Darren Ellis, influential jungle artist known for Undercover Agent and Splash ‘Babylon’, dies

Darren Ellis, the influential jungle artist known as Daz, Undercover Agent and Splash, has died. 

The news was announced earlier today, Thursday 21st March 2024, with a GoFundMe set up by friends to help with funeral costs. The producer and DJ “departed in his sleep yesterday after battling health issues in recent years.”

Ellis began DJing at house parties using cassette decks in 1983, and within five years had graduated to Technics 1210 turntables. Building a reputation as an expert selector and talented mixer playing hip-hop, hardcore, acid house and jungle, in 1989 he co-founded the pirate radio station Cyndicut FM. The platform would help break names including Andy C, Embee, M.A.T.T. (Ego Trippin) and Majistrate.

Releasing music on a slew of iconic labels, including Juice, Deejay Recordings, Sub Base, Suburban Base, and Splash Recordings, tracks like ‘Barracuda’, ‘Oh Gosh’, ‘Dub Plate Circles’, and ‘Hypnosis’ are regarded as genre landmarks. Meanwhile, Splash ‘Babylon’ is widely considered one of the most seminal jungle tunes of all time.

His back catalogue also boasts remixes for the likes of Tommy Boy, True Playaz, East’side, Dropping Science and Lifting Spirits. Meanwhile, his own productions have been reworked by luminaries such as Zinc, Brockie & Ed Solo, DJ SS, Ray Keith, Bladerunner, Decoder, DJ Trace, Ego Trippin, Mampi Swift and Dillinja.

You can make a donation to funeral costs here. 

Following the news of his passing, tributes have been paid across social media to the late artist. Read some of those, and listen to ‘Babylon’ below.