RIP DJ Alfredo
So sad to hear of the Ibiza legend's passing
Welcome back to Music Is The Answer. Today’s edition is in honour of DJ Alfredo, who has just passed away.
Several electronic music icons have departed this year, and Alfredo is undoubtedly one of those. A relatively unassuming character whose impact and influence is far reaching and deeply embedded in the DNA of contemporary dance music culture. Architect of the “Balearic” sound (along with the late José Padilla), inspiration to countless party people and DJs and a key figure in the burgeoning Ibiza club scene way back before most of us even knew about the magical island, Alfredo is a legend.
I was fortunate enough to meet him and interview him way back in 2014, during IMS. I found him to be a humble man, with a warm, kind energy. You can read the interview below.
Like many of his contemporaries, and those who contributed to the foundations of the culture we’ve all become part of, he put the music above himself. Through his fabled sets at Amnesia, where he was resident in the late eighties, Alfredo cultivated an approach that was eclectic, and centred around soundtracking the hazy hedonism, progressive attitudes and warm hues of the Balearic island. His long sets incorporated a variety of styles; new wave, indie, early electronic dance cuts, synth pop… and much more, all carrying a certain effervescence and spirit that epitomised the fun, frolics and togetherness that defined the formative years of Amnesia. His time at Amnesia preceded residencies at Space, for We Love, and, later, with Sankeys for their Dance 88/89 promotion.
It has been written into British electronic music folklore that the reverberations of Alfredo’s seminal sets were felt all the way back here in the UK, after the so-called “Ibiza Four” had a life-changing experience at Amnesia. Those four were Nicky Holloway, Pete Tong, Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold. Their experience fed back into the undercurrent of house music that was bubbling away in London, and led to all four of them setting up their own nights in an attempt to encapsulate what they’d seen and heard in Ibiza. Not so much “starting” acid house, as was often reported in years gone by, but certainly contributing significantly to what was an already growing scene in the capital - parallel to pockets of similar activity which were also occuring across the rest of the UK.
Alfredo Fiorito moved to Ibiza from his native Argentina in 1976. His son Jaime was born a year after the move. In Argentina he’d worked as a journalist, while, in Ibiza, he tried his hand at a variety of different jobs including fashion designer, candle maker, delivery man and barman. It was while working at a bar in Ibiza Port, called Bebop, that he started DJing. Initially intimidated, but intrigued, by the two turntables and mixer, he kept a distance seeing it as an “impossible dream”. Eventually he gave it a try and couldn’t believe he could play one record after another.
While DJing at Bebop he was offered the chance to play at Amnesia, which was still a small open-air club at that time. Apparently, things didn’t quite work out as well as he’d hoped the first time around - at a party called Imposible - but he perservered and, with the support of Amnesia’s staff, went on to have a hugely successful residency. His musical selections were key to an atmosphere of free expression under the sun and the stars, sparking joy and unity in the hundreds of revelers who joined him on his nine-hour musical journeys.
In 1988 he was made Artistic Director at Amnesia, a position he held for two years before departing and heading over to Pacha. He grafted through the summer months and then toured outside Ibiza in the winter, with bookings up and down the UK and across Europe.
In the nineties, things stepped up even more with bookings in Singapore, Thailand, Japan and a new role at Manumission, and its carry on at Space on Tuesdays. Space became home to Alfredo, and he also began to play at the legendary terrace on Sundays leading to him recording the club’s first ever CD compilation. In the years since, he’s become part of Ibiza folklore, one of the island’s originals who helped set the tone for its formative dance music ethos.
From the early eighties up until almost forty years later, Alfredo has been a modest and vital presence behind the decks, providing the musical backdrop to countless sunkissed days and hedonistic nights for thousands and thousands of people. A DJ in the truest sense, his selections were impeccable, crafting sets that blended a myriad styles, while holding true to a sound that was spellbinding and soul nourishing.
As Irish DJ and music journalist Cian Ó Cíobháin said on Instagram, “If you heard Alfredo play U2’s “I Still Haven't Found What I’m Looking For” at sunrise at Amnesia, it was a Balearic record. If you hear it in almost any other context, it’s just one of U2’s biggest selling singles.” He did what many of the greatest DJs did and made songs fit into his sound, changing their context through his inspired curation. The Balearic sound is a vibe, not so much a specific genre with rigid stylistic guidelines.
He was a stalwart of Ibiza’s old guard, but always open to connecting with new people and younger DJs. With his son Jaime he formed a duo called Heritage DJs, and he was friends with many of the scene’s best-known personalities. Hugely admired and respected, Alfredo truly is an icon.
