Phil Free Art Runs Alot | The Official Phil Free Art Website

My real name is Phil.

My friend Gene and I started a little publication called Free Art! a long time ago (July 1992). People just started calling me Phil Free Art because of that little publication. Free Art is not my last name. I also DJ too. Not as much as I used too.. but I still got the records much to the dismay of my flatmates.

My artist bio goes like this:
When I was in grade school I liked a girl. However she liked a guy. This guy could draw. So I started to learn how to draw by tracing art and photos that I found in books and magazines. I just kept going from there. Influences: comic book art, graffiti with a touch of classic early 20th century animation. You can view my artwork here.

My DJ bio goes like this:
I started dabbling with djing back in the early 80′s. I saw the video “Hey DJ” by the World’s Famous Supreme Team which featured scratching. All that scratching made me itch to be a DJ. After finding my dad’s Radio Shack mixer and figuring out how to hook it up to the stereo I began my journey as a DJ. In time I went from using 1 turntable and a reel to reel to 2 mismatch turntables and now using today’s technology (well a lap top and a the Vestax VCI-100). I still prefer using vinyl more than anything and when I play out I use nothing but vinyl. The digital stuff I use for my own pleasure.

Musically I went from the early disco/r&b/euro-Italo/new wave that was the foundation of house music all the way up to hardcore. Being from Chicago in the 80′s I experienced first hand the growth of house music form the view of someone who found it on a college radio show (WNUR’s Street Beat show) as well as the mixes on WBMX and WGCI. I was too young to go to the Music Box to hang out w/ Ron Hardy. In time I started going to clubs such as Medusas, Limelight and various rollerskating jams at the Rainbow Roller Rink. There I heard more music not played on the radio. SO much to hear and with fresh ears. All this with out musical boundaries. This proved to be an asset for me as I grew as a DJ. In the late 80′s in early 90′s I had my own radio show in college. After college I was able to guest dj on a few of Chicago’s college radio stations such as WHPK and WIIT (Thank’s Matt Positive and Gene Parayno).

As have very little musical boundaries, I was able to enjoy music on my own terms. Music was good to me as long as I though it moved me. House/Techno/Disco…whatever. It was an ever evolving musical growth that lead to my love to hardcore: both gabber and happy hardcore. All along while in the 90′s pushing the hardcore, I also dabbled in drum & bass/jungle which has lead me to many gigs where I played what has become “classic” drum & bass/jungle. However due to a break-in, I no longer have those cuts as well as many of classic early 90′s rave track. I will not use MP3′s.

In the 90′s Rave scene, the “Free Art” publication helped open a few doors and make friends with not only the party-goers, but also the party makers. Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Also shopping at various music spots helped establish contact with other-like minded DJ’s (something that probably doesn’t happen enough now-a-days). From Hyperactive and Mark Almaria @ Hip House to Reese Urban @ Supreme to Phantom 45 abd Dr. Groo @ Hot Jams to Derrick Carter, Josh Werner and Justin Long at Gramaphones, not only was I stocked with some awesome tunes, I was also lucky enough to meet some awesome people (who happen to be pretty darn good DJ’s).

I have a “blog” I call Misshappenings. I also have a facebook profile.