Paul Holden

Australian DJ, regarded as a leader in the emerging rave culture in Sydney in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Holden died suddenly, aged 51, after a serious fall at his home in Mosman on Tuesday 29 March 2016. His body was discovered the following day by a family member. Holden, described as "one of Australia's all-time most successful, versatile and popular DJ's.", started as a DJ at the Exchange Hotel on Oxford Street in 1980 and during his long career worked alongside international stars such as De La Soul, Carl Cox, Laurent Garnier and Paul van Dyke. He played at many Sydney parties including the Mardi Gras parties and Sleaze balls at the Hordern Pavilion, Bacchanalia, Strawberry Fields, Jack the House, Field of Dreams and Stun! He also regularly toured Australia as a DJ. In 2003, Holden told recounted his career highlights to dance music publication inthemix: "Playing to 25,000 people at each of two Mardi Gras and two Sleaze Balls was truly magnificent." He also told publication what got him started: "When I was about 10 I attended a disco party at the local scout hall and was instantly entranced by the sight of people dancing to loud music and the flashing of a strobe-light. "That was it, I was hooked!"