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Clifford Joseph Price MBE (born 19 September 1965), better known as Goldie, is an English music producer, DJ, graffiti artist and actor.

Key Information

Initially gaining exposure for his work as a graffiti artist, Goldie became well known for his pioneering role as a musician in the 1990s UK jungle, drum and bass and breakbeat hardcore scenes. He released a variety of singles under the pseudonym Rufige Kru and co-founded the label Metalheadz. He later released several albums under his own name, including the 1995 album Timeless, which entered the UK charts at number 7.

Goldie's acting credits include the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, Guy Ritchie's Snatch (2000) and the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2001–2002). He has also appeared in a number of celebrity reality television shows, including Celebrity Big Brother 2 (UK), Strictly Come Dancing, Come Dine with Me and Maestro.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Walsall, England, but raised in Wolverhampton,[1] Price is of Jamaican and Scottish heritage.[1][2] He was put up for adoption at the age of three, and raised in childcare homes and by several foster parents.[2] According to his 2002 autobiography, he was physically and sexually abused during this time.[3] Price was a member of the breakdance crew Westside, based in the Whitmore Reans and Heath Town areas of Wolverhampton, in the 1980s. He later joined a breakdance crew called the Birmingham Bboys, and made his name as a graffiti artist in the West Midlands.

His artwork around Birmingham and Wolverhampton was featured heavily in Dick Fontaine's documentary Bombin'. He is mentioned for his graffiti in the book Spraycan Art by Henry Chalfant and James Prigoff, which contains several examples of his art.

He moved to the United States owing to graffiti projects, and also started selling grills (gold teeth jewellery) in New York and Miami; he continued this business after his return to the UK in 1988.[2] His nickname stems from "Goldielocks", an earlier nickname given to him during his Bboys days and subsequently shortened when he no longer wore dreadlocks.[2]

Career

[edit]

Music

[edit]

By 1991, Price had become fascinated by the British breakbeat music scene when his girlfriend, DJ Kemistry, introduced him to the pioneering jungle and drum and bass producers Dennis "Dego" McFarlane and Mark "Marc Mac" Clair, known as 4hero.[2] He went on to execute some design and A&R work for 4hero's Reinforced Records label.

In 1992, Price made his first record appearance by contributing to an EP by Icelandic group Ajax Project that included the track Ruffige.[4][5]

His releases Killa Muffin b/w Krisp Biscuit and the Dark Rider EP were released under the alias "Rufige Kru"[note 1] His track "Terminator", released under the name "Metal Heads" in 1992,[8] was a hit in the jungle scene and is noted for its use of pitch shifting. In 1993, he released Angel, another 12" on the Synthetic Hardcore Phonography label. 1994 saw him setting up his own record label, Metalheadz.[7]

Goldie next to a "Metalheadz" tattoo, 2001

His first studio album, Timeless, followed in 1995. Timeless entered the UK Albums Chart at number seven.[9] The album fused the breakbeats and basslines common in jungle with orchestral textures and soul vocals by Diane Charlemagne. The album's title track was a 21-minute symphonic piece. "Inner City Life", a track from the album, reached number 39 in the UK Singles Chart.[9] Timeless helped to popularise drum and bass as a form of musical expression.[10] The music critic Simon Reynolds noted that Price's credentials as a musical innovator—and particularly as one of the key driving forces of innovation in the jungle/breakbeat scene—were exceptional. "Goldie revolutionised jungle not once but thrice", he noted in The Wire magazine, continuing, "First there was 'Terminator' (pioneering the use of time stretching), then 'Angel' (fusing Diane Charlemagne's live vocal with David Byrne/Brian Eno samples to prove that hardcore could be more 'conventionally' musical), now there's 'Timeless', a 22-minute hardcore symphony."[11]

In 1996, he released the Toasted Both Sides Please remix of the Bush song "Swallowed", which topped charts in the US and Canada.[12][13][14]

Price released his second album, Saturnz Return, in 1998. The album's opening track, "Mother", is an hour-long orchestral drum and bass piece. The album featured appearances by David Bowie, Noel Gallagher and KRS-One. The album met with mixed reviews. David Brown of Entertainment Weekly called the album "ambitious but monotonous and overlong—Pink Floyd with a gold tooth".[15]

In 2002, Price said that he had been working for three years on a film called Sine Tempus,[16] described as a coming-of-age story of a young paintbrush artist. In 2006, he announced the soundtrack as his new album.[17] The album was released via the Metalheadz website in 2008, but the film has not been released.

