The Freelance Hellraiser
Roy Kerr, aka the Freelance Hellraiser, is one of the creators of the UK bootleg scene.
He gained fame with a mash-up in 2001 called "A Stroke of Genius", which combined an instrumental edit of The Strokes' track "Hard To Explain" with Christina Aguilera's pop hit "Genie in a Bottle". James Hyman who, along with Eddy Temple-Morris, championed mash-ups and the song in particular on the Xfm show The Remix, described it as "so musical. It was the result of a sick mind, and a trainspotter's mind, and a musician's mind."[1] Although originally greeted by a cease and desist order by RCA (the label which both Aguilera and The Strokes are signed to), The Freelance Hellraiser went on to remix Aguilera's single "Fighter", as well as tracks for Placebo and ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft. "A Stroke Of Genius" was later dubbed as "the song that defines the decade" by The Guardian [2]
In 2004, he was commissioned by Paul McCartney to remix some lesser-known McCartney tracks as preshow entertainment for his tour of that year. Those tracks, and several more, were released under the name Twin Freaks.
In 2006, he made his album Waiting for Clearance, featuring such artists as Jan Hammer, Iain Archer and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody.
In 2007, he formed Kid Gloves with old friend Anu Pillai, writing and producing two songs for Ladyhawke's gold-selling eponymous debut album, including the single "Paris Is Burning".
In 2009, Kid Gloves contributed to Little Boots' gold-selling debut album, Hands, writing and producing her duet, "Symmetry", with The Human League's Phil Oakey.
Albums (as the Freelance Hellraiser)
- The Freelance Hellraiser - Waiting For Clearance ft Gary Lightbody, Iain Archer and Jen Hammer
Singles (as The Freelance Hellraiser)
- The Freelance Hellraiser - What You Know
- The Freelance Hellraiser - We Don't Belong
- The Freelance Hellraiser - Weightlessness
Remixes (as The Freelance Hellraiser)
- Richard Ashcroft - Check The Meaning
- Christina Aguilera - Fighter
- Arthur Baker - Glow
- Placebo - English Summer Rain
- The Reindeer Section - Your Are My Joy
- Ian Brown - Northern Lights
- Editors - Blood
- Just Jack - Triple Tone Eyes
- The Darkness - Girlfriend
- Snow Patrol - Hands Open
- Iain Archer - When It Kicks In
- Siouxsie Six - Here Comes The Day
- My Robot Friend - Rapture
- Cuban Friends - My Love Is Alive
- Shakira - Objection
- The Verve - Love Is Noise
- Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Wanderlust (remixed the whole album)[3]
DJ Mixes
- Mixmag 50 Big Tunes 2003 Cover CD
- '45 Special 2001 Bootleg Mix
Singles (as Kid Gloves with Anu Pillai)
- Music Power - (2011)
- Bare Knuckle – (2010)
Production (As Kid Gloves with Anu Pillai)
- Cheryl Cole & Lana Del Rey - Ghetto Baby
- Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning
- Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning (Remix)
- Ladyhawke - Manipulating Woman
- Little Boots - Symmetry ft Phil Oakley
- Little Boots - Not Now
- VV Brown - Game Over
- Arsenal - Lokemo
Remixes
- Black Kids - Look At Me
- Santigold - Lights Out
- Arsenal - Estupendo
Albums
- Twin Freaks (2005)
Singles
- Really Love You
- What's That You're Saying
References
- ↑ Smells like teen booty, The Guardian, February 27, 2002
- ↑ "When Christina met the Strokes: the song that defines the decade". http://www.guardian.co.uk/. Nov 26, 2009. Archived from the original on Sep 8, 2013. Retrieved Feb 25, 2013.
- ↑ Sophie Ellis-Bextor: Wanderlust - Deluxe Edition including bonus remix CD
External links
- Interviews
- Radio Feature The Some Assembly Required Interview with The Freelance Hellraiser (2006).
- Q&A with Freelance Hellraiser on Music Towers