Doc Scott

Doc Scott

Doc Scott is the recording name of Scott McIlroy, a drum and bass producer from Coventry, United Kingdom. He begins DJing after receiving a pair of turntables at the age of 18 and plays live dates at raves in 1989 and 1990 before leaving his job as a telephone worker to work in music full-time.

Early releases and jungle work

He starts recording in the early 1990s, as jungle is emerging from hardcore and rave. His early releases on Absolute 2, including NHS, NHS, Vol. 2 and Surgery, establish him as a notable name in the hardcore scene. His production is shaped by the mood of the Blade Runner soundtrack and by Detroit techno figures including Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson.

Reinforced, Metalheadz and alias work

Scott later becomes part of the Reinforced Recordings circle, alongside Dego and Mark Mac of 4 Hero and later Goldie. He records the 1992 Reinforced EP As Nasty as I Wanna Be under the name Nasty Habits, which includes “Here Come the Drumz” and helps define the darker side of drum and bass. He and Goldie record several tracks together at Reinforced before forming Metalheadz in 1994. The Doc Scott single “VIP Drums” is the first release on the label.

Labels and later activity

Scott also records for LTJ Bukem’s Good Looking Records and sets up his own label, ThirtyOne Recordings, in 1996. In the same year, he releases a volume in the Mixmag Live! DJ album series.