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Rest in peace... DJ Big Matt

Matt Watson, aka DJ Big Matt, passed away on Friday June 15. Matt was born in Australia and moved to New Zealand in 1972. Matt discovered reggae from his older brother, and started DJing reggae and ska along with soul and rare groove as the club scene in Auckland sprang into life in the early 80s, at Quays, Zanzibar, Collage, Monitor Room, Fingerpop & The Press Club.

He hosted the legendary Skavoovie Sound nights at the Gluepot, and shared his love of reggae over the radio with listeners for ten years on the 'Downbeat Show' on 95BFM (with co-host Yardboy, aka Michael Wells, and later Ruffian, aka Jon Coles), and then for a year on Base FM with 'Wickidness', until his day job as a locations manager for Shortland St took over.

Matt was a scooter fanatic, running a scooter shop for many years in Richmond Road. I first came across him DJing at a party there, in the back yard, with Yardboy. I worked alongside Matt as part of the Bassteppa Sound System, and spent many a happy night mixing up effects and delays while peering at Matt's selections, trying desperately to read the labels so I could rush out the next day and buy them too.

He loved sharing music, and when I'd go to visit him, he'd delight in pulling out new tunes and say "have you heard this?" and then drop the needle on another great record he'd discovered while searching the net­ - he was an internet fiend when it came to finding records. I remember him playing me a tune we'd discussed often, telling me he'd got it online from a record store in Glasgow. He was dedicated to the pursuit of fine tuneage, and he was happy to tell you where he got it from, because he wasn't elitist about his tunes, like some DJs.

His passion for music was overshadowed by his passion for his family ­Trish, his partner of over 20 years (they met when he was living at the Red House), and his two children, Henry (4) and Lola-Jean (1). Three weeks before he passed away, Matt and Trish got married in a very moving ceremony. He succumbed to cancer, aged 42. He wasn't ready to go.

His funeral was attended by everyone from scooter boys to Shortland St stars, DJs, and many more. His co-host on the Downbeat Show, Michael Wells, talked at the funeral about how he first met Matt, when he bought a scooter off of him. "Naturally, it broke down." Matt fixed it and it then, it broke down again. And again, and Michael couldn't afford to get it fixed, so asked Matt if he could work to pay it off, and Matt gave him a job, out back in the yard, hence his DJ name.

Big Matt was a wicked DJ, and a fine, fine man. He will be greatly missed.

Leave a message his Myspace page here, if you want...