John Digweed
Digweed in 2014
Digweed in 2014
Background information
Birth nameThomas John Digweed
Born (1967-01-01) 1 January 1967
Hastings, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Disc jockey
  • record producer
  • record label owner
Years active1989–present
Labels
Websitejohndigweed.com

Thomas John Digweed (born 1 January 1967)[1] is a British DJ and record producer.[2] DJ Magazine voted him the World No. 1 DJ in 2001.[3] As well as achieving success as a solo act, he has collaborated with Sasha as Sasha & John Digweed, and with Nick Muir as Bedrock.

Biography

Digweed began DJing at the age of 15, and made a name for himself in his home town of Hastings, where he put on successful club nights, the most famous of which were his successful raves on Hastings Pier,[4] where the likes of Carl Cox and The Prodigy performed.[5][6] His breakthrough came in 1993, when he sent a mixtape demo to Geoff Oakes, founder of the Renaissance nightclub in Mansfield,[7] who played it to fellow DJ Alexander Coe (aka Sasha).[8] The two DJs struck up a long-term friendship and working relationship, despite Sasha twice failing to turn up for gigs that Digweed had booked him for in Hastings.

In partnership with Sasha, Digweed is known for promoting progressive house and notable for producing the first commercial compilation for a nightclub,[9] when they released their 1994 compilation of mixes from Renaissance entitled Renaissance: The Mix Collection. Until then, mixtapes from clubs had only been circulated by DJs on an amateur basis. The Renaissance CD was the first time that a compilation CD had been planned strategically for marketing, from artwork to promotion.[10] The two DJs famously followed this up with their Northern Exposure compilations[11] and those on Global Underground.[12][13]

Digweed then started the record label Bedrock Records to further promote the music that he was playing at the time.[14] He and his friend Nick Muir went on to produce under the Bedrock alias,[15] getting their big break when their first track "For What You Dream Of" was used in the film Trainspotting.[16] The Bedrock duo also produced the soundtrack for the MTV adult cartoon superhero drama series, Spider-Man: The New Animated Series in 2003.[17] In his sets, Digweed is noted for adopting tracks with new and different styles.[18]

Between 2000 and 2005, Digweed promoted his "Bedrock" sound with monthly club nights for club members and newcomers to the electronic music scene. He played on Thursday nights at Heaven in London,[19] and on Friday nights in a smaller club night at The Beach in Brighton.[20] These nights featured numerous guest DJs, including Danny Howells, Phil Thompson, Hernan Cattaneo and Chris Fortier. As Digweed's international schedule increased, these events drew to a close, although occasional reunions have been held at Heaven since.[21] He celebrated ten years of his Bedrock club night on 10 October 2008 at Matter in London,[22] with a near on ten-hour set.[23]

Digweed has enjoyed popularity throughout North America as well as Europe. He and Sasha established a monthly residency at the now defunct New York club Twilo, which proved a key location for the American electronic music scene.[24] The residency began in 1997 with a lukewarm reception, but grew into one of the most popular club nights in New York City by the end of its run in 2001.[25] Sasha and Digweed played at Twilo on the last Friday of every month,[26] playing sets that lasted between eight and twelve hours. In early 2001, Sasha suffered an ear injury and was unable to play for their last four dates before Twilo was closed by the New York City authorities. Digweed continued to play the time-slot by himself until 6 May 2001, when Twilo was raided by the NYPD and subsequently forced to close down.[27]

Digweed has a cameo of himself playing music in Greg Harrison's 2000 movie Groove, which tells the story of an all-night rave in San Francisco.[28]

In early 2002, Digweed along with Sasha and Jimmy Van M undertook a six-week countrywide tour of the United States called Delta Heavy. The tour was promoted by Clear Channel and attendance reached 85,000.[29] It took place in a variety of venues but was completely self-reliant from a technical point of view; sound, lights, and visual setups were brought along to every gig of the tour.[30] Also in 2002, Digweed curated and compiled the soundtrack to the film Stark Raving Mad.[31]

From September 2000 to January 2011, Digweed hosted a weekly two-hour radio show on Kiss 100 in the UK, in which he played the first hour of music and a guest DJ played the second hour.[32] Beginning in September 2006, his show was available on all three Kiss radio stations. By that time, the show's name had become Transitions, which was also the name of a four-volume series of mix albums by Digweed that was released every six months during 2006–2008.[33] In January 2011, Transitions aired for the last time on Kiss 100,[34] but the show continues to be broadcast online. On December 27, 2019, Transitions aired its 800th episode.[35]

2008 saw Digweed and Sasha reuniting for a Spring Club Tour that once again featured performances all over North America.[36] In 2011, Digweed's music was featured in the film movie adaptation of Irvine Welsh's best-selling novel Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy.[37]

He featured among the top ten artists from 1998 to 2008 and was voted DJ Mag's number 1 DJ in 2001. In 2010, he was voted number 29 in DJ Mag's annual Top 100 DJs vote. In 2013, Digweed was ranked the number 17 best DJ in the world in Resident Advisor's top 100 DJ charts;[38] he currently is number 43 as of June 2016.