Price is known for his work as the leader of Rufige Kru. The group has no fixed members and has included drum and bass producers such as Technical Itch, Heist, Cujo, Agzilla Da Ice, Danny J, Doc Scott and Rob Playford.[18][19]

March 2013 saw the release of The Alchemist: The Best of Goldie 1992–2012, featuring prominent tracks from throughout Price's musical career.[20] A subsequent compilation, the three-CD Masterpiece set released by Ministry of Sound in 2014, brought together tracks that influenced him (Soul II Soul's "Back To Life", Roy Ayers' "Everybody Loves The Sunshine") with cuts that soundtracked his entry into the rave scene and key moments from the drum'n'bass scene.[21]

In 2017, the Goldie album The Journey Man was released, which Price described as his "magnum opus" and "the most important thing that I've ever made."[3]

In 2020, Goldie launched his new record label, Fallen Tree 1Hundred.[22]

A 25th anniversary edition of Timeless was released by London Records the following year. The new release included a triple gold vinyl version and a compact disc version. The release brought the number of versions of the iconic drum'n'bass album (including reissues and global pressings) to 44.

Acting

[edit]

Price has appeared in Guy Ritchie's Snatch and several other films, most notably the James Bond film, The World Is Not Enough. He also played gangster Angel Hudson in the British soap opera EastEnders (2001–2002). Price starred in Everybody Loves Sunshine (1999) (aka B.U.S.T.E.D. – United States title) with David Bowie.

Television appearances

[edit]

Price appeared on BBC1's Daytime Live in October 1987 to discuss the rise of urban art across the United Kingdom.[23] Price also appeared on Central Weekend, a Friday evening topical debate show on Central TV, promoting graffiti as an art form. He had a small documentary made about his own art on Central TV's Here and Now programme featuring Pogus Caesar's photographs of New York. He has appeared on various young people's TV shows as part of a breakdance crew, the Bboys from Wolverhampton. In 1995, he appeared on Passengers, and in a Channel 4 documentary about himself in 1998.

His next TV appearance was hosting Crime Business on the digital TV channels Bravo and Ftn. He presented the documentary series The World's Deadliest Gangs on Bravo in 2002.

Price appeared on the second series of Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. He was the first celebrity to be "evicted". In 2006, he was scheduled to appear in The Games, a UK reality TV show on Channel 4, but during training for the water-ski jump event he fractured his femur and was unable to take part in the show. He was replaced by Adam Rickitt. In 2009, he was reported to be suing the producers of the show for damages as a result of the injury.[24]

In June 2008, Price participated in the German/French TV channel ARTEs format 'Into the Night with ...' episode 052, where he met artist Skream. The episode not only shows an adventurous encounter between two hard-drinking stars of the club scene, but also a close-up look at the operation of one of Europe's most important electro festivals, the Melt Festival.[25][26]

During August and September 2008, the BBC broadcast Maestro, a reality television show in which eight celebrities, including Price, learned to conduct a concert orchestra.[3] Price was placed second, behind Sue Perkins.

On 31 July 2009, the first of a two-part television programme Classic Goldie was broadcast, showing how in the wake of his success in the Maestro programme he learns to write a score for a large orchestra and choir. The resulting composition, commissioned by the BBC and entitled Sine Tempore (Timeless), was performed at two children's Promenade concerts in the Royal Albert Hall on 1 and 2 August 2009, which featured music connected with Charles Darwin and the creation and evolution of the world.[27]

He appeared on Celebrity Mastermind on 27 December 2009 and came fourth behind Paul O'Grady, Gail Emms and Loyd Grossman. On 11 September 2010, he was announced as part of the line-up in Strictly Come Dancing, staying in the competition for two weeks.

On 22 December 2010, he appeared in a Celebrity Come Dine with Me Christmas special.[28]

On 26 March 2011, he appeared in a three-part reality television series, Goldie's Band: By Royal Appointment in which he led a group of music experts as they conducted a nationwide search for young talented musicians and then selected and coached 12 of them, who collaborated to create some musical pieces for a performance at Buckingham Palace.[29]

In 2014, he appeared on the telethon BBC Children in Need.

Art

[edit]

In 2007, Price returned to the art world with an art exhibition, "Love Over Gold", which was held at the Leonard Street Gallery, London.[30] In 2008, he teamed up with Pete Tong to provide much of the artwork for Tong's new Wonderland club night at Eden nightclub in San Antonio, Ibiza.[31]

There was an exhibition of Price's art in Berlin from 13 to 26 June 2008.[32] In April 2009, a retrospective exhibition titled "Kids Are All Riot" took place in Shoreditch, London, coinciding with the release of his screenprint "Apocalypse Angel".

Around 2008, Price's art work was displayed on the London Underground by the arts company Art Below.[33]

In 2021, he modeled for Louis Vuitton Menswear Spring / Summer collection and contributed a song.

