For almost four decades, John Peel was the most influential DJ in the UK, particularly when it came to breaking new bands. If he played your single or offered you a live session on his show, it might be the pinnacle of your brief career — or it might be the exposure that scored you a national hit and led to even bigger fame and fortune. Either way, everybody wanted to get to Peel, and some artists took a slightly more proactive approach to accomplish that getting.

The Undertones (who we met here) sent Peel a copy of their debut EP with a request for him to play it, which, amazingly, he did. Billy Bragg (who we met here) blagged his way into the DJ booth at the BBC with a food delivery and a copy of his demo tape. Red Guitars, however, took a sneakier, and possibly less legal, approach.

Red Guitars formed in Hull, England in the early 1980s. Following the DIY punk blueprint, the band started their own label to distribute their music. They called their label Self Drive, and between their can do attitude and their song lyrics, the band fit right in with the left-wing, anti-corporate, anti-Thatcher movement that popped up in a small corner of the UK music scene at this time. But without the benefits that come with signing to an established label, like a publicity department or big-time distribution, the group knew they needed to make a bold move.

They needed John Peel.

Red Guitars sent Peel their debut single, “Good Technology,” but they also realized he probably received dozens of unsolicited records and tapes every day. They couldn’t just leave it there with the hope that he would find it. Luckily, they knew someone who used to work for the telephone company and he used his secret telephone skills to work out the number of the unlisted, direct line into Peel’s radio booth. One of the band members called Peel while he was on the air and, amazingly, instead of getting upset at the intrusion, he agreed to play the single.

“Good Technology” went on to innovate its way into the Top 10 on the UK indie chart in 1983. Peel invited the band to play one of his in-studio sessions, which subsequently led to touring with The Smiths, another up and coming band who had recently played on Peel’s show.

The band broke up after only a few years but they got further than most bands. With a little help from good, good, good technology.