Jason Kaye, pioneering DJ and Social Circles label chief, dies aged 54

Stars of rave, garage and jungle respond with shock

Jason Kaye, a pivotal member in the UK garage scene as well as a pioneering rave producer and DJ during his time with Top Buzz, has died aged 54.

Tributes to Kaye, who formed Top Buzz in 1988 and then went on to found the hugely influential Social Circles label, putting out records by the likes of Sticky, Donae’O, Miss Dynamite, Kele Le Roc, Tubby T, Stush and many more, have poured onto social media yesterday as the news emerged.

Doc Scott commented: “Rest easy Jason Kaye, I don’t really know what to say apart from this one has really upset me, if you went to raves back in the day you were a fan of Top Buzz, including myself. From those early rowdy days in the 1990s to whenever our paths crossed at a festival or rave in these later years, it was always a genuine pleasure to spend time, chat, catch up and have a laugh, it was an honour to share the stage with you, I’m truly gutted …”

Ray Keith added: “IT’S WITH A HEAVY HEART MY GOOD BEDRIN RIP JASON KAYE HAS GONE I CANT QUITE PROCESS ALL OF THIS MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO MAD P AND MICHEAL ORIGINAL TOP BUZZ I GREW UP WIV THESE GUYS SENDING LOVE LIGHT AND GUIDANCE TO FANS AND CLOSE FAMILY AND FRIENDS WE ARE SIMPLY DEVESTATED.”

The official Facebook page for Suburban Base – for whom Jason mixed the million selling Pure Garage compilation – responded: “I’ve been trying to write something for the last several hours, I’m truly in shock at the passing of another dear friend Jason Kaye, after losing Fats (Will) yesterday to get this news today absolutely floored me. Both have releases scheduled with us and now they are no longer here, this hurts so much I can hardly get my head around what’s happened. Jason Kaye was a huge influence on dance music from Top Buzz in the earliest days of rave to being one of the biggest names in the Garage scene and helped launch many careers with his label and as a producer. Jason mixed albums for our Pure Garage album brand which he was really proud of and we have been great friends for decades. I only just recently went out to dinner with him and his missus, had a lovely evening in their company and said we’d do it again soon, which makes this even more heartbreaking. Jason gave his time for free to DJ at the last Pure Garage annual Charity event. We had plans for a number of releases and he had asked me to contribute to his book. A good kind man that went out of his way to support his friends, we’d call each other just to check in and see how each other were doing. I’m fucking heartbroken today.”

With the passing of well known jungle MC Fats the previous day, the scene has been in a double state of shock.

Kaye’s cause of death has not yet been made public.