Rusty Egan

Rusty Egan, co-founder of Visage and resident DJ at London’s iconic Blitz Club, helped define the New Romantic music movement. His autobiography captures the birth of British electronic music, 1980s London nightlife, and collaborations with Midge Ure, Steve Strange, and other pioneers.

RustyEgan is one of the most iconic and influential figures in the electronic music industry. His career began in the music industry as a runner atDJM studios, followed by a stint at WEA Records. Rusty collaborated with formerSex Pistols member Glen Matlock, alongside Steve New and MidgeUre, to establish the new wave band Rich Kids. Their debut album, Ghostsof Princes in Towers, released in 1978, achieved both critical acclaim andcommercial success. During the Rich Kids tours, Rusty met Steve Strange.This encounter led to Rusty's concept for a club night at Billy's, a Sohovenue, catering to fashionable punks and showcasing the music they werepassionate about. In 1979, they moved their club night to the Blitz in CoventGarden. As the resident DJ at the Blitz, Rusty played a pivotal rolein introducing British, German, and Japanese electronica to the Britishclub scene, essentially curating the soundtrack for the burgeoning NewRomantic movement.

Rusty Egan was instrumental in the formation of the band Visagewith Midge Ure. Steve Strange joined them as the frontman (face and voice), andthe lineup was completed by Billy Currie on keyboards, along with JohnMcGeoch (guitar), Dave Formula (keyboards), and Barry Adamson(bass), all from the band MAGAZINE.

Beyond his band work Rusty co-founded the incredibly popular CamdenPalace nightclub in London with Steve Strange, where he continued tochampion and shape the development of electronica in the UK. He alsoestablished Metropolis Music, a publishing and production company,allowing him to create music as well as perform it.

Inmore recent news, Rusty released his album Welcome To The Dancefloorin 2017, which featured collaborations with Midge Ure, Tony Hadley, and PeterHook. Furthermore, in June 2024, Demon Records Rusty Egan is stillregularly DJing and in September 2025 will be releasing his new album Romantic to coincidewith this autobiography and the Design Museum's Blitz Club Exhibition centred ofcourse, around Rusty.