Don Letts is an iconic British cultural mover, shaker, filmmaker, musician, and disc jockey. Growing up in London to Jamaican parents, Letts became a key figure in the capital’s emerging youth movements. As the resident DJ at the legendary Roxy Club in 1977, he famously introduced punk crowds to reggae and dub, forging a lasting stylistic and political connection between the two scenes.
His acquaintanceships, meetings, and collaborations with the likes of Bob Marley, Andy Warhol, and Paul McCartney are well-documented, but his friendships with bands like The Clash led him to direct some of their music videos (including Rock The Casbah, filmed on unlikely location in Texas), establishing a visual identity that matched punk’s raw energy. Letts went on to shoot hundreds of videos for artists including Generation X, Public Image Ltd, and The Pretenders, becoming one of the most influential music filmmakers of his era.
In the 1980s and ’90s, he co-founded the bands Big Audio Dynamite (with Mick Jones) and later Screaming Target, blending dance rhythms, sampling, and rock influences long before the mainstream embraced such hybrids. As a documentarian, Letts created acclaimed films such as The Punk Rock Movie, Westway to the World (which earned a Grammy), and Punk: Attitude, all of which captured underground culture from an insider’s perspective.
Letts has remained a respected tastemaker as a BBC radio presenter, DJ, author, and cultural commentator. His work celebrates creativity without boundaries, championing diversity, rebel spirit, and the unifying power of bass culture.
As a DJ Don is known around the globe for his dynamic sets that blend old and new school dub reggae. Along with clubs set Don has performed at Glastonbury – Bestival – Lovebox – The Big Chill – Stussy 25th Anniversary – Adidas – Doctor Martins – Latitude – The Rough Trade 25th Anniversary – Lee Perry’s Meltdown – Rizzla – One Love Fest – Island Records 50th Anniversary – Massive Attack’s Meltdown – Vintage At Goodwood – Womad and Festival No.6 to name a few.
Grooving and dancing to Don Letts’ DJ set is the perfect night out on the town – March 21st – that first Saturday of the new spring season.
