DJ Dan, West Coast rave pioneer, dies at 57

The influential house music DJ helped define the California club sound in the 1990s and 2000s.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:04pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

An extreme close-up photograph of a glittering disco ball, reflecting shards of light in a dramatic high-contrast studio setting, conceptually representing the energy and glamour of the rave scene.The shimmering textures and dramatic lighting of a disco ball evoke the vibrant energy of the West Coast rave culture pioneered by DJ Dan.Los Angeles Today

DJ Dan, a pioneering figure in West Coast house music and rave culture, has died at the age of 57. Known for his psychedelic-infused melange of breakbeat, dub, funk, house and techno, Dan Wherrett was a fixture in the California club scene for decades, co-founding the Funky Tekno Tribe collective in San Francisco and releasing several well-received mixtapes and albums.

Why it matters

DJ Dan was a seminal artist who helped shape the distinct West Coast sound of house music in the 1990s and 2000s, influencing countless DJs and dance music fans. His passing marks the end of an era for the California rave scene that he was so integral to building.

The details

Wherrett, a native of Washington state, moved to Southern California and then San Francisco in the '90s as the state was developing its networks of house music festivals, collectives and nightclubs. He released several popular mixtapes with DJ Ron D Core and founded the InStereo Recordings label. Wherrett co-founded the Funky Tekno Tribe collective in San Francisco, known for its eclectic sets that combined breakbeat, dub, funk, house and techno. He was a fixture in the upper ranks of DJ Mag's annual artist rankings and recorded influential BBC Radio 1 Essential Mixes, in addition to charting three singles on Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart.

  • DJ Dan was scheduled to play a show at the Dead Ringer club in Nevada on March 28, 2026, but did not arrive.
  • DJ Dan passed away in March 2026 at the age of 57.

The players

DJ Dan

Also known as Daniel Wherrett, he was a pioneering house music DJ and producer who helped define the West Coast rave sound in the 1990s and 2000s.

Ron D Core

A DJ that DJ Dan collaborated with on several popular mixtapes.

Funky Tekno Tribe

A San Francisco-based electronic music collective that DJ Dan co-founded, known for its eclectic sets blending breakbeat, dub, funk, house and techno.

Mark Farina

A veteran California club music DJ who shared condolences about DJ Dan's passing.

Jubilee

A younger DJ who cited DJ Dan's early mixtapes as formative influences on her own interest in raving.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“A superbly nice person, fortunate to have known him and call him a friend.”

— Mark Farina, DJ

“DJ Dan made some of the first mixtapes that got me into raving when i was young. So sad to hear this news.”

— Jubilee, DJ

The takeaway

DJ Dan's passing marks the end of an era for the California rave scene that he helped build and define through his innovative, genre-blending DJ sets and productions. His music and influence will continue to be felt by generations of dance music fans and artists.