Alan 'Fluff' Freeman, died on Monday 27th November 2006 aged 79.
The BBC has never properly provided for rock music enthusiasts - apart from a few hours once or twice a week; usually late on a Friday or Saturday night when most are out and about or in the pub. Since the demise of the Saturday Rock Show in 1993, there has been no BBC rock output to fill the gap left by Fluff.
Fluff was asked to host his Saturday afternoon Rock Show in 1973, at an unpopular time slot that was notorious for not bringing in listeners. Not only did Fluff turn this slot into a 'must listen' for many discerning rock enthusiasts, the show was voted Best Radio Show 5 years running - and then it was axed!! Fluff's producer at the time was Tony Wilson, who told me that no archive recordings exist of Fluff's Rock Shows.
Fluff's Rock Shows on Radio 1, [initially on Saturday afternoons from 1973 - 78 and later on Saturday nights/evenings from 1989 - 93], Capital Radio in the early 1980's and Virgin Radio [1996/1997], were legendary, and were the only places UK album rock enthusiasts could tune to, in order to hear their music. Fluff introduced me to many many bands I would probably never have heard, though often I'd play tracks on the air, only to hear Fluff playing them on his shows a few days later. Maybe he listened to naughty broadcasts.....
I spoke to Fluff in the mid 1990's. During the conversation I couldn't help but lob in a few 'not arf mate' comments, and Fluff's response was always a hearty laugh. I asked if he'd be willing to do programs for Alice's, and he said yes. Sadly my health and then his, meant this never happened. He also 'plugged' Alice's on more than one occasion on his rock shows.
In recent years his health deteriorated, he eventually stopped working, and for the past few years he was living at showbiz retirement home, Brinsworth House in Twickenham, London.
'The News' coverage of Fluff's death seems to rotate around his pop shows, and his classical shows. His iconic, award winning Rock Shows are hardly mentioned. In stark contrast however, on BBC forums, most writers focus on his Rock Shows, and I haven't seen one mention of his classical shows.....
It's a shame Fluff was never program controller at Radio 1.
"Alright music lovers, not 'arf"!
See you on the dark side of the Moon Fluff.