DJ Jim Baron Returns to Melbourne

Crazy Penis started out as a duo made up of Jim Baron and Chris Todd. They met at Nottingham University where they were studying to further themselves, or rather, sitting around smoking fags and trying to make records.

They did make a record called 'Digging Deeper' and it was released on the Musica Vitae label. The track got excellent reviews from the likes of Ashley Beedle, the Murk Boys and Laurent Garnier.

The second project was the one that would start their association with paperecordings. The track was called 'Summer Bummer' and it created an outstanding response all over the world, with the classic tones of Jim's trombone playing, a cheeky sample and an infectious house rhythm. It set the ball rolling to the second EP 'Baby We For Real' and their debut album.

As requests for live appearances started to come in, Jim and Chris realised they couldn't do it all on their own and new recruit Tim Davies was brought in. The resulting album 'A Nice Hot Bath With' is one of paper's biggest selling albums to date, confirming the popularity of the band with brilliant worldwide sales.

Since the release of their debut album the Crazy Penis crew have all been busy on different projects. Jim and Chris have been DJing in places such as Chicago, Istanbul and Huddersfield. Chris has been working on his solo project under the name 'Hot Toddy', with an album 'Super Magic' released in September 2000. Jim has written some solo material too, which will feature on paper's sister label repap under his new name Sir Ron Basejam.

The year 2000 saw some changes within the band. They had usually been an instrumental band, but now they thought that a singer would add some extra something - and it did in the shape of Danielle Moore. Danielle was a local DJ from Manchester and her voice was noticed due to her Shirley Bassey impressions. She soon stopped doing that, and started writing lyrics and melodies to past Crazy Penis tracks and working with the boys towards their second album.

In 2000, Crazy Penis produced loads of remixes for paper and other labels such as Naked Music in San Francisco and Irma in Italy. They have also enjoyed more and more live gigs and DJ work, with an appearance in Genoa, Italy as part of the city's New Year celebrations.

Crazy Penis are making a real name for themselves on the live circuit. They are now well travelled and experienced, taking in well over 15 countries and 30 cities across the UK and around the world.

2002 saw the release of their highly anticipated second album. Entitled 'The Wicked Is Music', it showed a different side to the band with a more mature and relaxed sound. Live vocals and instruments feature strongly throughout the record, which contains fewer samples.

Crazy Penis have been receiving regular airplay for all of the album tracks. In England, the Faze Action mix of their last single 'Give It Up' was a huge hit, with the likes of Stuart Patterson, David Duriez, d'Julz and Roger Sanchez regularly laying it out. It also hit the Buzz Chart on Radio 1 and lingered around there for a couple of weeks.

In Australia, the Triple J radio station got hooked on the opening album track 'There's A Better Place', and the band was soon signed to Universal Records for the region. This year's sold out live tour of Australia incited complete rock'n'roll madness, including a stage invasion during the band's Sydney encore!

With live requests flooding in, Crazy Penis have established themselves as serious musicians and charismatic performers. With the band close to completing a third album in their Nottingham studios, CPDJ Jim Baron is looking forward to busting some new tracks on his forthcoming Australasian tour…

FAMILY PRESENTS DJ JIM BARON (CRAZY PENIS)
SATURDAY AUGUST 9 AT SEVEN
52 ALBERT ROAD SOUTH MELBOURNE
DOORS OPEN 10PM
$15 ON THE DOOR

Click here for Nigel Tans interview with Jim