Goldie is one of the artists most closely associated with drum and bass. But amid the genre’s US resurgence, he’s hinting at calling it quits.
Once upon a time, you could hardly talk about drum and bass without at least mentioning the name Goldie. But in a recent conversation of his own, the multifaceted UK artist revealed that he might soon ride off into the sunset and leave behind his career as a performer.
The utterance heard across the drum and bass-o-sphere originated during an interview with Nick Grimshaw for BBC Radio 6‘s Music Breakfast Show. During the appearance, Goldie (real name Clifford Joseph Price MBE) told the host, “I’m going to hang my gloves up and be 60.”
How much time does that give fans? By our count, a little less than six weeks, as Price will celebrate his 60th birthday on September 19. But his timeline looks to be a bit longer than that. He told Grimshaw, “Next year will probably be my last year, I think. I don’t wanna be wheeled out! Here he is, dribbling on stage.”
After making a name for himself as a graffiti artist and breakdancer, Price worked with drum and bass pioneers like Dego, Marc Mac, and 4hero in the early ’90s. But it was Price’s 1995 album, Timeless, that cemented his legacy in electronic music, and whose 30th anniversary he’s slated to celebrate with a November reissue on London Records.
But before Price retires, he says wants to put out another impactful effort, explaining, “I want to go out with a really big album, you know what I mean?” While details of the release remain scarce, it would follow up his and Rufige Kru’s May album, Alpha Omega.
For now, at least, dance music hasn’t seen the last of Goldie. Diehard fans of the decorated drum and bass figurehead would nonetheless do well to follow him closely for any big announcements.