Gilles Peterson interview: The DJ and radio-show host on being fired by Jazz FM, and why London is the place to be

Peterson has a weekly show on BBC 6 Music and is known for his eclectic style with a focus on jazz and world music

Peterson says: 'I could never leave London – it's the essence of what I am, really' (Frantzesco Kangaris)

What did you listen to growing up?

The older I get the more the cobwebs come off and I remember things. My brother was really into prog rock so subliminally I was listening to people like Caravan and Deep Purple. My dad was really into classical music, so he was playing Debussy and Mahler. And my mum was French so there was a lot of chanson. There was definitely music coming from every room in the house. But my real music growing up was pirate radio, listening to stations like Radio Invicta.

Have you tried to recreate that for your kids?

No, I don't even have a turntable in my house. I almost refuse to talk about music at home to not influence them. I want them to find their own way to it.

Is it true you have a whole townhouse in Hackney packed with records?

Well, yeah, I've got a couple of buildings with records in them.

How many do you own?

The collection keeps growing. I'd say it must be between 40,000 and 60,000.

Which one would you save in a fire?

One by a songwriter called Terry Callier. He made a record called What Colour is Love? in the late-60s. Terry gave me the original, so I have the acetate double-disc version of his legendary album.

What's the most you've spent on a record?

I'd never spent silly money until recently. It's a record by a Brazilian artist called Jose Prates from 1958 called Tam Tam Tam. It's an incredible record that combines opera, African music and all this other stuff. I've been after it for years and finally tracked down a copy through a friend in LA, who got it from a library in Brazil. It was in mint condition. I bought it off him about a month ago... and I've lost it already.

No!

It's somewhere in one of the buildings. I did that classic thing of thinking, "I've got to put this somewhere safe", and now I can't find it. I've been looking for it for a week. I'm starting to panic.

What was the first dance at your wedding? Or is that a bit naff?

We didn't do a traditional wedding. We went to a Japanese karaoke bar. I think I probably sang "Three Times a Lady" by The Commodores. In Japanese, of course.

I read that you were fired from Jazz FM for playing "inappropriate music". What is inappropriate music?

It was for playing peace records during the first Gulf War. It was things like "Peace" by Bobby McFerrin and "The Creator has a Masterplan" by Leon Thomas.

Obviously your music has taken you all over. If you didn't live in London, where do you think you'd live?

I couldn't imagine living anywhere else in the world. I've tried really hard. I've been everywhere and I really think London is the one, especially if you're working in my field. I've tried living in France. Maybe Brighton?

What's so great about London?

I just love it. It's perfect. It's the best city in the world by miles. The UK is so ahead of everywhere in terms of music and youth culture because it's so competitive. There's always someone coming up with a new spin on it all. Somewhere like Berlin is meant to be a really happening place, but name me a group or artist that's come out of there in the past 10 years.

What do you think that's to do with?

I think the climate has a big part to play. People have to get busy with things indoors. I think London is just broken enough to be able to reinvent itself all the time. I could never leave London – it's the essence of what I am, really.

Biography

Gilles Peterson, 51, is a DJ and record-label owner who has a weekly show on BBC 6 Music. He is known for his eclectic style with a focus on jazz and world music. Peterson will introduce Kamasi Washington, GoGo Penguin and Lynne Page at the Barbican on 14 November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. efglondonjazzfestival.org.uk. He lives in London with his wife and two children.