Published
Sat, Jul 8, 2023, 14:00
- The DJ, one of the best-known names in the '90s free-party scene, was 60.
Simon DK, respected DJ and cofounder of the free-party collective DiY, has died aged 60.
Fellow DiY cofounder Harry Harrison broke the news on Facebook on Thrusday, July 6th. "I really don't know how to say this as I'm so stunned and saddened but feel we should announce that the legend that was Simon DK tragically passed away today," the post read. "He was rushed to Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales last night and placed on life support, but it was medically withdrawn at 5.15 PM today."
He continued: "I can't really express in words my, our, collective sadness at his death. I personally have known him for over 35 years and some of the DiY family have known him even longer than that. We've all been through so much together over the decades and it's just devastating."
Simon DK formed the DiY collective in Nottingham in 1989, along with Harrison, Pete "Woosh" Birch and Grace Sands. Together they built a sound system and started putting on free parties that soon became some of the most celebrated of the early '90s. In 1992, the crew played at the Avon Free Festival on Castlemorton common, where tens of thousands attended what's often called the largest illegal rave in UK history.
Electronic music figures have been paying tribute to Simon DK on social media.