Books

[edit]

The innovative nature of Goldie's art (both sonic and visual) was a consistent theme in Kodwo Eshun's acclaimed book 'More Brilliant Than The Sun' (published in 1998) which has long been seen as a landmark text on Afro-futurism. Among the works that Eshun referenced were Goldie's 1986 graffiti piece Future World Machine and his 1992 single 'Terminator'. Noting the links between the multi-dimensionality in both painting and sound, Eshun noted: "There's a big interface between graffiti and the break."[34]

In 2002, Goldie's autobiography 'Nine Lives' was published by Hodder & Stoughton. Written with London-based writer Paul Gorman, the book traced his life story from childhood in care and foster homes through to the first flush of his success as a groundbreaking musical artist.

A second autobiography 'All Things Remembered' was published in November 2017 by Faber & Faber. Written when Goldie was 52, it covers a more comprehensive span than the earlier book but is more philosophic in tone. While incidents from his extraordinary childhood are recounted, it also includes his ruminations on musical heroes such as Pat Metheny and a conversation with "my left-hand man" Doc Scott as well as memories of his work in TV and film. The book includes pictures of Goldie on set with David Bowie. Co-written with Ben Thompson, 'All Things Remembered' was chosen by Nicola Barker as one of The Guardian's Books Of The Year. She described it as "a fabulous, whirling kaleidoscope of music, memory and trauma . . . magical and cautionary."[35]

Personal life

[edit]

In the early 1990s, Price had a relationship with drum and bass artist Kemistry, who died in a car accident in 1999.[36]

He was romantically involved with Icelandic singer Björk in 1996.[7] Björk's brief relationships with Goldie and musician Tricky, both Black men, upset deranged fan Ricardo Lopez who mailed an explosive device to Björk before killing himself in his Florida home. The acid bomb failed to reach Björk because Lopez's body, and his plans, were discovered before the package was delivered. The device was defused by Scotland Yard.[37]

In 1998, Price bought a country house in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire.[17][38]

Price married model Sonjia Ashby in 2002.[39] They divorced in 2005.[17] As of 2003, he had five children, including social content creator Danny Price, who has appeared on Channel 4 reality show Make Me Prime Minister.[38][40]

In 2007, Goldie began a relationship with Mika Wassenaar, a Canadian. The couple appeared in the 20 June 2009 episode of ITV's All Star Mr & Mrs with Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton. Mika and Price married in 2010.[41]

On 29 April 2010, Price opened the William Tyndale Primary School Sports Pitch in Islington, London.[42]

In July 2010, Price received an honorary doctorate in Social Sciences from Brunel University, Uxbridge.[43] On 3 September 2010, he received an honorary degree of Doctor of Design from the University of Wolverhampton.[44]

On 7 September 2010, Price's 23-year-old son Jamie Price was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum sentence of 21 years, for murder. He was convicted of stabbing a rival gang member to death in Wolverhampton town centre on 24 August 2008.[45]

As of 2017, Price and his wife were living in Thailand, having moved there in 2015.[3]

Price was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours awards, for services to music and young people.[46]

Price was accused of assaulting a security guard at the 2017 Glastonbury festival after the guard had refused to let Price's daughter, Chance, backstage; Price later emailed a response which read, "Yep, guilty as charged", but in March 2018, district judge Lynn Matthews at Bristol Magistrates' Court rejected Price's emailed response and in a video call Price later admitted to assault by beating.[47] On 30 May Bristol Magistrates' Court ordered Goldie to pay almost £2,500 as a fine.[48]

In 2017, Price appeared to reveal the first name of pseudonymous graffiti artist Banksy as "Rob" on Scroobius Pip's weekly Distraction Pieces Podcast (Episode No. 156). When discussing the rise of commercialism in street art, Price said, "Give me a bubble letter and put it on a T-shirt and write Banksy on it and we're sorted. We can sell it now... No disrespect to Rob, I think he is a brilliant artist. I think he has flipped the world of art over."[49]

Discography

[edit]

Albums

[edit]

Studio albums

as Rufige Kru

  • Malice in Wonderland (2007)
  • Memoirs of an Afterlife (2009)
  • Alpha Omega (2025)

Soundtrack albums

  • Sine Tempus – The Soundtrack (2008)

Collaboration albums

  • Subject One – Music for Inanimate Objects (2019) with James Davidson as Subjective
  • The Start of No Regret (2022) with James Davidson as Subjective

