in profile
Since hitting the decks with dance and trance records in 1989, Judge Jules has achieved fame as one of Britian's so-called super-DJs. Along the way, he's won numerous awards, played at all Britain's best clubs, toured the world, held on to his hot seat on BBC Radio 1, helped turn his wife into a pop star, and survived the boom-and-doom ride of the global dance music scene. He last played in Hong Kong two years ago and is due back this weekend.
Real name: Jules O'Riordan
Better known as: Judge Jules
Born: October 26, 1965, in North London
Lives: Highgate, UK, with his wife, Amanda, and son, Jake.
Style: Once known as the 'People's DJ', who could pull the biggest crowds, and wore the loudest shirts. Nowadays, he's more likely to be described as 'cheesy'. His sets got too crowd-pleasing, his wardrobe got rather garish, and his wife suddenly became a blonde pop star called 'Angelic'. Still, he's ever such a nice lad.
Began DJ-ing: On then-pirate radio, Kiss FM, in 1987, and at parties in 1989, after first promoting his own events at 16.
Awards: In 1999, voted Best DJ at the Muzik Awards, No.1 in the Mixmag Readers' Poll, Best DJ and Best Radio DJ at the Ministry Awards, and Best International DJ at the Smirnoff Dance Awards.
Scene: He plays at all the top club nights around the UK and Europe, including Cream, Gatecrasher, God's Kitchen, Judgement Sundays, Miss Moneypenny's, Slinky, Turnmills and Up Yer Ronson, as well as all the huge dance parties around the world. He's also on the BBC Radio 1 airwaves every Friday and Saturday, with more than 2.2 million listeners each week.
Other talents: He's a music composer and producer with Paul Masterson, under the name Hi-Gate, and has mixed compilations. He's written for The Face, I-D, Mixmag and Time Out magazines. He was the presenter/anchorman on Kiss TV's Judge And The Jury weekly show. He was once an A&R manager. And he formed Serious Artist Management company with his brother, Sam.
Judge Jules headlines Connected, tomorrow, 10pm-6am, Queen's Bar and Disco, 1/F Queen's Theatre, Theatre Lane, Central. Plus local DJs Christian, Ming, Thierry and Yin; with live visuals. Tickets: $260 (advance, from HMV and Queen's) or $300 (at the door). Tel: 6434 2299.