RIP DJ Alfredo. Thankyou for everything <3
Speaking to the Guardian in 2007, he said: “I used to be a newspaper journalist in Argentina, where I wrote about music and organised rock concerts. However, I had to leave the country during the military dictatorship in the late Seventies. After leaving Argentina, I traveled to Paris and Madrid before eventually ending up in Ibiza to visit a friend. I enjoyed the place so much that I decided to stay, and started selling candles and clothing to make a living.
In 1982, a friend of mine who owned a club called Amnesia asked me to take charge of the place while he went to Thailand. Amnesia was a club that used to be a farmhouse, attracting musicians and Indian gurus. It was a place where everyone was welcome, regardless of their background or social class. I became the only DJ at Amnesia and we opened at 3am and went on until midday. People would come down after other clubs shut down for the night.
Amnesia had a unique atmosphere that made it stand out from other clubs. It was a place where people could let loose and be themselves. It was a cheap place to party, and anyone could come and have a good time.”
Here are a few of the many tributes that have been posted in the last 24 hours:
Amnesia: “Dear Alfredo, Thank you for the nights and beats we shared together. Your music and vision shaped the sound of Balearic Beat and the soul of Amnesia. So many memories were made through your energy, your legacy will live on our dance floor forever. You will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, Alfredo. The Amnesia Family.”
Bushwacka: “RIP Alfredo. This legend inspired generations of DJs, promotors, and clubbers for decades. I first met Alfredo when I was a skinny wide eyed 17 year old- I was given the honor of DJing on the same line up as him at Amnesia, back when there was no roof on the club. Those hazy first memories were of this man being a very special soul.
We shared a weekly residency in 2015/2016 in Ibiza playing classic Acid House and Balearic beats at Dance 88/89 events at Sankeys. It was a beautiful summer indeed, being privy to his wonderful music every Wednesday. I remember when we met up before starting the summer, to discuss programming the night. Dave Vincent said to Alfredo “how long do you normally like to play for?” He looked at me with that infectious smile, and said “10 hours”. The real deal.
I last saw the man 3 weeks ago over Sunday lunch, where he was dropping some wicked tunes as usual. Only love for Alfredo. A real legend of the OG DJ community and a giant of Ibiza folklore.”
Lisa Loud: My heart is broken. If it wasn’t for this man I am certain the scene and the dedication to dancing together and the explosion of love that rippled through the world with the birth of the Balearic sound of ibiza would have meant a very different outcome. Born from inspirational days and nights in ibiza in the mid 80’s to the present day we were a community brought together by the sounds of this genious. Musicality from every genre put together releasing magic in a roofless amnesia, glory’s, pacha l, ku and every venue on the island in the heady days of the real ibiza.
Alfredo you were a sector of such uniqueness we were mesmerised week in week out. Your influence has crafted a generation and a history that has moulded the last 40 years of my life. You sincerely are my biggest inspiration and to have known you and grown up with you and grown up with myself learning from you is absolutely one of the greatest gifts. How lucky were we to have danced under the stars to you. How much have you imprinted my life and the life of a whole generation.
It is somewhat fitting that you take your final flight at a time where everyone is with their most dearest (if possible) and if not with them in heart in mind and spirit. I am stunned and sad but I am more blessed than anyone can imagine that you were our inspiration back in the day, and to the present day.
Love to your family at this time and all of those that found happiness in what you did, which reaches thousands and thousands world wide.
You were the realest of deals darling Alfie. Love you forever.
Thank you!”
Andy Carroll: “Rise In Power DJ Alfredo, Alfredo Fiorito , Alfie , Balearic Maestro and all round LEGEND ! ...... I have worked with Alfie many times both in the studio and mostly DJing , so many stories could be told but an obscure one was when we were working on some tracks and had a night out on the town ... You can't imagine how he found Blimpers in Chester to remind him of a place he once knew where he grew up en Rosario , Argentina ?! .What a life he led and legacy he has left behind ~ Saluté amigo.”
Phonica: Sad to hear of the passing of DJ Alfredo, Ibiza legend, originator of the sound that became ‘Balearic’, resident of Amnesia in its early days (and later at Pacha & Space) , an inspiration to many. The Argentinian artist, Alfredo Fiorito, emigrated to Ibiza in 1976 and helped to grow the popularity of dance music on the island. A lovely man dedicated to music and the art of DJing. Rest in Peace Alfredo 1953-2024. Our love and condolences go to his son , Jaime, original Phonica crew, and to all the family. ♥️”
Kirk Field (Rave New World Author): Farewell Alfredo Florito. You changed the course of culture in a way no other DJ has. They say 'never meet your heroes'. You proved them wrong. You always had time for me, and your blessing meant so much after you received my book. I'll miss your birthday message, which every year was different. I'm grateful I got to tell you how you touched my life. Millions - and there are millions - didn't get that chance. Adios father, catalyst and being of light.
