The Freelance Hellraiser

Roy Kerr, aka the Freelance Hellraiser, is one of the creators of the UK bootleg (mashup) scene.

He gained fame with a mashup in 2001 called "A Stroke of Genius", which combined an instrumental edit of The Strokes' track "Hard To Explain" with Christina Aguilera's pop hit "Genie in a Bottle". James Hyman who, along with Eddy Temple-Morris, championed mash-ups and the song in particular on the Xfm show The Remix, described it as "so musical. It was the result of a sick mind, and a trainspotter's mind, and a musician's mind."[1] Although originally greeted by a cease and desist order by RCA (the label which both Aguilera and The Strokes are signed to), The Freelance Hellraiser went on to remix Aguilera's single "Fighter", as well as tracks for Placebo and ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft. "A Stroke Of Genius" was later dubbed as "the song that defines the decade" by The Guardian.[2]

In 2004, he was commissioned by Paul McCartney to remix some lesser-known McCartney tracks as preshow entertainment for his tour of that year. Those tracks, and several more, were released under the name Twin Freaks.

In 2006, he made his album Waiting for Clearance, featuring such artists as Jan Hammer, Iain Archer and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody.

In 2007, he formed Kid Gloves with old friend Anu Pillai, writing and producing two songs for Ladyhawke's gold-selling eponymous debut album, including the single "Paris Is Burning".

In 2009, Kid Gloves contributed to Little Boots' gold-selling debut album, Hands, writing and producing her duet, "Symmetry", with The Human League's Phil Oakey.

Albums (as the Freelance Hellraiser)

Singles (as The Freelance Hellraiser)
  • The Freelance Hellraiser - Want You To Know
  • The Freelance Hellraiser - We Don't Belong
  • The Freelance Hellraiser - Weightlessness
  • The Freelance Hellraiser - You Can Cry All You Want

Remixes (as The Freelance Hellraiser)

DJ Mixes
  • Mixmag 50 Big Tunes 2003 Cover CD
  • '45 Special 2001 Bootleg Mix

Singles (as Kid Gloves with Anu Pillai)
  • Music Power - (2011)
  • Bare Knuckle – (2010)

Production (As Kid Gloves with Anu Pillai)

Remixes

Albums

Singles
  • Really Love You
  • What's That You're Doing

References
  1. Smells like teen booty, The Guardian, February 27, 2002
  2. "When Christina met the Strokes: the song that defines the decade". November 26, 2009. Archived from the original on September 8, 2013. Retrieved February 25, 2013.
Interviews
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