Acid House legend DJ Spanky of PHUTURE dies

It is with a heavy heart that we announce Earl Smith aka DJ Spanky, one of the original founding members of PHUTURE has passed away. Earlier today we were made aware that Spanky had fallen down and died but no further details have been released so far. At this stage we can only assume that this was a result of heart failure, after the stroke he had in May this year.

Starting the group in 1985 alongside DJ Pierre and Herb J, the group reformed in 2014 and have since toured extensively since. The group’s 12-minute track “Acid Tracks” (1987) is one of several recordings that lay claim to being the first-ever acid house record. “Acid Tracks” featured characteristic bass lines from the Roland TB-303 bass synthesizer—which was manipulated to produce resonant and squelchy sounds uncharacteristic for a bass guitar it was designed to emulate. The track rose to popularity at DJ Ron Hardy’s Music Box club in Chicago and has since been re-pressed many times.

The London show where Phuture have been due to play alongside 808 State, Rob Acid, u-Ziq, Ceephax Acid Crew, Pixelord will still go ahead as planned announcing this as a “Last Tribute show” to DJ Spanky and Phuture. Further announcements to be made.