Tributes paid after death of J Saul Kane, AKA Depth Charge: “A true trailblazer” 

The English DJ and musician is often credited as one of the founders of trip-hop

Tributes have been paid following the passing of J Saul Kane, who has died aged 55.

Born in 1969, the English DJ and musician has recorded music since the late ‘80s, and worked under titles including The Octagon Man and Depth Charge.

Often credited as a pioneer for both thrip-hop and big beat, Kane made a name for himself for his experimental and groundbreaking use of samples in his work. Famously, he would often use samples from cult films – particularly in the martial arts and Spaghetti Western genres.

Later in his career, Kane went on to become the owner of two record labels, DC Recordings and Electron Industries, and released the 1990 single ‘Goal’, which was made in celebration of the Brazil football team.

While no official posts have been shared across any of his online platforms at time of writing, and details around his cause of death remain unknown, news of his passing has been shared widely, with countless fans and fellow artists taking to social media to pay their respects.

“Sad news that thudding Dub Master J Saul Kane has left the building,” wrote band The Soap Company on X/Twitter. “Depth Charge & Octagon Man head honcho. His colossal slates were staple in our DJ sets in the 90’s. The Man knew how to fill a floor…AND make it ripple. This was our fave. RIP Chief.”

Elsewhere, another fan hailed the artist as “a true trailblazer gone way too soon,” while someone else highlighted that his singles as Depth Charge “were miles ahead of the game”.

In a post on X, JD Twitch of Optimo (Espacio) shared an update calling Kane “an all time great UK producer”. Going on to share audio of ‘Free-er Than Free’ (Octagon Man) and ‘1st 12”’ (Depth Charge), he added: “He made so many great records but these two very early ones were just so far ahead of the pack at the time.”

Find more tributes to J Saul Kane below.

Also taking to X/Twitter, another fan wrote: “His beatsmithery was second to none, often sampling obscure horror or martial arts films, or Brazilian football commentators such as the one here. A free thinker & lovely fella too. 55 is no age.”

Website Dogs On Acid praised him as “iconic” and “hugely influential from the mid-’80s onwards”, while also recalling how DC Recordings became “one of the last small independents to survive as a going concern with full time staff before it became impossible.”

This is a developing story.