There are some DJ's on the circuit that are getting on but still playing top sets, and then there are others who have lost their ear for good music and in some ways riding on their 'brand'. When should a DJ be encouraged to hang up their headphones?

I think Oakenfold is a good example.

Any dj who switched to cd from vinyl. You know who you are.
Any dj playing minimal techno. What's next, vocal techno?

Is there supposed to be something wrong with vocal techno? Michael Mayer & Kompakt does it a lot

Without vocal techno ("Big Fun") the shit might not have been as big as it is today

And lots of DJs use CDs, stop crying about it

DJs reach their sell-by date when they stop changing their sound. If the artist has been playing the same stuff for the last however many years, then you know they are done.

Hmm, nice point Jaguar, but thinking about Carl Cox, he's been playing the same tech-house sound year in and year out, would that be a reason to say he's had his day?!

Carl Cox is the definition of "washed up"

i was wondering this the other day, when do djs get retired.. can you imagine Hawtin "djing" when he's 70 lol

The worst thing about the 'wedding D'J Carl Cox is he actually came from a good soul music background, as did Pete Tong and a few others now playing shite. I cringe when I hear the music these 40/50 somethings play now, a complete lack of soul and imagination. its all about the ££££££ though so really can you blame them

Pete Tong was always about the money. It's clear he had a business mind with FFRR, trying to capitalize on the post-acid house dance scene of the early 90s. He's more of a business man than a music person.

As for Carl Cox, there might have been something to him in the early to mid 90s but after 2000 he was slowly but surely becoming obsolete.

I'm not a Cox fan myself, he's stale IMO, but nice strong opinions on this. Then there's Vaeth ... he's still worth going out for, despite getting on in the years. Other DJ's retired who did not decline due to age, I'm thinking Danny Rampling here, he was solid.

Maybe we should connect this discussion to a "Hang-Up-Your-Head-Phones" thread.

Rampling retired more times than I've had hot dinners (sic)

Oakenfold was always pretty bad, even in his Spectrum days, he was just a bandwagon jumper to be fair as were alot of DJ's around that time (Sasha et al)

One of the greatest (and grumpiest) DJ's of our generation has just retired....Larry Heard. An even better prodcucer than he was a DJ, his early Mr Fingers releases were so far ahead of their time

A lot of big names USA DJ's I feel are well past their sell by date. DJ's I would clamber to go and hear in the 90's such as Danny Tenaglia (mooooody), Frankie Knuckles, Kenny Dope, David Morales (to be honest was never really into his sound anyhow so bad example there) etc, I have been extremely disappointed when I have heard them in the last few years

DJ's reach their sell-by date when they stop getting bookings.

DJ's reach their sell-by date when people have started dancing towards them.

like sheep

Richie Hawtin is a prime example of someone who used to be amazing, and now is dreadful. Giving beatmatching duties to the computer is never a good sign apart from a couple of exceptions, i.e. Surgeon.

Francois K!! He's what? 60 now and as good as ever.Constantly moved with the times and embraced new music and sounds.An example to anyone,its not really about age,its whether they still have the same passion as they had 20 years ago!
No one really questions old Rock Dinosaurs when they go on Tour/TV,with the exception possibly of Macca(jubilee/olympics etc.)
Went to see Louie Vega at Hard Times recently and he was Excellent,and he ain't no spring chicken,but he looked like he was having a great night!

And switching from cds to vinyl is bad because..........??
Minimal Techno????......What?? A world with no Robert Hood?? Good Heavens!!!
Vocal Techno???....Green Velvet? Slams "Lifetimes"?

I used to like Bodzin a few years ago when he was just being a DJ, i mean, just playing records like normal DJ but i saw this yesterday....who the fuck does he think he is now? he looks like a complete dick...Go learn to play a guitar you tosser.

[LINK] www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qwk-V2wwzxk&feature=youtu.be

Good Djs who aint spring chickens (some of which have been mentioned):-

Surgeon
James Ruskin
Jeff Mills
Rob hood
Cristian Vogel
Ben Sims
Speedy J
Luke Vibert
AFX
Regis
Kenny Larkin
anthony Shakir (not sure if he has recently retired)
Mark turner (manc favorite)


All of the above are challenging, exciting DJs who always delivery. Age has got nothing to do with it. Regardless of you age, some people just go shit and start liking shit music instead of good music (IMO).

Chinless Prick!!!

At the end of the day, the fans decide if a DJ is washed up and needs to hang up the headphones by no longer supporting the DJ at shows, and no longer supporting the music.

No i disagree re Coxy, he still connects with the dance floor very well, imo. As for Hawtin, he gets decent reviews from club goers and thats whats important.

.

Have to disagree with the Carl Cox statement. If he was past it then why's he still packing out clubs all summer in Ibiza still

Agree on Francois K, still a name you should check out. I think Digweed is still worth a shout sometimes. Not heard Carl Cox in a while, not really sure what he is playing now. Sven Vath, still strong.

In reply to doberman_uk

Because the 'mainstream' don't have any idea what good music is maybe?

what this guy says



erm l think you may be part of the high percentage of the population that think what music you like is good when it's actually a load of old shit

because he's just as popular as David Guetta... these guys, no matter how shit music they play, will still pack up clubs, people wanna "SEE" them.

guetta, SHM, hawtin, carl cox, carola, luciano (best example of awesome dj to complete wank), oakenfold, van burren... can play one year of absolute crap music but will sell out, thats how ignorant humans are.

nothing wrong with Luciano imo. doing plenty of gigs and has gone a different route to Ricardo and Cocoon crew. I really like him. I wouldnt go out of way to see him but I think he is getting people into house music.

Pacha Sundays are quality so I am told as well.

My original point was that there are quite a few DJs out there who are frozen in time. They play the same exact stuff they have always played and haven't changed one bit. It's boring for producers, and it's boring for DJs