| Rusty Egan | |
| Background: | non_performing_personnel |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1957 |
| Origin: | London |
| Genre: | Punk rock, synthpop, new wave |
| Years Active: | 1977–present |
| Label: | EMI Records |
| Associated Acts: | Rich Kids, The Misfits, Skids, Visage, Bette Bright and the Illuminations, Roland Romanelli, Dramatis |
Rusty Egan (born 19 September 1957[1] [2] in London to Irish parents) is a British pop musician and DJ, although he has only ever held an Irish passport.[3]
He is the former drummer of the British new wave band Rich Kids, with former Sex Pistol bassist Glen Matlock (bass and vocals), Steve New (guitar and vocals) and Midge Ure (guitar, vocals and keyboards),[4] from its inception in March 1977 to its disbanding in December 1978. He continued working with Ure, later collaborated with The Misfits, Skids[5] and Shock, and was a founding member of Visage. He played drums on a remixed version of Phil Lynott's song "Yellow Pearl", which the BBC used as the Top of the Pops theme tune from 1981 to 1986.[6] [7]
Egan was the DJ at Blitz, the influential New Romantic nightclub in London, where he worked with Steve Strange from 1979[8] [9] until 1981.[10] Whilst there, he introduced German (Kraftwerk), Japanese (Yellow Magic Orchestra) and British (Eno, Ultravox, Landscape) electronic music/synthpop to the British club scene, almost single-handedly putting together the soundtrack for the New Romantic movement.[11] [12] [13] [14] Egan also owned The Cage, a New Romantic-era record store on London's King's Road. As the club grew in popularity, Egan began to be recognised as a central figure in London's nightlife.[15] [16] [17]
In 1982, he, Strange and Kevin Millins opened up the Camden Palace nightclub in London, where he continued to spread and influence the development of electronica in the UK.[18] For a time, he switched to producing records for many of the bands he used to DJ, including Spear of Destiny, Shock, Visage and The Senate.
On 13 June 2008, Egan appeared DJing at the 'Big Top' as part of the Isle of Wight Festival.[19]
Egan appeared alongside former Visage bandmate Steve Strange on makeover show Pop Goes the Band in early 2009 on Living TV. He had his teeth and hair drastically reconstructed as part of his makeover.
Egan won the category for lifetime achievement at the 2009 Viagra Awards.[20]
In January 2011, Egan and Strange hosted Return to the Blitz on the site of the original Blitz Club with performances from Roman Kemp's band Paradise Point and electro punk artist Quilla Constance plus DJ sets from Egan himself.[21]
2017 saw the release of Egan's first solo album, 'Welcome to the Dancefloor'. It featured appearances from Midge Ure, Tony Hadley, Peter Hook and Erik Stein of Cult With No Name. The album was subsequently released in remix form as 'Welcome to the Remix' and 'Welcome to the Beach'.[22]
On Friday 18 October 2019, Rusty performed a DJ set overlaid with a commentary of the post punk music scene at the London Palladium, followed by a performance of a number of Visage hits with long time collaborator and friend Midge Ure.
Egan married freelance dancer Miranda Davis in July 1986.[23]