Pete Tong on existence as a mythical DJ: How the song celebrity went from taking part in £100 units in Kent villages to taking up the Royal Albert Hall

Despite his title being slang for issues going improper, it has all long past proper for Pete Tong and his occupation.

The veteran DJ, who over time has develop into one of the vital largest names in dance song, in addition to being the BBC‘s longest-serving DJ, began out by way of taking part in village halls in Kent and incomes simply £100 a collection. 

Now, the 64-year-old has as soon as once more taken to the enduring degree on the Royal Albert Hall to accomplish his Ibiza Classics with Jules Buckley and the Essential Orchestra, because it celebrates its 10th anniversary. 

But existence wasn’t all the time large levels and crowds for Pete, as he stocks with MailOnline how his first gig was once at a college disco, the place he carried out free of charge and needed to paintings a ‘customary task’ at the facet.

During an unique interview, Pete defined: ‘The first time I ever performed was once a college disco, and I were given paid not anything as a result of I used to be studying tips on how to do it. 

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The veteran DJ, who over time has develop into one of the vital largest names in dance song began out by way of taking part in village halls in Kent and incomes simply £100 a collection (Pete pictured in Pacha Ibiza in 2012) 

‘Then I rented a village corridor. It was once moderately entrepreneurial taking a look again, and I caught posters up across the village and did this celebration and ended up with £100 at the kitchen desk. 

‘I used to be round 16-years-old on the time and that was once moderately some huge cash again then.’

While discovering his ft within the song business, Pete labored at Blues & Soul mag, sooner than touchdown an afternoon task as an A&R guy at London Records.

‘My method into raving was once being the DJ. I used to be out so much, taking a look again at my outdated diaries I used to be taking part in six or seven instances per week, however I wasn’t raving I used to be taking part in. I clearly did move to golf equipment sometimes,’ he added.

Pete grew up in Dartford along his father who was once a bookie and mom who was once a former publican. 

Despite neither of them being musicians, Pete’s love for song began to turn at a tender age. 

He shared: I did not come from a musical circle of relatives, however my dad did gather numerous information. It simply become a pastime early on in my existence, then become a keenness after which a existence. 

‘My folks informed me I used to be interested in song as a toddler, banging issues, strumming issues. I were given a toy drum package after which an actual drum package and went from there.’

Pete pictured with fellow mythical DJs Paul Oakenfold and Fatboy Slim in 1999

Pete admits ‘staying wholesome and related’ has been the most important problem all the way through his occupation (Pictured appearing all the way through the Coronation Concert in 2023)

Recalling the instant he knew he sought after to be a DJ, he stated: ‘I noticed a college DJ and it modified my existence. A humble DJ at a college disco and I assumed, “that would be fun to do”.

Pete admits ‘staying wholesome and related’ has been the most important problem all the way through his occupation.

‘I do not lose sleep over it, however positive alternatives come alongside and also you more or less reinvent your self in tactics you by no means idea,’ he says.

‘The easiest instance being at this time with the orchestra. If you had requested me 20 years in the past, “what are you going to do in 10 years, how can you take your career to a whole other level?” I will be able to ensure I don’t have stated an orchestra. 

‘There’s quite a lot of other demanding situations however it is only benefiting from the alternatives and being thankful.’

Pete stated it was once additionally arduous juggling his busy agenda with circle of relatives existence, however admits it was once his children who saved him grounded.

He stocks 3 adolescents along with his ex-wife Deborah. Their marriage broke down in 2003. Pete additionally has some other kid and two step-children along with his 2nd spouse Carolina Acosta, who he married in 2006.

The broadcaster defined: ‘It is for sure a problem, and also you be told so much alongside the best way. It additionally helps to keep you in point of fact grounded, with that duty and that to move house to, and I want to suppose that may be a large reason I’m nonetheless doing what I’m doing.

‘When I began DJing, I decided early on that I might best do the bits I in point of fact sought after to do and liked. I did not need to be on radio seven days per week and I did not need to be gigging seven nights per week. 

Pete and his 2nd spouse Carolina Acosta, who he married in 2006, pictured

Pete (pictured with DJ daughter Becky) stated it was once additionally arduous juggling his busy agenda with circle of relatives existence, however admits it was once his children who saved him grounded 

Pete gained an MBE in 2014 for his products and services to broadcasting and song, and the award was once offered by way of the Duke of Cambridge

‘I sought after to select and make a choice, and so I more or less all the time had an afternoon task once I first began, as a result of DJing wasn’t observed to be the be all and finish all, and the cash wasn’t the similar from once I began to what it’s now in order that created a extra common surroundings round my children.’

Now, Pete and Jules are celebrating a decade in their Ibiza Classics with a string of presentations at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall. 

The pair first teamed up in 2015 to accomplish for BBC Proms, an annual summer time sequence bringing day-to-day classical song to the Royal Albert Hall, however have went directly to excursion Europe with the orchestra. 

Each of the 4 presentations will characteristic distinctive programming, together with appearances from visitor vocalists Becky Hill, Jacob Lusk (Gabriels), Jazzy, Clementine Douglas, and Barbara Tucker.

Guest DJs Seth Troxler, Damian Lazarus, David Morales, and Paul Oakenfold may even sign up for the display.

Speaking about returning to the Royal Albert Hall after ten years, he stated: ‘It is surreal and galvanizing to come back into this type of historic position doing what we’re doing. 

‘But it is not a nightclub, so that you deal with it differently. We are all tremendous excited to be again.’

Pete and Jules are celebrating a decade in their Ibiza Classics with a string of presentations at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall

Speaking about returning to the Royal Albert Hall after ten years, he stated: ‘It is surreal and galvanizing to come back into this type of historic position doing what we’re doing’

Each of the 4 presentations will characteristic distinctive programming, together with appearances from visitor vocalists Becky Hill (pictured), Jacob Lusk (Gabriels), Jazzy, Clementine Douglas, and Barbara Tucker

And fanatics can be overjoyed to listen to that Pete has no plans to prevent after ten years: ‘There was once a time 5 years in the past after we stated we might most probably finish it if we made it to 10, however now we by no means need to finish it!’

Pete Tong Ibiza Classics is on the Royal Albert Hall, London, May 29 – June 1.

The broadcaster may be because of carry his acclaimed display to 6 UK arenas in December 2025.

Kicking off in Glasgow on December 4, the approaching run of presentations additionally contains stop-offs in Nottingham, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham. 

The excursion, which Pete describes as a ‘massive cell disco’, will conclude with two gigs at The O2 in London on December 12 and 13.