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DJ and Top Buzz member Jason Kaye has died aged 54

Tributes are pouring in for the British rave legend Jason Kaye, who stormed onto the scene in the '80s

Becky Buckle
14 March 2023

DJ and Top Buzz member Jason Kaye has died aged 54

13.03.2023: This article was amended with corrected information around Top Buzz

DJ, member of Top Buzz and UKG producer Jason Kaye has passed away aged 54.

The British DJ - whose real name was Jason Kyriakides - was one-third of the trio Top Buzz with Mad P and DJ Mikee B.

Formed in 1988, Top Buzz went on to release several singles and albums including the EP ‘Living in Darkness’ which was a regular hit at Fabio & Grooverider's London-based party, Rage.

The trio are regularly given credit for helping popularise jungle techno in the early '90s and Mad P and Jason Kaye had been continuing to highlight the scene by regularly appearing at old skool rave events across the UK.

Kyriakides went on to be the founder of the UKG label Social Circles in 1993. Social Circles worked with artists such as Gurley, Zed Bias, Sticky and The Wideboys on top of creating Kyriakides’ alias Ordinary People with Chris McFarlane, Russell Tait and Steve Gurley.

Ordinary People released six tracks from 1997 to 2000 including 'Baby You Make My Heart Sing' and 'Keep Your Love'.

On top of his label, he cofounded the iconic Garage Nation party with Steve "Turbo" Stone, which is still running.

Jason Kyriakides passed away on Saturday, March 11 with no cause of death disclosed.

Since the news of Kyriakides’ death, many fans and artists have shared their tributes on social media.

DJ Billy Daniel Bunter posted: “Legendary and pioneering dance music figure who’s presence is going to be missed. His lifetimes work is both groundbreaking and inspiring. He has influenced all of us across the many music spectrums that he injected his passion, knowledge and talent in to.”

He added: “On top of his incredible music achievements. He was an absolute gentleman.”

DJ Phantasy tweeted: “Im so sad to be typing this, RIP to the Legend Jason Kaye aka Top Buzz, someone who I lived with for 8 years in the early 90’s and we had some mad times during those hazy days. Jason was always there to help anyone he could.”