Melbourne DJ Guy Uppiah Passes Away

Melbourne DJ Guy Uppiah has passed away, fellow Aussie musician Gavin Campbell revealed on social media on Saturday (20 April).

Uppiah, an influential figure in Melbourne’s rave scene, ran the nightclub Razor alongside Campbell. The space impressed some of the world’s biggest stars, including Bono and Michael Hutchence.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that I make this post today,” Campbell wrote. “I am so sorry to have to inform you that our beloved friend and legendary Melbourne DJ Guy Uppiah has sadly, passed away.”

Sharing a statement from Guy’s family, Campbell sent condolences to his siblings—Annick, Clarel, Lis and Martine—as well as Guy’s “loved ones, friends and admirers”.

In their statement, Guy Uppiah’s family shared that he passed away peacefully on Saturday, 30 March, but were unable to share the news sooner as his brother, Clarel, was travelling overseas.

“It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that we announce the passing of our handsome and beautiful brother Guy Desireé Uppiah (aka- Mémé),” his family shared in a touching statement. “The Angels took him home peacefully in his sleep [on] 30/03/2024 to be with our loving parents.”

Guy Uppiah’s family will host a celebration of his life this Friday, 26 April, at Bunurong Memorial Park in Dandenong South, Victoria. The celebration begins at 2:30 pm and will be live-streamed—a link will be provided three days before the memorial takes place.

The Uppiah family would like to see all attendees wear a splash of colour to celebrate Guy’s life and legacy and request no flowers.

If you’d like to make a donation in place of flowers, the Uppiah family suggest the Heart Foundation or any other charity organisation of your choice.

In a blog post shared by Blipster, Guy Uppiah has been described as a “pioneer in blending disco, pop and early house all into one endless hedonistic rhythm.”

In a 2017 Red Bull oral history of Melbourne’s rave scene from 1988 to 1997, Davide Carbone said about the Melbourne nightclub Razor, run by Gavin Campbell and Guy Uppiah, “Not enough credit goes to the gay community and the club that they had called Razor. And that was run by Gavin Campbell and Guy Uppiah, and they’d been doing that for years. And I remember the first time I attended one of those, thinking, wow – this music’s amazing, and they are actually playing a few house tunes.”