UK techno veteran Kirk Degiorgio announces retirement from DJing

Veteran UK techno DJ Kirk Degiorgio has announced that he will retire from DJing at the age of 56, after finding out he will be fitted with a pacemaker.

Degiorgio said in a statement that “Pacemakers are wonderful things and hopefully once it's all fitted I'll feel a lot better, however they do place some restrictions on lifestyle. These are mainly around keeping a small distance away from electro-magnetic devices."

He explained that during a hospital visit he discovered his heart rate was “dangerously low”, and was instructed that he “would need a pacemaker fitted quite urgently”.

He expressed concerns about moving around DJ booths, close to monitors and using headphones. As pacemakers work through transporting electrical pulses, they restrict wearers from being around electromagnetic devices.

“For now I’m cancelling my forthcoming gigs and announcing my retirement from DJing," he added. "I'll be focused on my studio work where I can easily manage keeping a safe distance from monitors," he continued.

Degiorgio has been a driving force behind Britain’s techno and electronica scene; as a DJ he fuses Detroit style techno and broken beat with funk, soul and jazz influences. As a producer he’s released various tracks, both using his real name and under various aliases such as "As One" and "Blue Binary." He has been featured on labels such as Far Out Recordings and B12. The artist has also ventured into session music, as part of The Beauty Room Collective.

He collaborated with Ben Sims to curate the “Machine” club nights, which prioritise music under a year old, and a label of the same name.

Degiorgio later said that his career has been "a wonderful ride" and allowed Ben Sims his to continue their Machine parties. He also gave thanks to Ipswich Hospital "for their potentially life-saving care and attention."

Read the full statement, via Resident Advisor here:

"A pun on the boogie classic by Indeep says it all. A small kidney stone was causing me a lot of pain this weekend, so I went to A&E for some stronger pain relief. During the regular checks they discovered my heart rate was very low. Dangerously low in fact. I was sent for tests immediately

After the kidney pain subsided my heart rate remained stubbornly low and I was admitted overnight.

The consultant next day confirmed I would need a pacemaker fitted quite urgently. After a look at my history and chats about my general health, it seems this is damage from when I had severe Covid back in early 2020.

You may remember my fainting episodes during that time and I've never felt 100 percent since with constant tiredness and lack of energy.

Pacemakers are wonderful things and hopefully once it's all fitted I'll feel a lot better. However they do place some restrictions on lifestyle. These are mainly around keeping a small distance away from electro-magnetic devices.

Headphones are problematic, and although many people with pacemakers attend clubs and festivals with large speakers, as a DJ I am often moving around in the booth and close to large monitors.

So for now I'm cancelling my forthcoming gigs and announcing my retirement from DJing. I will be focused on my studio work where I can easily manage keeping a safe distance from monitors.I've DJ'd since my youth club days in the early 80s. 40 years of taking people on a journey. I'm not ageist when it comes to older DJs. I do think DJs get better with age and should be booked as long as they can remain relevant to all ages of clubbers.

So I'm bowing out at 56. Not bad. It's been a wonderful ride where I've travelled the world and met so many amazing people - some of whom remain dear friends. Ben [Sims] has my full blessing to continue with the Machine parties. They are in the best possible hands. Thanks to all my agents over the years for their professionalism, the promoters who trust me and the clubbers who danced.

It's a crucial time in musical creativity: a race against AI to remain authentic and the formidable obstacles to sell formats such as vinyl. But I'm looking forward to continuing my studio work as it's probably been my best year in that arena.

My love to you all, and most of all to my incredible wife for her support and the NHS staff at Ipswich Hospital for their potentially life-saving care and attention."

[Via: Resident Advisor]

Tiffany Ibe is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Instagram