DJ DB has been a fixture in dance music through every renaissance the style has experienced. His archive of DJ mixes and flyers from the ’90s rave era are a time capsule of electronic music’s first worldwide explosion, and in NO SCHOOL LIKE THE OLD SKOOL he shares some of these treasures. Hear new shit he likes here, or connect with him here.

I’ve known the Orlando, Florida-based AK1200 (AKA Dave Minner) since the early 90s, when some kind of divine—or annoying—force called to us both, committing us to a life in the service of the hardcore and jungle gods.

Around 1994, as the music split into subgenres and the term “drum & bass” was coined, our chosen paths diverged. He was called to the darker, harder, and noisier strains that made him a legend. It was a bit of sad loss for me, as I was left alone to push the more chill, musical and “intelligent” gear (always hated that term though). 

This rare mix from ’94 exposes a little-known side of AK1200; it shows that there is a sensitive and deep soul under all that darkness and rage. 

Dave was also a writer for what might have been America’s first “EDM” newspaper, US Rave, which ran from 1991-93. DJ Icey was the main editorial man, and Dave’s column on all things jungle had the witty title of “Ardcorner.”

Here he is with an incredibly young Sean O’Keeffe, one third of 2 Bad Mice, later to become Deep Blue.

In 1992, Dave orchestrated the first stateside appearance of Suburban Base, one of the biggest British jungle/drum & bass record labels of the 90s. 

Dave also was the first to bring Moving Shadow—another influential UK-based jungle/drum and bass label—to these shores. This was also in ’92, I think.  

In return for importing the Suburban Base crew to to the US, Dave was brought to the UK in ’93. That was some lineup! Check out the dope flyer by the immortal hand of Dave Nodz!

This backstage green room action happened in 1995 at The Edge in Orlando, with various FL heads—Rob Playford AKA Timecode in the middle with a black T-shirt, Sean O’Keeffe AKA Deep Blue to the right of him, DJ Jeffee in the red shirt, and in the white shirt behind him is the legendary MC Flux. AK1200 is throwing the peace sign to the right.

Check the review of the show pictured above in Junglized, the local fanzine of the day.

America was already full of massive AK1200 fans by the time he hooked up with Diesel Boy and Dara to become the drum and bass alliance of Planet Of the Drums. Created in 1999 and turned into a touring juggernaut in 2000, Planet of the Drums is still going strong as the longest-running annual electronic dance music tour in the country. 

Planet of the Drums are (from left to right) Diesel Boy, AK1200, Dara and MC Messinian.

I believe that along with myself, Jason Jinx, Soul Slinger, DJ Dan, DJ Icey and Moby, AK1200 is responsible a for kickstarting the US breakbeat rave movement. If for no other reason than we were in the right place at the right time… with the right tunes.

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