UK Tech House pioneer Nathan Coles passes away at age 52

On Tuesday (February 14), Nathan Coles’ two children, Fabian and Josh, issued a statement announcing the tech-house DJ, producer, party promoter, and label head’s passing, at the age of 52, due to a “mental health crisis” that had led him to take his own life.

The statement read: “We are still in shock and can’t believe he is truly gone. But in reality, he never will be. He touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands, of people and will be remembered as a funny and kind character. We feel blessed to have known him as long as we did and can take comfort in knowing he is free from further distress. We just ask that everyone spread love, like he always did, and reach out to someone if feeling low. Mental health should always be respected.”

Coles had been a critical figure in the rise of UK’s tech-house sound in the late 90s and early 2000s, launching parties Wiggle with Terry Francis and ‘Evil’ Eddie Richards and Release with Mr C. His music was harder than Chicago or New York house yet more groovy than four-to-the-floor techno, and his tracks were some of the most iconic of the nascent scene.

As Two Right Wrongans, Housey Doingz, The Delinquents or his real name, he held a long-running residency at fabric along with Francis and Richards.