Giles Smith: “RIP ALFREDO 🕊️🕊️🕊️ You’ll be sorely missed. What an influence and legacy as a DJ. So much love to your family, close friends and especially Jaime Fiorito.”
Sister Bliss: “Very sad to hear the news about DJ Alfredo - my first trip to Ibiza in 92 was to play for him at Amnesia ... safe to say he changed the world of music for the better. Fly high to the great gig in the sky.”
Interview with Alfredo (2014)
Alfredo moved to Ibiza from his native Argentina in the early eighties. Though the island was nowhere near as much of a clubbing hotspot as it is now, he became fascinated with DJing after picking up work at a bar – it wasn’t long before he’d become resident at Amnesia where he cultivated what became known as the ‘Balearic’ sound. He also partly contributed to the UK’s acid house movement, after Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway, Danny Rampling and Johnny Walker (AKA the Ibiza Four) visited Amnesia in 1987 and attempted to replicate what they’d heard with their own London club nights. I was fortunate enough to be granted some time with Alfredo at the recent International Music Summit in Ibiza.
How’s everything going at the moment, keeping busy?
Yes, I’ve been travelling a lot. I was in Japan recently, England, France, Germany.
I’ve been to Japan a few times now, maybe six times. It was really good this time around as I was with my son, we have a project together called The Heritage Project where we play back-to-back together.
Cool! That’s great, how did that all come together? Has he always been a DJ, too?
He’s done many things: real estate, selling phones in Switzerland, but he’s been DJing for a long time as well. He was around me at parties and in clubs when he was young and naturally got into it. He organised some parties in Switzerland a few years ago as well, we started to play together at Manumission I think, from there we started playing Space at We Love and other places.
Where does the name come from?
It comes from my son, he thought that since we’re doing the father and son thing and it’s influence comes from the past, the name was a perfect fit for the project.
Being someone who’s been here in Ibiza for several decades now, what do you think about Ibiza’s evolution and the changes that have happened over the years?
It’s changing with the times. The world is changing and so Ibiza is changing, you either move with the times and accept it, or you don’t.
What effect has it had on your career?
Not much really, I do what people call me to do. But I’m not playing in places like Ushuaïa, I prefer to play in smaller places.
Do you keep up to date with much new music?
Yes I do, but I play a lot of older music – nineties house and that kind of thing. I like to keep a mix of old and new when I play.
I think a mistake that some people make is trying to play all the latest music. A lot of time an audience isn’t really aware of what’s old and what’s new.
It depends on the crowd. A timeless track will always sound modern, it’s happened to me many times where somebody has asked me about a track thinking it’s brand new, and they’ve been surprised when I’ve explained that it’s actually quite old.
What was it that first turned you on to DJing?
I started working in a bar, serving drinks. They had two turntables and a mixer set up but I didn’t know how to use them, for me it was an impossible dream. Eventually I got to try it out and it was like a miracle, I couldn’t believe I could play one record after the other.
I had a similar revelation when I was a kid and I had a two-deck tape player which would play one tape over another, so I could “DJ” with tapes! Do you have many plans about your future?
Just to keep my residency at We Love and there’s also a possibility of another residency on the island, which isn’t finalised yet. Apart from that, just more traveling for gigs.
Since you’re a little older now, how do you deal with the travelling thing?
Well, after the attack on the Twin Towers in New York, travel changed a lot. It’s much more complicated now. Low cost airlines have also had an impact, but this is the life we live and I can’t really complain.
When did you first begin to start travelling outside Ibiza to play?
I actually first started travelling for gigs in my car! I went to Barcelona in the mid-eighties and played gigs there, I had a residency in Madrid. I had connections in Italy, so I went there – Switzerland, Germany, France – I’ve been travelling for gigs for over three decades and I’m still doing it.
You’re a very important figure to the UK’s dance music scene, too. How does it feel when people like myself tell you how much of an effect you’ve had on their lives?
It’s a surprise every time! It’s a really nice feeling that someone’s been affected in that way. But I always say, “Don’t believe the hype”! [Laughs].
For sure, if you believe your own hype it’s over! How has being in Ibiza affected you as a person?
I came here from Argentina when I was 23 and it has affected me in every kind of way. It’s incredible, and even more magic back then that it is now… for me anyway. Young people coming here now will experience a different kind of magic that is special to them.
Beautifully written Marcus :)