Tributes have been pouring in over the last few days following the sad news that Christopher 'Chris The Disc' Langshaw, a man regarded as a Newcastle legend, has died after a battle with leukaemia. He not only provided the soundtrack to many a night out but also helped raise huge amounts for charity. The sheer volume of people sharing their memories speaks volumes about how loved and highly regarded he was.
A Bigg Market Icon
While Newcastle remains a great night out, things have changed since the glory days of the 1990s and early 2000s. Chris The Disc was on the decks to help people dance the night away on the famous Bigg Market. For many, he was Mr Newcastle when it came to nights out, playing at venues like The Pig and Whistle and Yel, when they were among the busiest places in town. He started his DJ career at Jimmyz.
Chris's close friend and colleague, Andy Metcalfe, informed ChronicleLive of the sad news. Chris passed away last Friday, 13 months after his leukaemia diagnosis. Former Pig and Whistle manager Andy was among many to pen a tribute.
Charity Work and Bigg Market Reunions
As well as being a legendary DJ, Chris stepped away from the decks in 2015 after being the match day host at City Vaults. He did much for local causes, including a 12,000-mile ride through Southeast Asia in 2017 and the packed Bigg Market reunions that have become a massive deal in recent years. The bar crawls see newer venues turn back the clock to become Macey's, the Half Moon, and Robinsons, with Chris and Andy at the heart, along with organisers Stella McKevitt and Andrea Johnstone. The four reunion events have raised £130,000, helping 15 not-for-profit charities in the North East.
Paying tribute, Andy wrote: 'Thank you, Chris, for bringing 1000s 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. Chris's outlook, since the first Bigg Market Reunion, was that he wanted to see everyone enjoy themselves, as near as stepping back in time.'
He 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.''
Tributes from Fellow DJs
Another well-known Newcastle DJ, Chris Schrouder, who now plays across the country with 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.'
