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Paul Oakenfold

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Paul Oakenfold was born in 1963 in London and became an English DJ, producer and remixer. He grew up as a bedroom DJ with the Beatles as his first love, because his father played in a skiffle band. He first trained for four years as a cook. In the late 1970s he met the DJ Trevor Fung, who became his mentor. In 1981 he moved with a friend to New York, where he witnessed the rise of hip hop in clubs such as Studio 54. Back in London he worked for Champion Records and signed DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince and Salt-n-Pepa. He was also the British agent of the Beastie Boys and Run-D.M.C.

Music and breakthrough

In 1987 Oakenfold travelled to Ibiza with friends. Back in England he organised an Ibiza Reunion in an English club, which grew into Spectrum, a regular acid house night at Heaven. In 1990 he worked with Steve Osborne on remixes for the Happy Mondays, including Step On, and produced their album Pills 'n' Thrills and Bellyaches. He also played at Spike Island for the Stone Roses. Later came albums such as Bunkka (2002) and A Lively Mind (2006).

Influence

He made more than a hundred remixes for artists such as U2, Moby, Madonna, Massive Attack and Michael Jackson. In 1998 and 1999 DJ Magazine voted him the number one DJ in the world. In this way he belongs to the DJ culture that reached the public in the 1990s.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Step On by the Happy Mondays, on which Oakenfold collaborated. Notice how a guitar band sounds here with a danceable rhythm.

Discography

Studio albums

See also

Categories: Artists