Goldie
Born: 1965
Location: Walsall, England
Genre: Drum & Bass, Jungle
Years Active: 1991 -
Real Name: Clifford Price
Meaning of the Name: Refers to his gold grill. His breakdance name was Goldielocks
Way of Working: Music producer and DJ
Associated: Bad Boys, Covert Operations, Rufige Kru,
Essential Releases
Timeless (1995)
Essential drum & bass album bringing the beat to a mainstream audience.
In a Britain yearning for escape from the gloom of the late 1980s, something revolutionary began to stir. It wasn't a political movement, but a pulsating beat that would unite communities and reshape the nation's cultural landscape: acid house. People of all colours combined in hedonistic all-night gatherings of dance and drugs, inevitably drawing attention from the police and, later, the disapproving government.
However, the angry denunciations of politicians and the tabloid press only fuelled the rave scene's popularity. Eventually, acid house gave way to breakbeat hardcore and in the early 90s drum & bass ramped the bpm (beats per minute) up all the way to 160, or two and a half beats per second. One of the genre's most innovative practitioners was Goldie, a former care home kid, graffiti writer, and producer.
Early singles, such as 'Terminator' (1992), incorporated pitch-shifting to stretch the limits of the form. This experimental approach infused Goldie's independent record label, Metalheadz (likely named after his gold grill), with a boundary-pushing ethos that produced work by Doc Scott, Dillinja, and Photek. The label became synonymous with intricate breakbeat manipulation, and used tension and release to create a more human style of electronic music that conjured feelings of melancholy as well as raw power.
The charismatic Goldie became the genre's acceptable public face in the mid-90s. His album, Timeless established drum & bass in the mainstream of British music by reaching #7 in the charts. Even the title 'Timeless', evoking 'classic', was a defiant statement to an industry previously dismissive of inner city music.
Drum & Bass was always rebellious. The UK government famously tried to make raves illegal in 1994 by banning "outdoor gatherings featuring repetitive beats." Adding to this legislative overreach were legitimate concerns surrounding violent gangs and the supply of drugs at such events. Thus, the stellar commercial performance of Timeless in 1995, only a year after the ban, was no small feat, and cemented Goldie's place as an icon of drum & bass.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
65
Mental Impact
45
Originality
95
Artistry
70
Authenticity
40
Live
80
Production
80
Musicianship
65
Texture
85
Songwriting
35
Danceability
100
Fun
70
Consistency
40
Range
45
Cool
60
Charisma
75
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications
Charts >>>
- Timeless: #7 in UK
Critics >>>
- Melody Maker: Timeless - Best Albums of 1995: #8
CRITICISM
- Allegedly attacked a teenager in 2002 for throwing a peanut at his Ferrari.
