DJ Ron - Stush History - 1992 - Part 1

Biography of DJ Ron

Jungle legend and Hackney bwoy DJ Ron has long been a fixture on the dance music scene. Along with his breakbeat-brandishing contemporaries Goldie, Hype and Brockie, DJ Ron was one of the main progenitors of the particularly British, perennially popular, driving drum and bass sound. With a new residency planned on his home turf - at the soon-to-open Hackney Central club - he'll soon be challenging a new generation's underwear to stay intact. We hooked up with him down in the manor.

When did you start DJing?
I started playing in a jam (soundsystem) called TNT. Then I was a DJ for Rebel MC for a while - we went all over the world, across Europe, even did Top of the Pops. And then the jungle thing exploded.

Many of the big names in drum and bass seem to have come from Hackney…
Hackney has a history for really innovative things. The jungle scene was started by me and my teens in Hackney. Hype, Brockie and MCs GQ, Det and Shabba. We were all just out of school. We were the bad kids - we had to go to a behaviour reform group together! And Hackney was definitely at the forefront of music then, back in the early 90s… I even remember Soul II Soul doing a street jam behind a garage in Stoke Newington. Not that I remember much of those days, I had a bit too much fun if you know what I mean, he he.

Is Hackney is still at the forefront of the D'n'B scene?
I think Brixton's pretty big now. It has a good thing going on with Mass and the Bug Bar or there's Bar Rumba (info) of course, the Movement night there is still red-hot. But don't underestimate Hackney!

In the early days, jungle was fuelled by London's pirate radio stations. Is this still the case?
Well it's more commercial now. I like Radio One. I don't mean I listen to it on a Monday morning and hum along to Dido or anything, as if. But their urban channel's good, L Double's show on Radio 1 Extra. And Kool FM's still going, that's one of the Hackney originals, it used to be a dodgy set-up above a pub, and it's still pretty shoestring, but if they're still going after 11 years they're obviously doing something right.

You're starting a night in at a new venue in Hackney. Hasn't Ocean proven that it's difficult to establish nights there?
Yeah, central Hackney is often seen as less attractive to promoters and punters than Hoxton. But I reckon it'll be the next up-and-coming area for nightlife. Socially it's similar to Brixton, you've got your inner city people who were born there and you've got an eclectic mix of people who have moved into the area. I think things are gonna happen. And I'm definitely going to be focusing on launching events in Hackney rather than the West End. The new club is from the promoter of Swerve at the Velvet Rooms, which used to be a kicking night. Mark my words, you'll all be partying in Hackney in a year or so!

The launch of Hackney Central is scheduled for December.

Words: Sally Howard