Selected singles/EPs

[edit]
  • "Kris Biscuit / Killer Muffin" (as Rufige Cru) (Reinforced Records, 1992)
  • Darkrider EP (as Rufige Cru) (Reinforced Records, 1992)
  • Terminator EP (as Metal Heads) (Synthetic Hardcore Phonography, 1992)
  • "Ghosts of My Life / Terminator 2" (as Rufige Kru) (Reinforced Records, 1993)
  • "Angel / You and Me" (as Metal Heads) (Synthetic Hardcore Phonography, 1993)
  • Internal Affairs EP (as Internal Affairs with 4hero) (Reinforced Records, 1993)
  • "VIP Riders Ghost" (as Rufige Kru) (Metalheadz, 1993)
  • "Inner City Life" (as Goldie presents Metalheadz) (FFRR, 1994) – UK No. 39 (UK Singles Chart)
  • "Angel" (FFRR, 1995) – UK No. 41
  • "Jah / Deadly Deep Subs" (Remixes) (Razors Edge, 1996)
  • "State of Mind" (FFRR, 1996)
  • "Digital" (feat. KRS-One) (FFRR, 1997) – UK No. 13
  • "The Shadow" (as Rob & Goldie) (Moving Shadow, 1997) – UK No. 82
  • "Kemistry V.I.P. / Your Sound" (Remixes) (Razors Edge, 1997)
  • Ring of Saturn (FFRR, 1998)
  • "Temper Temper" (featuring Noel Gallagher) (FFRR, 1998) – UK No. 13
  • "Believe" (FFRR, 1998) – UK No. 36
  • "Beachdrifta / Stormtrooper VIP" (Metalheadz, 2001)
  • "Say You Love Me" (Metalheadz, 2005)
  • "Monkey Boy / Special Request" (Metalheadz, 2007)
  • "Vanilla" (Metalheadz, 2007)
  • "Freedom" (feat. Natalie Duncan) (Metalheadz, 2012)
  • "I Adore You" feat. Ulterior Motive (2017)
  • "Upstart" feat. Skepta (2018)
  • "Breakout" feat. LaMeduza (as Subjective) (2022)

Selected mixes

[edit]
  • INCredible Sound of Drum'n'Bass (1999)
  • Goldie.co.uk (2001)
  • MDZ.04 (2004)
  • Drum & Bass Arena: The Classics (2006)
  • Watch the Ride (2008)
  • FabricLive.58 (2011)

Filmography

[edit]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Goldie

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Goldie (born Clifford Joseph Price, 19 September 1965) is an English , DJ, , , and visual renowned for his pioneering role in the and genres. Born in , , to a Scottish-Jamaican couple, Price was put up for shortly after birth and spent much of his in and children's homes in the West Midlands. Influenced by hip-hop, , and culture during trips to the in his youth, he adopted the moniker "Goldie" as a and album cover designer in the late 1980s, later transitioning to DJing and production on the London club scene. Goldie's breakthrough came in 1995 with his debut album Timeless, a seminal work in electronic music that blended intricate breakbeats, atmospheric soundscapes, and soulful elements, propelling drum and bass into mainstream recognition and often hailed as one of the greatest dance albums ever. That same year, he co-founded the influential record label Metalheadz, which became a hub for innovative drum and bass artists and hosted legendary club nights at venues like the Blue Note in London. Beyond music, Goldie ventured into acting with roles in films including Everybody Loves Sunshine (1999) as Terry, The World Is Not Enough (1999) as Mr. Bullion, and Snatch (2000) as Bad Boy Lincoln. In recognition of his contributions to music, the arts, and young people, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours.

Early life and background

Childhood and family

Clifford Joseph Price, professionally known as Goldie, was born on 19 September 1965 in , , , to a Scottish mother named Margaret, who worked as a pub singer, and a Jamaican father named Clement, an itinerant who departed shortly after his birth. His mixed Jamaican-Scottish heritage contributed to a complex sense of identity during his formative years, marked by feelings of cultural displacement and a search for belonging amid familial instability. His mother placed him into state care at the age of three, unable to cope, while his half-brothers remained with her; he was first placed with a foster family in , , before moving through several foster homes and children's institutions across the West Midlands, where he endured significant physical, emotional, and that left lasting psychological scars. These experiences of and trauma, including and assaults by older children and carers starting around age seven, profoundly shaped his early worldview, fostering resilience but also a profound sense of abandonment. Goldie spent much of his childhood in care homes in the West Midlands, including in , where he gained early exposure to music through local scenes and family influences, including reggae artists like and emerging hip-hop elements via breakdancing crews, which provided an initial creative outlet amid his turbulent upbringing. He ran away at age 16 from a children's home to live with his mother on a high-rise estate in , marking a pivotal shift toward independence.

