Norman Cook was among scores of people to pay tribute to legendary radio DJ John Peel who has died of a heart attack.

Norman, alias Fatboy Slim, who lives in Hove, featured on the John Peel Sessions show when he performed at Live from Newcastle University for Sound City 98.

Norman said: "I grew up listening to JP's show. He was my musical education.

"Night after night I soaked up dub, blues, punk, rock and anything different that no one else would play.

"Over the years, I worked with him many times. He was kind and fatherly to me always. He will be sadly missed by the world, music, family and his many friends."

Scores of people in the music industry have paid their tributes to Peel, 65, from Suffolk, who suffered a heart attack while on holiday in Cuzco, Peru, with his wife Sheila on Monday night.

He was widely respected for his opinions and loved for his play-list, listened to by generations of people who grew up learning about a bounty of music from across the world on his show, The Peel Sessions.

Peel was known as an eclectic music fan, open to a variety of musical styles, but remained constant to what he famously named as his favourite song: the Undertones' Teenage Kicks.

DJ Jim Burke, 34, from Brighton, played at two of Peel's birthday parties and his wife's 50th birthday.

Mr Burke and his brother Richard, 32, also from Brighton, became friends with Peel, who used to occasionally air Jim Burke's own records made under his Sergeant Rock stage name.

Jim said: "Bizarrely, the last time I spoke to him he joked about booking us in for his 70th.

"To meet, he was exactly how he was on the radio - there was no difference. He had a very relaxing air and was a very genuine person.

"The first time we went up to DJ for him was for his 60th. We turned up and it was like walking into a friend's house.

"He said, 'Have a seat' and we started watching the football results with his uncle."

Peel made the careers of a host of bands, including Joy Division and The Smiths.

He became the only pensioner fronting a show at Radio 1 when he turned 65 in August.

Peel began working for the youth station after its launch in 1967.

His show still ran three nights a week and in 1998 he became the presenter of Radio 4's Home Truths, which garnered four Sony Radio awards in 1999.

Peel interviewed the Mayor of Telscombe, Marina Pepper, two weeks ago about her former job as a page three girl.

She said: "I was in tears when I heard the news. You don't think it will make you cry but we all grew up listening to him. My husband knows him for his music but I am more familiar with him through Home Truths."

Julian Dean, the former guitarist for Eastbourne band Toploader and a tutor at Brighton Institute of Modern Music, said: "He was a legend. He has done more for music than most people. It's very sad news."