Tributes have poured in over the last few days following the sad news that Christopher 'Chris The Disc' Langshaw, a man widely regarded as a Newcastle legend, has died after a battle with leukaemia. Chris was known for providing the soundtrack to countless nights out in the city and for raising substantial funds for charity.
A Beloved Figure in Newcastle's Nightlife
The sheer volume of people sharing their memories of Chris speaks volumes about how loved and highly regarded he was. While Newcastle remains a vibrant nightlife destination, things have changed since the glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s, an era when Chris was on the decks in the famous Bigg Market area. For many, he was synonymous with nights out at venues like The Pig and Whistle and Yel, when they were among the busiest spots in town. He began his DJ career at Jimmyz.
Friend and Colleague Pays Tribute
Chris's close friend and colleague, Andy Metcalfe, informed ChronicleLive of his passing. Andy, a former manager of The Pig and Whistle, is among many who have paid tribute since Chris died last Friday, 13 months after his leukaemia diagnosis. In addition to being a legendary DJ on the Newcastle circuit—stepping away from the decks in 2015 after serving as match day host at City Vaults—Chris contributed significantly to local causes. Notably, he undertook a 12,000-mile bike ride through Southeast Asia in 2017 and helped organise the hugely popular Bigg Market reunions.
Bigg Market Reunions Raise Thousands for Charity
The bar crawls, which transform newer venues into nostalgic spots like Macey's, the Half Moon, and Robinsons, were driven by Chris, Andy, Stella McKevitt, and Andrea Johnstone. The four reunion events have raised £130,000 for 15 non-profit charities in the North East. Andy wrote: 'Thank you, Chris, for bringing 1000’s of memories back, for so many people, and in helping raise so much for charity. Helping people find their younger selves once again, even if the next morning doesn’t agree with that perception. Your legacy was that you entertained people, your legacy now is that you have entertained people whilst raising thousands for local charities.'
Andy added: 'Not only will your legacy live long in everyone’s memories, certainly those that met you, your page will live on, your BMR’s will continue in honour of your memory, whilst more charities will continue to benefit. As Kylie said, 'If I had to do it all again, I Wouldn’t Change a Thing…. It’s been one hell of a ride.''
Another DJ Pays Respect
Fellow Newcastle DJ Chris Schrouder, now known for Kroud Karaoke, paid tribute on Facebook: 'Sad news today RIP Christopher The Disc Langshaw, one of the OG Bigg Market legends .. gone too soon…. We made Some great memories together.'
Chris's impact on Newcastle's nightlife and charity community will not be forgotten. His legacy lives on through the reunions and the funds raised for local causes.
