I went to Gatecrasher Summer Sound a couple of weekends back and headlining the Crasher Arena on the Sunday was Mr Oakenfold.

I have criticised Oakenfold on a number of occasions over recent years after seeing him play appalling sets every single time, whether that be at Global Gathering or Armada in Ibiza, but too my surprise he actually pulled it off and played a great set for once. Totally made up for wrecking a potentially great night at Armada last year where he was shockingly bad.

Do you think he could have realised he was losing all his credibility and was on a downward spiral?

Has anyone else seen him lately and been as surprised as I have?

All i know he's in my opinion still a pioneer in trance! Don't know about his latest sets though,, but doubt it's worse then Armin's or Tiesto's,Ferry's, Etc..

Apart from the set which i mentioned above he is has been awful the last 4 times i have seen him, totally lost touch with the genre and played any old crap with no flow or structure. Like i said he seems to be getting back on track a bit, but to put him in the same league as the other names you mentioned these days is a piss take. I'm all about the now, respect for what you have achieved but if you can't keep up the same level of professionalism you can f**k off for all i care.

That goes for Scott Bond especially, the money grabbing prick.

Scott Bond went rapidly downhill?

Hmm well i'm looking more at what u have achieved in general, but well i can imagine what u mean. Lol should download some sets from him. Still can't imagine it's that bad.

I avoid line-ups with Oakie and Judge Jules these days both arn't worth the money

The last time i saw Scott Bond was probs back in 30 or 04 he was playing last and was complety f**ked when he got to the decks.....

Been listening to his US tour. Uploaded a few of his sets. I must say not really that impressed with any of them. Good to hear that he's upped his game, I can remember posting a set of his few months back and my comments were not the usual N-JOI but "Mixing is bedroom standard in places" anyway hope this is the turn. Will have to see him live to make a conclusion.............Stevie

Last two times i have been to an event with him on a lineup he has been a no-show, this including Gatecrasher Summer Soud. I know sometimes things can come up and a DJ or artist won't beable to perform, but this guy takes the piss. In my opinion he has completely given up on the scene and just milking it for all its worth now, hence why 90% of the times he does classic sets probably because he can't be arsed to find new tunes.

I remember posting a similar thing about Oakie last year. Imo he has been por since 2000. By his own admission he's struggling to be inspired by djing and the music he hears these days. For me he remains a legend. From 95-99 he was sensational offering an innovative relatively new sound and generated an amazing atmosphere at all his gigs. Then in 2000 I felt he lost it - poor sets, mixing, programming, tune selection - everything was wrong. Then I saw him twice last year and was amazed - both times at Crasher in Leeds. He played a 'proper set' on each occassion - well programmed, good mixing, excellrnt tune selection where he was playing flouro trance and breaking new tunes. He also seemed to enjoy it and wasnt wrecked as I had seen him at the Syndicate previously. Id heard he had got into charlie in a big way - allegedly. This surprised me as he had 'banned' it from his residency at Home in London. However, he certainly wasnt on water alone the night I saw him at Syndicate. His narcotic taking 'back in the day' was notorious though of course.

As for Scott bond - the man is a toilet imo. When at the helm of Crasher he regularly was booked for clubs across the north and never once turned up. Chickens came home to roost when he lost his job at Crasher and couldnt get a gig for love or money.

I agree with you Defusion, I think that lately he has kind of been losing it, and he's really not as good as he used to. Don't get me wrong I love oakenfold, but sometimes it seems like he doesn't really know what he's doing lol