John is the brother of 28 times World Clay Shooting Champion George Digweed, MBE.[39]

Discography

Compilation albums

Singles

  • 1993: Bedrock – "For What You Dream Of" (Stress Records) (UK #25)
  • 1997: Bedrock – "Set in Stone" / "Forbidden Zone" (Stress Records) (UK #71)
  • 1999: Bedrock – "Heaven Scent" (Bedrock Records) (UK #35)
  • 2000: Bedrock – "Voices" (Bedrock Records) (UK #44)
  • 2001: Bedrock – "Beautiful Strange" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2002: Bedrock – "Emerald" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2003: Bedrock – "Forge" (Bedrock Breaks)
  • 2005: Bedrock – "Santiago" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2006: Bedrock – "Warung Beach" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2007: John Digweed – "Gridlock" (Renaissance)
  • 2009: John Digweed & Nick Muir – "Tangent" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2010: John Digweed & Nick Muir – "Satellite / Meteor" (Bedrock Records)
  • 2010: John Digweed & Nick Muir – "Satellite / Meteor (Remixes)" (Bedrock Records)

DJ Magazine Top 100 rankings

  • 1997: No. 12 (First year that DJ Mag poll was changed to a readership vote)
  • 1998: No. 7 (Up 5)
  • 1999: No. 6 (Up 1)
  • 2000: No. 3 (Up 3)
  • 2001: No. 1 (Up 2)
  • 2002: No. 3 (Down 2)
  • 2003: No. 5 (Down 2)
  • 2004: No. 8 (Down 3)
  • 2005: No. 6 (Up 2)
  • 2006: No. 8 (Down 2)
  • 2007: No. 3 (Up 5)
  • 2008: No. 9 (Down 6)
  • 2009: No. 17 (Down 8)
  • 2010: No. 29 (Down 12)
  • 2011: No. 55 (Down 26)
  • 2012: No. 98 (Down 43)
  • Since 2013: Not on List

DVD

  • Sasha & John Digweed present Delta Heavy (System Recordings)
  • A Tale of Two Cities, Live in Argentina 2013 (Bedrock Records & Ourmaninthefield)
  • A Tale of Two UK Cities, 2015 (Bedrock Records & Ourmaninthefield)

References

  1. ↑ "Digweed's entry on the ASCAP database". The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Archived from the original on 8 February 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2008.
  2. ↑ IMO Records. "John Digweed Biography", IMO Records' Retrieved on 29 February 2011.
  3. ↑ "Top 100 (250) DJ MAG 1997 - 2014 | Top 100 DJ MAG DJS Pop House Trance EDM 2016". new.vk.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  4. ↑ Skruff, Jonty (9 October 2010). "John Digweed Mourns the Destruction of Hastings Pier". Track it Down. Standingwave Ltd. Archived from the original on 23 August 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  5. ↑ "1991.10.25 – Storm, Hastings Pier, Hastings, England « The Prodigy On Tour". www.theprodigyontour.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  6. ↑ "First film screening on Hastings pier". www.hastingsobserver.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  7. ↑ "Geoff Oakes on Renaissance's return". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  8. ↑ "John Digweed - DMC World Magazine". 19 October 2011. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  9. ↑ "Q&A: In Transition with JOHN DIGWEED | EMF". www.emfmag.net. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  10. ↑ Crisell, Luke (2009). On the Record: The Scratch DJ Academy Guide. Google Books: Macmillan. p. 70. ISBN 978-1429966238.
  11. ↑ "Sasha And John Digweed* - Northern Exposure". Discogs. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "John Digweed - Global Underground 006: Sydney". Discogs. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  13. ↑ "Sasha - Global Underground 009: San Francisco". Discogs. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  14. ↑ "RA: John Digweed". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 11 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  15. ↑ "Interview: John Digweed". 16 March 2016. Archived from the original on 29 June 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  16. ↑ "Bedrock Feat. KYO - For What You Dream Of..." Discogs. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  17. ↑ itsmonotune (17 May 2012), John Digweed Presents Bedrock - Heaven Scent, archived from the original on 11 December 2021, retrieved 27 June 2016
  18. ↑ "John Digweed Interview". DJViBE.com. 7 October 2008. Archived from the original on 21 September 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  19. ↑ "John Digweed's Bedrock club night returns". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  20. ↑ John Digweed (23 June 2010), John Digweed Big Beach Boutique Brighton 13/7/02, archived from the original on 11 December 2021, retrieved 27 June 2016
  21. ↑ "Bedrock Anniversary at Heaven". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  22. ↑ "Bedrock 10th Anniversary at matter". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  23. ↑ "VIBE Interview: House Music Vet John Digweed Reveals DJ Career Secrets". 27 June 2013. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  24. ↑ "How to DJ with Integrity, According to John Digweed | Thump". Archived from the original on 19 September 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  25. ↑ Romano, Tricia (24 October 2000). "Trying Times for Twilo". Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  26. ↑ DJs, Sleepy & Boo (6 March 2014). "Q&A With John Digweed: Back to the 'City That Never Sleeps'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  27. ↑ "John Digweed - Biography | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  28. ↑ "John Digweed Gets Down In The "Groove" Film, New LP". MTV. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  29. ↑ "Delta Heavy Tour featuring Sasha, John Digweed and Jimmy Van M". www.deltaheavy.com. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  30. ↑ "Sasha & Digweed's Delta Heavy Spring 2002 Tour". Resident Advisor. Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  31. ↑ Daywalt, Drew; Schneider, David (23 May 2002), Stark Raving Mad, retrieved 27 June 2016
  32. ↑ "Transitions". Kiss FM. Archived from the original on 12 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  33. ↑ "John Digweed - Transitions". Discogs. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  34. ↑ Twitter: DJJohnDigweed
  35. ↑ "JOHN DIGWEED - TRANSITIONS #800 PART 1 - 2019/12/27". Mixriot. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  36. ↑ Gleitzman, Benjamin P. "CONCERT REVIEW Sasha and Digweed Melt Faces, Shake Booties - The Tech". tech.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 1 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  37. ↑ Heydon, Rob (20 November 2012), Ecstasy, retrieved 27 June 2016
  38. ↑ "RA Poll: Top DJs of 2013". Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  39. ↑ "John Digweed Interview: 'I don't feel any pressure to validate my relevance'". Skiddle.com. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
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