DJ Randall, jungle and drum & bass pioneer, dies aged 54
DJ Randall, the jungle and drum & bass pioneer, has died.
Known as the “godfather of breakbeat”, news of the DJ and producer born Randall McNeil’s passing was confirmed to DJ Mag today, 31st July. No cause of death has been disclosed at the time of writing. He was 54.
Randall was one of the first DJs to revolutionise the jungle sound in the early ‘90s alongside the likes of Fabio and Grooverider. Having been introduced to acid house in the late ‘80s at Notting Hill Carnival, he learned to mix soon after and quickly developed his own style of spinning breakbeat hardcore records. You can hear a set of old school house and breakbeat that he played for the pirate station Rave FM 99.3 in 1990 here.
In 1991, he set up the DeUndergound record label with DJs Cool Hand Flex, Uncle 22 and Mike De Underground, as well as a record shop in Forest Gate in East London, which was honoured with a heritage plaque for contributions to ‘UK hardcore, jungle and drum & bass music’ in 2021.
In 1994, Randall collaborated with a then-emerging Andy C to produce the track ‘Sound Control’. Andy C has previously cited Randall as a key influence in his development as an artist.
After DeUnderground’s closure in 1996, Randall co-founded the Mac2 Recordings label alongside Cool Hand Flex.
Tributes have poured in for the hugely influential DJ and producer following the news of his passing. Watch his previous sets from DJ Mag HQ, solo and as part of the Watch The Ride trio with DJ Die & Dismantle, below.
