John Kelly is an engineer who is also described in the dance music scene as an early house DJ and promoter. He begins his career in the mid-1980s, organising and playing warehouse parties before buying the Underground club in 1989 with James Barton of Cream. After the club closes in 1990, he moves on to the Quadrant Park parties, which are presented as the first super club events, with a capacity of 5,000 people.

Club and festival career

Kelly becomes a regular on the British club circuit and plays at venues and events including Cream, Gatecrasher, Godskichen, Slinky, Passion, Miss Moneypennies and Chuff Chuff. He also holds a residency at Ministry of Sound and appears at major festivals such as Creamfields and Global Gathering. His work takes him across the UK and abroad, including the USA, Australia, South America and Europe.

He is closely associated with Ibiza, where he plays at Cream at Amnesia and at clubs including Space, El Divino, Eden, Bora Bora and Es Paradis. He also holds a residency at Privalige for Manumission, and is described as a regular favourite on the island’s club scene.

Style and collaborations

Kelly is presented as a versatile DJ who plays maverick mixes, trance classics, house classics and electro house. He plays alongside DJs including Sasha, Oaky and Carl Cox. He also has four guest mixes on Pete Tong’s BBC Radio 1 show.

Recordings and releases

His compilation work sells in excess of a million copies. The releases named in the input include Slinky Super Club DJs, Retrospect of House 91-95 with Judge Jules, Introspective of House Vol. 1 with Seb Fontaine and Judge Jules, Introspective of House Vol. 3 with Tony De Vit and Sonique, and Miss Money Pennies Ibiza Legends. He also appears on the Fantasia Classics album and has a top 40 hit with “Outrageous” by Stix and Stoned.

He is placed at number 23 in DJ Magazine’s Top 100 poll. He also runs Quadrant Park Reunions, described as the country’s biggest old skool night, and secures a bi-monthly residency at club SAZA*E in Osaka, Japan.

Maite Itoiz project

Kelly later works with Maite Itoiz on a project that combines his songwriting and recording experience with her background in classical music, flamenco guitar, arranging, studio editing and graphics editing. Their first album features Puccini arias recorded with a full orchestra and international soloists. Mike Ungefehr works with them during the recording process as an experienced producer, and also helps with the business side of the project.

Kelly contributes compositions, warm vocals, drums and instrumental arrangements to the collaboration. The project develops into a live and recorded production built around orchestral sounds, harmonies and layered arrangements.

Personal background

Kelly first meets Maite Itoiz as a child through contact between the two families, who remain in touch for musical and personal reasons. They reconnect years later, become close friends, and later marry in a medieval ceremony on 24 July 2001, with music and Romanesque architecture as part of the setting.