in about the Enid. The weird thing was that I had sent it in months before, and normally at the time of year he played it I would have been playing cricket so I’d not have heard it, but I was just back from holiday and luxuriating in the bath when my name was read out. Nearly bl00dy drowned! Can’t remember if I got a “not ‘arf” though. Them were t'days - 2 hours of prog on mainstream radio on a Saturday afternoon! RIP Fluff, you were a another one of the good'uns. |
Posted By: Big Ears
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 09:47
| I began (seriously) listening to Alan on the Saturday Rock Show on BBC Radio 1 in the early seventies. His programme was a revelation because he played the heavy and progressive rock which was in a boom period, mainly from album sales and shows, but which received little air play. He had really great jingles and a presentation style which seemed to be addressing me personally - after all, I really was a 'music lover'. Alan loved Emerson, Lake and Palmer, as did I, and played them often. Really, I cannot find the words to express what that show meant to me as a teenager. I loved Alan Freeman and when I heard of his passing it brought a tear to my eye as if I had known him. |
Posted By: Paul Stump
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 11:22
| A giant of broadcasting - someone who could find good in all music, not just prog. But all progheads should give thanks for him. A lovely guy also. Ta-ta, Fluff and RIP. |
Posted By: Jared
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 11:32
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I'm afraid I'm not quite of your generation.... when I was about 10, he was still on Radio 1 on Sundays, but presenting Top 40 charts of yesteryear, which didn't appeal to me, even then, although I was aware of his Rock legacy....
...yeah, it's a sad day and he'll be greatly missed... RIP. ------------- Music has always been a matter of energy to me. On some nights I believe that a car with the needle on empty can run 50 more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. Hunter S Thompson |
Posted By: Syzygy
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 14:53
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The world just became a little quieter and heaven just became quite a bit noisier.
RIP Fluff - not 'arf! ------------- 'Like so many of you I've got my doubts about how much to contribute to the already rich among us...' Robert Wyatt, Gloria Gloom |
Posted By: Tony R
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 16:59
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He was a fundamental part of my music education and a great champion of Prog and Heavy Rock.
I didnt realise he was so old! |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 17:04
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I wasn't even alive then, but his show sounded terrific, I must say. He was behind an Atlantic prog sampler called 'By Invitation Only', too. I heard an interview on a programme on Radio 2 around the time he retired, and he was still praising prog rock and heavy rock even then. I used to listen to his show 'Pick Of The Pops' on Radio 2 a few years ago- until Dale Winton took over. 'Fluff' used to have ELP songs as the jingles on that.
He'll be hugely missed- surely one of the most respected DJs, and seemingly one of few that stuck by his musical principles. |
Posted By: Snow Dog
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 17:45
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The news that had to come one day, but its still too soon. Goodbye Alan, and thank you for forming my musical taste with your legendary "Saturday Rock Show". Great memories...I am truly sorry that you are gone. ------------- http://www.last.fm/user/Snow_Dog" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: AcostaFulano
Date Posted: November 28 2006 at 20:07
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Wow he must've been such a respected and beloved guy RIP |
Posted By: bjl 2003
Date Posted: November 29 2006 at 03:11
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Sad news indeed. RIP Alan, we will not forget you. Quote from Tim Blackmore, Fluff's personal manager, on Yahoo this morning :
"We will not see his like again, and our debt in response to his contribution is without equal." Says it all, really. |
Posted By: Prog.Sylvie
Date Posted: November 30 2006 at 09:18
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Keith Emerson and Greg Lake words about this lost. I like their way of writing. Very nice message.
http://www.keithemerson.com/MiscPages/RememberingAlanFreeman.html http://www.greglake.com/newsite/newhotsheet.asp ------------- C'est la vie |
Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: December 01 2006 at 03:09
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Alan Freeman, John Peel, Tommy Vance... there's a new holy trinity up there.
Sleep well, Alan  ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: Dick Heath
Date Posted: December 01 2006 at 05:19
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DON'T forget the great Kenny Everett who was the first to play Sgt Pepper on the radio.
BTW what ever happened to Nicky Horne? ------------- The best eclectic music on the Web,8-11pm BST/GMT THURS. CLICK ON: http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php - http://www.lborosu.org.uk/media/lcr/live.php Host by PA's Dick Heath. |
Posted By: VanderGraafKommandöh
Date Posted: December 01 2006 at 05:30
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Nicky Horne has a rock show on Planet Rock on digital radio. I think he's on every weekday afternoon. You can listen to him online too.
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