Ellis Dee is a UK DJ and producer, born Roy Sydney Reid. He starts DJing in 1988, at the beginning of the acid house scene, and first builds wider attention after promoting his own successful party and then being booked for The Dungeon. His name becomes more widely established through headline appearances for Fantazia in 1992 and beyond, and he also appears as a PA under the name Rhythm Section with Newton and Rennie Pilgrem.

Early career and rave era

Ellis Dee makes his name in the early rave period and becomes a headliner at events including Telepathy, Raindance and Fantazia. His mix tapes from this period are regarded as classics. He works across acid house, hardcore, drum and bass, and later breakbeat, and he is known for changing style while keeping a recognisable personal approach.

Projects and releases

He records and performs as Ellis Dee Project, with releases including Rock to the Max and Desire, both issued on Fantazia compilations. His other releases include Check Out the Bass with Rhythm Section, Once Again For The Ladies EP, The Depth EP, One For The Ladies / You Got To Believe, I've Seen The Future / T - 31 Seconds, The Real Killer, 97 Style, Rinse Out, Blowin' Up, Babylon, 21st Century Horns, Rock To The Max, Lords Of The Dance, and Acid Folk Remixes.

Rhythm Section and collaborators

As well as DJing, he begins making his own music as part of Rhythm Section with Rennie Pilgrem, Richard Thake and Nick Newton. He later teams up with long-term friend Rennie Pilgrem again on the mix album Hedonizm, and also works with Syrus on new material. A track called The Chase appears from Ellis Dee and Syrus.

Breakbeat focus

Ellis Dee moves increasingly towards breakbeat after earlier work in drum and bass and old skool rave. He describes breakbeat as allowing more variety in a set and says he prefers not to be tied to one style. His Hedonizm mix album is described as a breakbeat compilation, mixed in one take using two decks, two CD players and a mixer, and it includes tracks by Koma & Bones, Chris Carter and others, alongside material by Clubriders remixed by Ellis Dee and Rennie Pilgrem.

Other work

He divides his time between DJing, studio work and teaching DJ and production skills. He is also associated with labels including Cat Records and Point Break.