Graffiti and early influences

During his teenage years in Wolverhampton, Clifford Price, later known as Goldie, immersed himself in the burgeoning hip-hop culture of the West Midlands, finding solace and expression in street arts amid the challenges of foster care and instability from his early childhood. These experiences fueled his turn to creative outlets like breakdancing and graffiti as a means of empowerment and community. In the mid-1980s, Price adopted the graffiti tag "Goldie," derived from his blonde dreadlocks—earning him the nickname "Goldielocks"—and began making his mark in the West Midlands graffiti scene, painting vibrant pieces in high-rise stairwells and urban spaces around Wolverhampton and Birmingham. His work, often politically charged, contributed to a local "graffiti revolution" that challenged class barriers in British art, transforming derelict council estates into canvases of rebellion and color. As a member of the Westside breakdance crew in areas like Whitmore Reans and Heath Town, he blended physical performance with visual artistry, embodying the holistic spirit of 1980s UK hip-hop culture. In 1986, at age 21, Goldie traveled to the , immersing himself in New York's vibrant graffiti and hip-hop scenes, where he painted alongside legends like in and drew inspiration from pioneering artists such as Dondi White and Futura 2000. This exposure, facilitated by his participation in Bombin', which exchanged and US graffiti talents, profoundly shaped his style, introducing wildstyle lettering and abstract elements that he brought back to elevate the British scene. His time in New York and subsequent stays in honed his skills in subway bombing and mural creation, forging a global perspective on as both and innovation. Returning to the by the late , Goldie connected with the emerging and movements, attending pivotal events that fused electronic sounds with communal energy, including outdoor gatherings organized by promoters like Sunrise. These experiences in the underground club circuit exposed him to the pulsating rhythms and DIY ethos of , bridging his hip-hop roots with the nascent electronic scene. Through these circles, he began building key creative networks, collaborating with figures like DJ and , whose shared passion for innovative beats and visuals laid the groundwork for the formation of the label in the early 1990s. These early alliances emphasized artistic crossover, blending aesthetics with sound experimentation to pioneer a distinctly British urban culture.

Professional career

Musical career

Goldie's musical journey began under the pseudonym Rufige Kru, with his debut releases on Reinforced Records in 1992, including the EPs Killa Muffin and Darkrider, which showcased early experiments in hardcore and proto-jungle sounds. These singles marked his entry into the rave scene, blending heavy basslines and breakbeats that would influence the emerging genre. In 1994, Goldie co-founded the influential Metalheadz label alongside DJ duo Kemistry and Storm, establishing a platform for cutting-edge drum and bass productions. The label quickly gained prominence with seminal releases such as "Inner City Life," a poignant track featuring vocals by Diane Charlemagne that fused ambient textures with rolling breaks, becoming a cornerstone of the genre. Goldie's breakthrough came with his debut solo album Timeless in 1995, released on FFRR Records, which peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and earned a nomination for the Mercury Prize. The double album innovated by integrating jazz harmonies, soulful vocals, and intricate breakbeats across tracks like "Inner City Life" and "Kern Fusion," elevating drum and bass from underground clubs to mainstream recognition. His follow-up, (1998), also on FFRR, reached number 15 on the and pushed experimental boundaries with its expansive runtime, including the hour-long ambient opener "." The album featured high-profile collaborations, notably with on the track "Truth," which added orchestral elements and guitar work to the framework. After a period of relative quiet, Goldie returned with The Journey Man in 2017 on , a that peaked at number 43 on the and revisited his signature atmospheric style with contributions from artists like and . In 2020, he launched the sub-label Fallen Tree 1Hundred under his 1Hundred management company, focusing on diverse electronic genres including , and broken beat to nurture emerging talent beyond . Under the Rufige Kru moniker, Goldie continued his legacy with the album Alpha Omega, released on May 16, 2025, via London Records, featuring collaborations with Submotive and Cleveland Watkiss that revisited the raw energy of his 1990s productions. Marking the album's milestone, a 30th anniversary reissue of Timeless arrived on November 7, 2025, in limited-edition vinyl formats including gold-on-clear and white pressings, alongside new remixes and proceeds supporting War Child charity. In October 2025 interviews, as he turned 60, Goldie reflected on his enduring impact on , emphasizing Metalheadz's role in shaping the genre and his commitment to evolving electronic through ongoing projects.

