Tomorrow, Sammi's Kitchen
If you're of a certain age, you'd think Bad Company were a progressive rock supergroup of the 1970s made up of ex-members of King Crimson, Mott the Hoople and Free. But to anyone who followed the rise of jungle/drum and bass in the 1990s, the name could only refer to the pioneering British outfit of producers and DJs Darren White, Dan Stein, Jason Maldini and Michael Wojcicki who came together in 1999 to produce some of the most explosive sounds of this most explosive genre.
After releasing their huge-selling debut single The Nine/The Bridge, Bad Company went on to produce four LPs and various singles that introduced a more cerebral, adventurous approach to the genre with flourishes such as soaring string sections over growling bass lines, and later saw them moving in a more synth-driven, techno-oriented direction.
'I think Bad Company came about in a very heavy time musically in drum and bass and were definitely a force in the merger of a sci-fi/techno sound with the more dominant hard-core sounds of the time,' says Stein, who has forged a successful solo career as DJ Fresh since leaving the outfit.
Fresh has continued to influence the genre with releases on labels such as Ram Records and his own Breakbeat Kaos, and a heavy touring schedule that brings him to Hong Kong tomorrow night for the Sound Weapon event.
To get an idea of Fresh's influence, electronic music outlet Chemical Records says he either produced or released 20 per cent of all tracks that have hit the drum and bass charts, while one of his signings, Australian act Pendulum, have redefined the genre with their renowned stage act.