Grooverider

Grooverider
Background information
Birth name	Raymond Bingham
Born	16 April 1967 (1967-04-16) (age 44) Streatham, London, England
Genres	Electronica Drum and bass
Occupations	Producer Disc Jockey
Associated acts	Fabio

Grooverider (born Raymond Bingham, Streatham, London, England)^[1] is a British drum and bass DJ.^[2][3]

Biography

Grooverider began his DJing at illegal raves and warehouse parties in the UK in the late 1980s, and rose to prominence with partner Fabio through his sets at nightclub nights such as 'Rage'. Grooverider was also on the London pirate radio station, Phase One, in the mid 1980s. The station also featured Colin Dale, Dave Angel,RD aka Dj Dodge, Booker T and Fabio. He originally played soul, hip hop and disco but later played house, upon being converted whilst hearing "Mysteries of Love" by Mr. Fingers.

Fabio and Grooverider began playing house at Mendoza's in Brixton. From there the pair went on to a venue in Barrington Road in Brixton, but it was not until 1991 that they would really make their mark. That year, Grooverider and Fabio took up a residency at the 'Rage' event at the London venue, Heaven. Throughout the 1990s, Grooverider released tracks as Codename John and helped build the reputations of Matrix and Boymerang with releases on his own record label, Prototype. In 1997, Grooverider compiled the album, Prototype Years which featured the best tracks by various artists who appeared on his label.

His show on BBC Radio 1 (presented in conjunction with Fabio) attracted a devoted audience. Although Grooverider is known primarily as a DJ and radio presenter, he was also a recording artist under his artist name, and the 'Codename John' moniker. Prototype is known for its sporadic releases, which have included drum and bass work by Dillinja, Drumsound * Bassline Smith, Ed Rush, Photek and Optical.

As a recording artist, Grooverider has released one album, Mysteries of Funk (Sony 1998), produced in conjunction with Optical, and a number of remixes including his reworkings of Jonny L's "Piper" plus Roni Size/Reprazent's "Share The Fall". In 2005, he was holding a weekly Sunday session called Grace at the London club, Herbal. Grooverider returned to the BBC Radio 1 drum and bass show with Fabio on the 18 October 2008, and continues to co-present the show weekly on Sundays.^[4] Grooverider is a shareholder of the drum and bass forum, Dogs on acid.

Arrest

On 24 November 2007, Grooverider was arrested at Dubai International Airport for possession of 2.16 grams of cannabis, hours before a show at 'The Lodge'. He claimed he had forgotten it in a pair of his trousers. On 19 February 2008, he was sentenced to four years imprisonment, to be followed by immediate deportation,^[1][5] but was pardoned ten months into his sentence.^[6][7]

Grooverider had been employed on a freelance basis and was not paid by BBC Radio 1 since November 2007.^[6] Four years is the mandatory sentence for drug possession in the United Arab Emirates. "I must have forgotten the spliff," he said in an interview. "It was a small amount. Back home I would not even get prosecuted."^[1]

On 19 February 2008, Grooverider was sentenced to four years imprisonment.^[1][5][6] He was pardoned and released on Wednesday 3 September 2008, during the holy month of Ramadan that traditionally sees the pardoning of select prisoners in UAE.^[8] In an interview with BBC, Grooverider described his experience as "appalling" and described the conditions in which he was placed.^[9]

Selected discography

• Mysteries Of Funk - UK #50^[10]
• FabricLive.06
• Grooverider Presents: The Prototype Years

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Radio 1 DJ jailed on drug charge. BBC News, 19 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
2. ^ Mixmag.net
3. ^ Allmusic.com
4. ^ BBC.co.uk
5. ^ ^{a b} Zaza, Bassam. Renowned British DJ jailed for four years for possession of marijuana. Gulf News, 19 February 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
6. ^ ^{a b c} Verma, Sonia. Radio 1 DJ Grooverider given four-year jail term for cannabis smuggling. The Times, 19 February 2008.
7. ^ Guardian.co.uk
8. ^ http://www.metalheadz.co.uk/Drum-and-bass-news/Riders%20Coming%20home...
9. ^ http://www.arabianbusiness.com/532966-brit-dj-grooverider-speaks-of-dubai-prison-ordeal#continueArticle
10. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 237. ISBN 1-904994-10-5. 

External links

• Official website
• Fabio & Grooverider at BBC Programmes
• Grooverider at Allmusic
• Grooverider discography at Discogs
• Grooverider at rolldabeats
• Fantazia.org.uk Grooverider Biog

Persondata
Name	Grooverider
Alternative names	Bingham, Raymond
Short description
Date of birth	16 April 1967
Place of birth	Streatham, London, England
Date of death
Place of death