Sat 11 Feb 2017 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Auckland's bear and DJ communities are mourning the death of a DJ who was a feature of Urge bar and the subsequent Urge events. Antony Jones, 53, known professionally as DJ Ant, died at his home yesterday. He had had a history of heart problems and was found lying on a couch where he apparently died in his sleep. Jones' last gig was a Urge event on New Year's Eve but since 2005 he had been a fixture on the bear scene, much appreciated for his funky house-style sets. Fellow DJ and close friend James Leuii says Jones had "a unique style of playing, he put songs together in a special way. He had a big and dedicated following." "Unusually for a DJ he was actually quite a shy guy, Leuii says, "but to most people he wouldn't have seemed it. He was a generous person, very good-natured but with a dry, wicked sense of humour," says Leuii." "Ant was very professional and did great sets," says ex-Urge bar owner and bear event entrepreneur Paul Heard. "He was part of Urge right from when we took it over in 2005. His life revolved around his music... Where ever he's heading now I hope there's a DJ station and a Jagermeister waiting for him!" Although Jones was not scheduled to perform at any events of the forthcoming Auckland Bears Week, Heard says most of the events will start with a Jagermeister salute in his memory. Antony Jones is survived by his partner Peter McColl with whom he emigrated from England over fifteen years ago.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 11th February 2017 - 12:47pm