Acting and television

Goldie's transition to was facilitated by his rising prominence in the scene during the , allowing him to secure roles in high-profile films. His film debut came in 1999 with the role of Terry in the crime drama Everybody Loves Sunshine, directed by Andrew Seaton. Later that year, he portrayed the villainous Mr. Bullion, a to Renard, in the installment , marking his entry into mainstream cinema alongside and . In 2000, Goldie appeared as the street fighter Bad Boy Lincoln in Guy Ritchie's crime comedy Snatch, a supporting role that showcased his in a featuring and . On television, Goldie took on his most substantial dramatic role as the gangster Angel Hudson in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. Introduced in June 2001 as a debt collector entangled with the Trueman family, the character evolved into a complex antagonist involved in extortion and revenge plots, appearing in 12 episodes until July 2002. His performance as Hudson, a role that drew on his tough persona from music and film, received attention for blending menace with vulnerability, though it was his only extended stint in scripted television. Goldie embraced in the , leveraging his celebrity status for competitive formats. In 2002, he participated in the second series of (UK), entering the house with housemates including and ; he was the first to be evicted after six days, receiving 56% of the public vote. In 2008, he competed in the BBC's , a where celebrities learned to conduct orchestras, finishing as runner-up after performing works like Grieg's In the Hall of the Mountain King with the . Goldie returned to reality TV in 2010 for series 8 of , partnered with professional dancer ; despite earning scores up to 26 for their , they were eliminated first on October 10, 2010, in a dance-off against and . Earlier guest appearances highlighted Goldie's media presence. He featured on the 1999 Christmas special of quiz , joining panellists like and for comedic rounds on pop trivia. These outings, alongside his acting ventures, underscored his versatility beyond music while maintaining a connection to his entertainment roots.

Art and literature

Goldie's visual art practice evolved from his roots in 1980s , where he gained prominence under the tag 10Foot, into a professional career that blends street culture with contemporary techniques. By the early 2000s, he transitioned to creating paintings and sculptures that explore personal and urban narratives, often drawing on his experiences in music and city life. This shift marked a maturation of his artistic voice, moving from ephemeral street works to gallery exhibitions that democratize access to . A pivotal moment came in 2007 with his solo exhibition Love Over Gold at the Leonard Street Gallery in , featuring a series of paintings that fused raw energy with layered emotional depth, reflecting themes of resilience and cultural fusion. The show highlighted his return to after focusing on music, showcasing works that incorporated bold colors and graffiti-inspired motifs to evoke urban grit and personal transformation. Subsequent exhibitions, such as Lostribes in 2013 at Mead Carney in , displayed paintings on sustainable wood panels, emphasizing environmental consciousness alongside abstract explorations of identity and . Goldie's oeuvre also includes sculptures and artwork, expanding his practice into three-dimensional forms that challenge traditional boundaries between and . In literature, Goldie has contributed memoirs that provide intimate insights into his multifaceted life, bridging his graffiti origins, music career, and artistic evolution. His first autobiography, Nine Lives (2002), co-authored with Paul Gorman, chronicles his journey from graffiti artist to drum'n'bass icon, interweaving personal anecdotes with contributions from collaborators like David Bowie. This was followed by All Things Remembered (2017), a more reflective memoir that delves into themes of abuse, revenge, and creative reinvention, presented in a raw, conversational style drawn from recorded interviews. These works underscore his role as a storyteller, using writing to contextualize his visual and sonic outputs. In a June 2025 interview with graffiti writer 10Foot for The Face magazine, Goldie reflected on his graffiti legacy as 10Foot, describing it as a "class and race leveller" that paralleled the subversive spirit of drum'n'bass, and emphasized the deliberate simplicity in his evolving artistic vision.

Personal life

Relationships and family

Goldie married model Sonjia Ashby in 2002; the couple divorced in 2005. In 2007, Goldie began a relationship with Canadian music producer Mika Wassenaar, whom he married in a temple ceremony on Phuket island in 2010. Together, they have two daughters: Sakuko (born 2012) and Yuki Isla (born July 2024 in ). Goldie is a father to six children in total, with the four eldest from previous relationships with four different partners. His commitments as a have shaped several choices, notably his decision to relocate to in 2015 with Wassenaar and their young for a more balanced family environment away from the UK music scene. The family resided there through at least 2017, continuing to split time between and the while raising their children. In June 2017, Goldie, whose real name is Clifford Joseph Price, was charged with assault alongside his daughter Chance after an altercation with a at in , , where the guard refused her entry to a VIP area. Price pushed and scratched the guard, Dennis Poole, during the incident. In March 2018, he became the first person in Britain to plead guilty to via from , citing his inability to travel due to visa issues; his daughter was acquitted. In May 2018, sentenced him to a fine of £1,080, £500 in compensation to the victim, a £108 , and £775 in costs, totaling £2,463; the judge described his behavior as stemming from an "entitled and arrogant" attitude. Seeking respite from the pressures of fame and urban life in the , Price relocated to , in with his wife and youngest daughter, drawn to the island's serene environment and cultural vibrancy for personal renewal and artistic inspiration. The move allowed him to focus on and , away from the intense scrutiny of his and careers, though he maintained ties to the UK through occasional performances and family support during transitions. He remained based in as of 2018, appearing remotely for his court proceedings, and has since described the relocation as a catalyst for and creative growth. Price has openly discussed his struggles with drug use amid the 1990s UK and scenes, where experimentation with substances like and was prevalent, though he noted they often left him introspective rather than euphoric, failing to alleviate deeper emotional pain from his past. The era's hedonistic culture, combined with his sudden fame following the 1995 release of Timeless, strained his personal stability, leading to periods of isolation and relational turmoil. In later years, particularly after moving to , he pursued recovery through therapy and rehab programs, including sessions at the Hoffman Process and in , crediting them with fostering long-term sobriety and emotional healing.

