Metalheadz
Encyclopedia
Metalheadz is a pioneering drum and bass
record label based in the United Kingdom
. Founded in 1994
by Kemistry & Storm
and Goldie
, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue.
, Dillinja
, Adam F
, Grooverider
, Doc Scott, Peshay, Alex Reece
, Wax Doctor, Source Direct
, J Majik
, Andy C
, Lemon D
, Hidden Agenda, Commix
, Ed Rush
and Optical
contributing major productions to the imprint.
Additionally, Metalheadz released the groundbreaking Platinum Breaks series of compilations, which were hailed by critics as the uniquely futuristic sound of young, multiracial Britain. They showcased a maturing genre of music that displayed the influences of reggae
, hip-hop
, house
and techno and were highly-sophisticated and intricately-produced, contrary to the image of the music that had been presented by the mass media up to that point. Before their release, drum and bass compilations had been more closely associated with live DJ mix albums of varying quality, and the interest in the Platinum Breaks series proved instrumental in bringing the scene from its underground origins to the brink of mainstream success (at least in the UK).
The Metalheadz label was also the driving force behind the seminal Metalheadz Sunday Session Club Nights, which achieved legendary status at London's Blue Note club. Sunday Sessions are currently held at Clockwork in Islington. Goldie
, the club night, the label and its artists were some of the key elements in drum and bass/jungle's mid-to-late 90s mainstream
resurgence. Metalheadz continues to put on nights worldwide, and has a current monthly residency at London's Herbal club.
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
record label based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Founded in 1994
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
by Kemistry & Storm
Kemistry & Storm
Kemistry & Storm were an English drum and bass DJ and recording duo of the 1990s. Along with Goldie, whom Kemistry had introduced to the drum and bass scene in the early years of the decade, they founded the Metalheadz label in 1994...
and Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
, it has been home to some of the drum and bass scene's brightest talent and is notable for the high quality of its back catalogue.
History
The Metalheadz back catalogue features many major figures from the genre's history, with artists such as PhotekPhotek
Photek is Rupert Parkes , a Los Angeles-based British record producer and DJ. He joined the drum and bass scene relatively early , and is still one of its most respected players...
, Dillinja
Dillinja
Dillinja, is an English drum and bass DJ, record producer and entrepreneur.-History:...
, Adam F
Adam F
Adam F is an English jungle and drum and bass DJ, and film actor.-Career:An early album was the techstep effort, Metropolis/Mother Earth, released in 1997 on the Metalheadz record label. His other early successes were the tracks "F-Jam" and "Circles"...
, Grooverider
Grooverider
Grooverider is a British drum and bass DJ.-Biography:Grooverider began his DJing at illegal raves and warehouse parties in the UK in the late 1980s, and rose to prominence with partner Fabio through his sets at nightclub nights such as 'Rage'. Grooverider was also on the London pirate radio...
, Doc Scott, Peshay, Alex Reece
Alex Reece
Alex Reece was an influence of the jazzstep sound, a mix of drum and bass and jazz, and one of the musicians under the Metalheadz collective, who also works under the pseudonym of Fallen Angels....
, Wax Doctor, Source Direct
Source Direct
Source Direct is a drum and bass producer team from St Albans in the United Kingdom, initially consisting of Phil Aslett and Jim Baker. Source Direct are often compared with ambient drum and bass artists such as LTJ Bukem and other Good Looking Records producers, but their work displays a much more...
, J Majik
J Majik
J Majik has been a drum and bass DJ since his early teens in the early 1990s. He released his first track in 1992 on the Planet Earth record label...
, Andy C
Andy C
Andy C , born Andrew John Clarke, is an English DJ and producer and co-founder of the RAM Recording Studio. He is the son of Mick Clarke, bass player and founder member of the Rubettes, who had hits in the seventies like Sugar Baby Love, Tonight and I Can Do It.He is considered a pioneering force...
, Lemon D
Lemon D
Kevin King embarked on his musical journey from a fairly young age. From the tender age of eleven, he was already b- boying: breakdancing and battling it out with the local crews in order to be eligible to receive the latest electro and pioneering hp hop mixtapes from the United States.A few years...
, Hidden Agenda, Commix
Commix
-History:Based in Cambridge, Commix originally comprised George Levings, Guy Brewer and Conrad Whittle. As a DJ/production team, they began working together in 2002 and the trio released a series of 12-inch singles on the Aquasonic, Tangent Recordings, Good Looking Records, Creative Source and...
, Ed Rush
Ed Rush
Ed Rush is the recording name of Ben Settle; a prominent jungle/techstep/neurofunk DJ, who often produces tracks in collaboration with Optical. Hailing from west London, he came to prominence with the release of the track Bludclot Artattack in 1993...
and Optical
Optical (artist)
Matt Quinn, better known as Optical, is a drum and bass producer and DJ from England.He is best known for his work with Ed Rush, fellow head of the Virus Recordings label, and as a pioneer of the techstep and neurofunk sound...
contributing major productions to the imprint.
Additionally, Metalheadz released the groundbreaking Platinum Breaks series of compilations, which were hailed by critics as the uniquely futuristic sound of young, multiracial Britain. They showcased a maturing genre of music that displayed the influences of reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
, hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
and techno and were highly-sophisticated and intricately-produced, contrary to the image of the music that had been presented by the mass media up to that point. Before their release, drum and bass compilations had been more closely associated with live DJ mix albums of varying quality, and the interest in the Platinum Breaks series proved instrumental in bringing the scene from its underground origins to the brink of mainstream success (at least in the UK).
The Metalheadz label was also the driving force behind the seminal Metalheadz Sunday Session Club Nights, which achieved legendary status at London's Blue Note club. Sunday Sessions are currently held at Clockwork in Islington. Goldie
Goldie
Clifford Joseph Price, better known as Goldie is an English electronic music artist, disc jockey, visual artist and actor. He is well known for his innovations in the jungle and drum and bass music genres, having previously gained exposure for his work as a graffiti artist...
, the club night, the label and its artists were some of the key elements in drum and bass/jungle's mid-to-late 90s mainstream
Mainstream
Mainstream is, generally, the common current thought of the majority. However, the mainstream is far from cohesive; rather the concept is often considered a cultural construct....
resurgence. Metalheadz continues to put on nights worldwide, and has a current monthly residency at London's Herbal club.
See also
- List of record labels
- List of jungle and drum'n'bass artists
- Drum and bassDrum and bassDrum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...