Saturday, April 1, 2017

Best wishes to David Peel


[Photo of David Peel, 2nd from left, from last summer by Steven]

Several readers have passed along word that longtime LES resident David Peel suffered a heart attack yesterday.

Here's an update from a friend of the musician: "After life-saving open heart surgery, David Peel is on a pump resting in the hospital but he needs additional surgery, next week, to remove critical blockages."


As The New York Times noted in a 2012 profile, Peel was "a fixture at counterculture marches and demonstrations beginning in the late 1960s."

He is best known for his seminal counter-culture albums, such as 1968's "Have a Marijuana" on Elektra Records, with his band the Lower East Side.

His 1972 record "The Pope Smokes Dope" on Apple was produced by John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

Here's footage of Peel and the Lower East Side performing with Lennon and Ono in December 1971 on "The David Frost Show"...



Peel remains a regular presence at summer concerts in Tompkins Square Park.

H/T Rob D.
at

7 comments:

  1. JQ LLCApril 1, 2017 at 4:18 PM

    This is truly sad. His music is terrible yet spirited and hysterical. Howard Stern use to have him on when he was on KROCK in the late 80's I seen him a few times by strawberry fields with all his friends. I hope he pulls through.

    It's probably me, but Joey Ramone kinda sounds like Peel.

    Yoko doesn't look that thrilled to be jammin' with them in that video.

    Here's David on Stern's classic channel 9 show.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hlsfsdd6FY

    ReplyDelete
  2. GiovanniApril 1, 2017 at 6:06 PM

    I saw him last summer in TSP on that tiny little stage, and also up at Strawberry Fields. That video is classic, especially the ads for the sponsors at the end. Nice to see John and Yoko getting in some extra work as backups. Get well soon buddy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Laura Goggin PhotographyApril 1, 2017 at 6:27 PM

    I love David Peel and his music. The first time I ever visited Tompkins Square, he was there playing with his band and I was hooked. Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Eden BeeApril 1, 2017 at 6:54 PM

    I love seeing Lennon on a washtub bass.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousApril 1, 2017 at 7:51 PM

    Wow. Look how far the Lower East Side has fallen. None of that wild, genuine creative spirit is left. The Corporation Realty Banker syndicate pretty much finished it off over this last decade. From vibrant cultural icon neighborhood to downtown strip mall w/ yuppie curb appeal. The times they are a changin' and for the worse unfortunately.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousApril 2, 2017 at 5:56 AM

    Use to see him at the Smoke in's when he was next to Pope Mickey Roll me up and smoke me when I die

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousApril 3, 2017 at 9:13 AM

    Get better..you have more playing to do. Prayers.
    Melanie
    East Village Corner

    ReplyDelete

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