The ‘Undisputed Voice of Dance’, Tong has seen, done and played it all! His celebrated radio show ‘The Essential Selection’ is one of the most listened to shows on Radio 1, broadcast to millions of people around the world every weekend.
Spending his summers in Ibiza, Pete is now a true Island veteran, this year completing his fourth season as resident at Pacha - the Island’s most glamorous club, a place he describes as “a wonderland for people who just don’t want to grow up yet!”. Pete spends the rest of the year playing some of the biggest and most high profile gigs in the world, including Tennax in Florence, Space in Miami, and of course at Ministry of Sound London for his exclusive UK residency ‘Wonderland’.
Clubbers travel from miles around to experience the mighty Tong at work, which is all very far away from his days as a mobile DJ in Kent! But before that, when Pete was at school, hard rock ruled the roost and he even tried playing in bands until the school disco found him experimenting on the decks and loving it!
Pete’s fledgling music career would soon be underway as he then landed his first job at a club in Baker Street called [Family] Function while also booking bands for a weekend alternative night. One of the first bands Pete booked was the then unknown Culture Club, his talent for picking the next big thing already evident. It is this exact talent that would then see him spend 20 years doing A&R for London Records and of course becoming one of the most respected voices on radio when it comes to picking out the best of new music.
As Radio One recognised the need to cater for the new, and permanent, youth culture, Pete Tong quickly became the voice they needed. Hired to host a brand new Friday evening show, the Essential Selection, Tong was broadcasting to the nation and unlike my daytime predecessors, actually choosing the music too. The Essential Selection spun off a show called the Essential Mix, enabling DJs worldwide to showcase their mixing talents on national radio, and together these led to the Essential compilations.
In 2007 Pete Tong launched Wonderland at Ministry of Sound, inviting all to join him on an adventure to a wondrous place filled with sights, sounds and energy - perfect for taking you away to another place. Wonderland’s musical landscape is sculpted by some of the most dynamic and in demand DJs of the moment including the mighty David Guetta, Tom Novy, Kurd Maverick, MYNC Project to name but a few.