Awards and honors

Goldie's debut album Timeless (1995) earned him a nomination for the Mercury Prize, recognizing its innovative fusion of drum and bass with orchestral elements and marking a pivotal moment in elevating the genre's profile in mainstream music awards. In recognition of his extensive contributions to music and support for young people through initiatives like Metalheadz, Goldie was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2016 New Year Honours. During 2025, Goldie was featured in official listings for his enduring impact on British music and visual arts, highlighting his pioneering role in alongside his graffiti and fine art works. In October 2025, named Goldie its Artist of the Month, honoring his ongoing influence in as he approached his 60th birthday and continued to shape the electronic music landscape through new releases and label activities.

Discography

Studio albums

Goldie's debut studio album, Timeless, released on 7 August 1995 by FFRR Records, marked a pivotal moment in drum and bass history with its fusion of intricate beats, soulful samples, and emotional depth. The album peaked at number 7 on the UK Albums Chart and earned a nomination for the 1995 Mercury Prize, highlighting its critical acclaim and influence on electronic music. His follow-up, , arrived in 1998 as a ambitious on , expanding into experimental territories with orchestral arrangements, including the epic 60-minute composition "" that incorporated strings and classical influences. It reached number 15 on the , reflecting Goldie's bold artistic risks amid shifting electronic genres. After a long hiatus from full-length releases, Goldie returned with The Journey Man on 16 June 2017 via his own label, reaffirming his foundations through a double-disc set blending , atmospheric breaks, and collaborations with artists like and Terri Walker. The album peaked at number 43 on the , signifying a triumphant reconnection with his origins. In 2025, under his Rufige Kru alias, Goldie released Alpha Omega on 16 May via London Records, a 12-track returning to darkside roots with collaborations including Submotive and , emphasizing raw, urban production; it entered the Independent Album Breakers Chart at number 4 but did not chart on the main . Also in 2025, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Timeless, Goldie issued a limited-edition reissue featuring remastered audio and new mixes on London Records, preserving the album's legacy while introducing fresh interpretations for contemporary audiences.
AlbumRelease YearLabelUK Peak Chart PositionKey Significance
Timeless1995FFRR7Groundbreaking drum and bass debut; Mercury Prize nominee.
Saturnz Return1998FFRR15Double album with orchestral experimentation.
The Journey Man2017Metalheadz43Return to drum and bass after 19 years.
Alpha Omega (as Rufige Kru)2025London RecordsIndependent Breakers: 4Darkside jungle album with collaborations.
Timeless (30th Anniversary Edition)2025London RecordsN/AReissue with new mixes marking three decades.

Singles and EPs

Goldie's breakthrough into the mainstream came through a series of singles and EPs released in the mid-1990s on the FFRR , which highlighted his innovative sound. The double A-side single "Inner City Life" / "Pressure," featuring vocals by , marked his first significant chart success, peaking at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart upon its 1995 re-release. This track, known for its atmospheric strings and emotional depth, became a cornerstone of the genre and was later reissued in various formats, including a 2021 vinyl edition that topped the Official Vinyl Singles Chart. Other notable 1995 releases included "Kern Fusion," a high-energy EP showcasing Goldie's technical prowess in production, and "Mother," a reflective track that explored personal themes through extended orchestral arrangements. These works were instrumental in establishing his reputation as a pioneer in electronic music, often associated with the broader context of his debut Timeless. In the 2010s, Goldie continued releasing singles tied to his evolving career, such as "Kensal Road" in 2017 on , a label he co-founded, reflecting his mature fusion of and elements. Under his Rufige Kru alias, Goldie has maintained an output of raw, club-oriented EPs into the . A prominent example is the Terminator EP, originally from but remastered and reissued in 2025, featuring intense tracks like "Terminator" and "Sinister" that underscore his darkside roots. This release, produced in collaboration with artists like Submotive, reaffirms Rufige Kru's influence on contemporary .
TitleYearLabelUK Chart Peak
"Inner City Life" / "Pressure"1995FFRR39
Kern Fusion (EP)1995FFRR-
Mother1995FFRR-
Kensal Road2017Metalheadz-
Terminator (EP, remastered as Rufige Kru)2025Metalheadz-

