Jonathan Saul Kane (26th January 1969 – November 2024) was a British DJ, musician, and producer who released music from 1987 as Depth Charge and The Octagon Man, amongst other aliases. He was involved in the founding of record label Vinyl Solution, as well as owner of his own labels DC Recordings and Electron Industries.[1][2][3][4]
Kane was well known for his pioneering use of samples, particularly from cult films in the martial arts, Spaghetti Western and pornographic genres.[1] He also made tracks celebrating his favourite football team (Brazil on the 1990 single "Goal") and player (on the 1998 single "Romário").[1] Kane was often credited with inventing "trip hop" and "big beat";[5] he used kung-fu film samples before Wu-Tang Clan. His other aliases include Alexander's Dark Band, T.E.T and Grimm Death.[1]
As a confirmed kung-fu film fan, Kane was involved in setting up the company Made in Hong Kong, which licensed Chinese movies, particularly those made by the Shaw Brothers. Many of these films are examples of the heroic bloodshed genre (The Killer, A Moment of Romance). Made in Hong Kong was the first company to release Stephen Chow films on VHS in the UK.[6]
Kane died in November 2024, at the age of 55.[7][8]
