Biography

Linden C was born in East London and grew up listening to the myriad of musical cultures that make the East End of London so unique. With early influences such as Froggy, Saxon Reggae System, Sugar Hill, TSOP, Keith Le Blanc, Shep Pettibone and Larry Levan it was no wonder his passion drew him towards DJing.

Linden’s first big break was at a nightclub called Bentleys in East London, playing funk, hip-hop, soul and rare groove, with Froggy, Derek Boland and Neil Charles. This was followed with Linden DJing at the Chocolate Factory parties with Tim Westwood and also playing with Bobby and Steve at the Zoo parties as the London warehouse scene blew up. 

In 1985 he and close friend Tim Strudwick staged four legendary Haunted House parties. They were first held in disused mansion houses in Wanstead and culminating in what may well have been that decades finest illegal house parties. The most infamous being the House on the Heath in Hampstead was in an old hospital which over 1,500 people attended.

Later that year having formed a solid friendship with Derek B, Linden became his scratch DJ. Linden and Derek spent many hours in the studio together recording and working on new material for Derek’s forthcoming new album ‘Bullet from a Gun’. He went on tour with Derek when he was signed to ‘Music of life / Polydor Records’ and later ‘Profile’ in the USA. This once in a lifetime experience showed Linden another side of the industry. Of the many people he met he has fond memories of touring Europe with manager Steve Proctor and shows with Run DMC, Public Enemy and also LL Cool J on the Def Jam / Profile tour. His last band appearance with Derek B was the historic Live Aid Free Nelson Mandela Concert at Wembley Stadium in 1988.

In 1987 the music from Chicago, Detroit and New York became not only a major interest at that time for Linden but also a fundamental inspiration throughout his career. Louie Vega, Kenny Dope, Todd Terry, David Morales and labels such as DJ International, Trax, Bigshot, Dope Wax, Transmat were to become a big influence. Following visit to New York’s Red Zone in 1988 and Amnesia and Ku in Ibiza Linden’s focal point became the energy he could create on the dance floor. 

In 1988 on a night out with DJ Steve Proctor the pair discovered a sound that would change their lives forever. The party was called Hedonism, and what they discovered was acid house. A lot of DJ’s from this night including Roy the Roach, Kid Batchelor, Mr C and Jazzy B went on to form lifelong friendships with Linden and they also DJ together on countless occasions over the years. 

Towards the end of 1988 and into 1989 which was dubbed the summer of love as part founder of Hypnosis Linden, Rob Acteson, Tim Strudwick, Fitzroy Liverpool and Perry Quy organised countless parties.  These parties were dubbed by the press as the ‘Happy Hippies’. Highlights included weekly nights at the infamous Dungeons and also Bouncing, held in a marquee in the Essex Countryside which featured the first UK appearance of Louie Vega in 1989.

In June 1989 Linden, Mr C and other DJ’s from Hypnosis took a sound system to Glastonbury Festival. They set up illegally gaining entry and running a party for four nights and four days that rivalled the festival stages for volume. It was something of a turning point for Glastonbury as the following year saw the festival embrace dance music for the first time. 

In the years to follow other memorable events included Bouncing 2 and Pump up the Dam which was held in Amsterdam, one of the venues being the Melkweg with DJ’s Mr C, Rhythm Doctor, Longsy D and MC Noise. 

Between 1991 and 1994 with Warren Sharifi he hosted Strictly Rhythm at the Soundshaft, another weekly house club DJing alongside Daryl and Rob Acteson. Strictly Rhythm went on to become a clubbing institution with some of the world’s finest DJs gracing the decks included Danny Tenaglia, Danny Budah Morales, Benji Candelario and DJ Pierre to name but a few. The club also debuted Eric Morillo, Roger Sanchez, Terry Hunter and Derrick Carter with their first UK appearances. The diversity of Strictly Rhythm made it possible for a wide range of musical styles to be showcased which included Paul Oakenfold and Steve Procter. The success of Strictly Rhythm was phenomenal and was recognised worldwide with Soundshaft mixes appearing on many releases by DJs who played there. 

Between 1994 and 1996 Linden and Warren developed another club night called Feel the Rhythm. This was a monthly party held at Villa Stefano before moving onto The Leisure Lounge. Alongside Linden’s residency, DJs on rotation included Kid Batchelor, Ricky Morrison, Denise Valentine and Graham Park. The night was at the forefront of the newly emerging club scene. This created many spin offs, the best known was Totem at The Fridge Brixton. This night ran for six months, the highlight was Def Mix Party that featured David Morales and Frankie Knuckles. This was an emotional night and Linden felt he had gone full circle promoting a party with David Morales at the helm. 

Following this came Big Picture, Blue Hawaii and An Audience With…? these were all parties held at The Cross by Linden & Rob Acteson. Highlight of this particular club night was the legendary Tony Humphries.

During this period Linden made regular appearances at The Ministry of Sound, Café de Paris, Satellite Club and also headlining sets in Ibiza and Italy. Linden has fond memories of DJing with Gianni Bini at Club Paradiso in Rimini and Claudio Coccoluto at the infamous Angels of Love parties in Naples. Between 1991 and 1998 he also played alongside Bobby and Steve, Chrissy T and Rude Boy Rupert at the legendary Garage City club night in Soho, London. 

Touring the UK and Europe wetted Linden’s appetite for playing internationally.  After a successful two year residency at Freedom Bagley’s Linden took off to Sydney playing headlining sets at The Underground, Spirit Sugar cube and The W Hotel. 

He returned to London in the summer and took residency at El Divino in Ibiza which included guest slots with Barbara Tucker and Grandma Funk.  He also played at Space, Bora Bora, Kanya, The Underground and Pacha where he met Stevie B and later Jellybear from San Francisco. 

Linden was encouraged to move to the US and Jellybear gave him back to back bookings at Kit Kat at The End Up. Linden’s introduction to San Francisco continued DJing at Ruby Skye, 2nd Sunday, Cloud Nine, W Hotel and also Release at 1015. 

In 2002 Linden embarked on what he describes as a life changing moment by DJing at Burning Man. One of his most memorable moments was playing a four hour DJ set with Chuck n Roll and Sandra Collins also DJing at sound camps Pinkies and The Deep End.

After Burning Man, organising underground parties was once again at the forefront of Linden’s mind. He went on to organise, Zendo, Shroom and a party at the Annual Folsom Street Fair. The highlight of a great year was DJing with Ted Patterson at The End UP. In the subsequent years Linden went on to organise ground breaking parties, such as Underground Kingdom, House Spectrum, Network and Tech Tac Toe.

In 2013 Linden returned to the UK, he has continued his work by DJing alongside countless UK and international DJs. Also presenting on Mi-Soul and Mi-House. Check out events to see recent listings.