Chicago house "jackmaster" 23 years and counting. Born to JACK! My alter ego is Alan Brown a humble operations manager by day but at night I revert back to my true identity "Acidman" defender of vinyl, super hero of house. It all started in 1986 just outside of Chicago. I traded my Casio drum machine for a pair of used 1200's and thus the life long journey began. In 1987 I began to get spots at house parties and teen clubs and was dubbed "Acid Al" by my local DJ posse. I worked part time while going to school and spent every dime I made on vinyl. Nothing was more exciting than a trip downtown to pick up some cuts from Stacy, Scrappy or Derrick Carter at the fabled "Imports Etc." (r.i.p.) After the demise of Imports I moved on to Hot Jams for a time and then onto to the legendary Gramophone Rcds. A house junkie DJ can't go wrong getting vinyl handed to him from the likes of Mark Farina, Diz, Lego, Miles Maeda, DJ Heather,and yes Derrick was there as well. Going out week after week after night after night to hear those masters of the art and being fortunate/ respected enough to spin alongside them made me a house music zealot for life. In 1990 I officially became "Acidman" for a more timeless moniker and one more befitting a super hero. Shortly afterwards I befriended house producers/dj's "Neil Hawiian House" and "Spinnin' Wheel Bill" as well as Dezz (of the Gerkin' Jerks) where I became something of student/ intern at Air Sound Studios. While at Air Sounds I met a young Felix da Housekat doing a project for Strictly Rhthym and DJ Pierre would come by from time to time. A short time later I would meet and become close friends with the legendary acid god Adonis. Neil and Bill and Adonis set up a studio in Chicago and I was given the honor helping Adonis do the remix of the house music anthem "Move Your Body" (released on Trax/Prd) working under the name Sub-mission Studios. Sadly Sub-mission studios came to an abrupt end when it was robbed over the Christmas holiday. It was a major blow to my career as a producer with equipment stolen and duped out of insurance. I shifted my focus back to spinning (my first love!) I threw a few loft party b-day bashes at which was honored to have legends such as DJ Heather, Lego, Spencer Kincy (aka Gemini) perform. A few years later I would throw a couple more featuring (true friend) Miles Maeda, Karl Almaria, Jeff Craven and Justin Long. In 1998 I helped create"Shadefree" one of Chicago's major rave productions where as a resident my DJ career began to boom a bit after co-headlining with Chicago greats like Paul Johnson, Roy Davis Jr. Cajmere and others. Makes no difference if it's a club, loft, rave or festival. Nothing in life is more exciting to me than getting behind the decks getting and jackin' the beats for all the headz new school or old. I've become somewhat of a purist of late not only genre wise but I am still clinging 100% usage of vinyl during my sets. To me it's more natural, it's more desirable and well ... just the way it should be in my eyes. I'll hold out as long as I possibly can. I know there are still a handful of us "vinylists" out there but we are vastly out numbered and the industry has all but perished. "Vinyl to the last!" I say. I've spent the last two decades plus putting my blood, sweat and tears, as well as my heart and soul into perfecting my craft (the art of spinning house) and will do so until I die. Enjoy these sets! Tell a friend to check 'em out.There are more to come please post a comment and let's be frenz!
- sincerely,
your friendly neighborhood Acidman
Thanx 4 listening!
contact me on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/acidmanchicago
or email: iiacidmanii@aol.com for booking info or WHATEVER!