DJ mixes and compilations

Goldie's contributions to DJ mixes and compilations have been pivotal in shaping the genre, often curating selections that highlight both classic tracks and emerging talent from his label and beyond. His mixes emphasize seamless transitions and thematic depth, reflecting his role as a tastemaker in the scene. Key releases include:
  • Platinum Breakz (1996, ): A foundational compilation curated by Goldie, featuring pivotal tracks from artists like Doc Scott and , marking an early showcase of the Metalheadz sound.
  • INCredible Sound of Drum'n'Bass (1999, FFKK/): A high-energy DJ mix compiling influential anthems, demonstrating Goldie's mixing prowess with over 20 tracks spanning the genre's evolution.
  • Goldie.co.uk (2001, Justice Records): A continuous blending underground cuts and vocal-led pieces, released as a digital and CD package to capture the early scene.
The MDZ series on Metalheadz, curated and mixed by Goldie during the , represents his ongoing label stewardship:
  • MDZ.03 (, ): A 20-track mix focusing on atmospheric and rolling basslines from roster artists like Calibre and D Bridge.
  • MDZ.04 (2004, ): Continuing the series with a selection of deeper, experimental , including exclusive dubs and remixes. [Note: Master page references series context]
  • Watch the Ride (2008, Tuff Cut): A dynamic DJ mix compiling 25 tracks from the Hospital Records collective and beyond, emphasizing uplifting and neurofunk elements.
  • FabricLive 58 (2011, Fabric Records): Goldie's entry in the renowned FabricLive series, a 60-minute unbroken mix of over 30 tracks fusing vintage jungle with contemporary bass music.
In later years, Goldie continued curating expansive collections, such as Drum & Bass Life (2019, Universal Music On Demand), a 4-CD, 60-track compilation tracing the genre's history with personal selections from Roni Size to Goldie himself. Tied to Metalheadz's 30th anniversary in 2025, Goldie delivered the Mix (June 2025), a live DJ set blending archival cuts with new VIP remixes, broadcast as part of anniversary programming.

Filmography

Feature films

Goldie's entry into feature films marked a significant expansion of his creative pursuits beyond music, beginning in the late with roles that leveraged his charismatic presence in and thriller genres. In Everybody Loves Sunshine (1999), directed by Andrew Goth, Goldie portrayed Terry, a ruthless gang leader navigating post-prison vendettas in Manchester's underworld alongside co-star David Bowie as the rival crime boss. The film, also known as Busted in some markets, explores themes of loyalty and violence in a gritty British gangster narrative. That same year, he took on the antagonistic role of Mr. Bullion in the James Bond installment The World Is Not Enough (1999), directed by Michael Apted, where his character serves as a henchman to the terrorist Renard, distinguished by his gold dental prosthetics and expertise in improvised weaponry. Goldie's performance added a memorable layer of menace to the film's high-stakes espionage plot. Goldie continued with Snatch (2000), Guy Ritchie's ensemble crime comedy, in which he played Bad Boy Lincoln, a tough member of the nomadic community entangled in schemes involving a stolen diamond and underground fights. His role contributed to the film's chaotic energy and cult following among ensemble casts featuring and . In the independent thriller The Price of Air (2000), directed by Ben Pettit, Goldie appeared as The Greaser, a enigmatic associate in a story of desperation and urban survival centered on a searching for his vanished girlfriend. The low-budget production highlighted his versatility in smaller-scale dramatic roles. Goldie has also made credited appearances in documentaries, such as The Last Angel of History (1996), where he discussed the intersections of black music, , and as part of an exploration of featuring artists like George Clinton and Derrick May.

Television roles and appearances

Goldie portrayed the gangster Angel Hudson in the EastEnders from 2001 to 2002, appearing in 12 episodes as a recurring who sought to collect debts from local characters. In 2002, he entered the house for the show's second series on , where his outspoken personality drew attention, though he became the first housemate evicted after six days. Goldie competed in the 2008 BBC Two reality series , training under professional conductors to lead an orchestra; he reached the final and finished as runner-up, behind winner , who conducted at the Proms in the Park. As a contestant on the eighth series of in 2010, Goldie partnered with professional dancer and performed routines including a cha-cha-cha and before becoming the first celebrity eliminated in the second week's results show. He has appeared as a guest on music and comedy panel shows, including an episode of in 2000, where he joined team captain for musical identification challenges. In 2022, Goldie appeared as himself in the documentary series The Evolution of Black British Music.

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