Mr. West | |
---|---|
Birth name | Richard West |
Also known as | East LA Tek, Sycophant Slags, Indigo Kidz |
Born |
Mile End, London |
2 January 1966
Origin | Holloway, London, England |
Genres | House, electronica, dub |
Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, record producer, DJ, actor |
Years active | 1987–present |
Labels | Superfreq, Get Physical Music, Poker Flat, Adjunct Audio, Wagon Repair Records |
Associated acts | The Shamen |
Richard West (born 2 January 1966 in London) is an English DJ, musician, actor and rapper, who has used the monikers Mr. C, Sycophant Slags and Indigo Kidz. He is best known as the frontman for The Shamen during their most commercially successful era. West is also a house music DJ and was co-owner/co-founder of London's The End nightclub with Layo from Layo and Bushwacka!. He is considered a leading proponent of tech house, a fusion of house and techno music and has been credited with coming up with the genre. In 1995 his DJing talents came to the attention of UK rave promoter/record company Fantazia who asked him to mix their new album Fantazia DJ Collection 3 – Back to the Old Skool. He also mixed CDs Psycotrance vol 1,X-Mix 6 on Studio K7, Sunterrain 100% Unreleased on his End recordings imprint and most recently Superfreq Express on his Superfreq label.
Richard West aka Mr. C was born in London in 1966. He started MCing in the London clubs aged only 16 & soon earned a reputation as a fast-talking, vivacious rapper working with LWR radio's Ron Tom, Jasper the Vinyl Junkie & Jazzy M. Mr.C then hooked up with Colin Faver & Evil Eddie Richards to become resident rapper at Camden Palace going on to MC for Colin Faver on the then illegal Kiss FM. Mr.C went into the studio to record his first house track with Eddie Richards as Myster-E, which was released in August 1987. This inspired Mr.C to become a DJ to learn more about his beloved House & Techno music so in late 1987 Richard took to the decks. Mr.C has since organised, promoted and been resident DJ at: Fantasy (1988), Base (Dungeons 1989), Release (1991), Harmony (1992), Drop (1993), Cyclone (1994), Vapourspace (1994 & 1995), Flavour (The End 1995 & 1996), Subterrain (The End 1995–2002), Superfreq (Worldwide 2002–present) & Super Disco Freq (LA 2010–present).
In December 1995 Mr.C opened the legendary night club The End in London with Partner Layo Paskin & then AKA bar three years later, which celebrated its 13th anniversary in December 2008 & was lauded as one of the best night clubs in the world, which completely changed the face of clubbing in London & beyond. Sadly The End & AKA closed its doors for good on 24 January 2009.