There is something that seems inherently wrong when rock 'n' roll stars such receive the highest of official recognition, such as Kennedy Center Honors or British knighthood. Lord knows the Rolling Stones didn't enter music to be a positive influencer of culture, hence why Keith Richards blew up when Mick Jagger accepted a knighthood. We imagine things aren't totally different within the world of electronic music, so it's curious to see British DJ Pete Tong receive the MBE, or Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
The label is the fifth and "lowest" rank possible in the Order, but it's still a big deal. Big enough to justify having Prince "The Duke of Cambridge" William hand them out. Much like popular rock 'n' roll, Britain had a healthy role in the development of the electronic music scene, and Tong had a huge role within it, so the title isn't undeserved.
Tong worked as a DJ and music writer early in his career, and had a hand in bringing house music to the UK. House, largely popularized in Chicago, caught his ear and he helped to create a compilation album for Brits titled The House Sound of Chicago, Vol. 1. His role as a tastemaker took off when he began hosting the Essential Selection program for BBC Radio. His role as a performing DJ took off as a result of his broadcast success and he served as a resident performer at the Pacha nightclub in Ibiza.
Alas, despite all of his influence within the British EDM scene, Tong will always be best known for the catchphrase "it's all gone Pete Tong." The phrase was first used by, supposedly, by Paul Oakenfold during the late '80s as slang for "going wrong," more due to the fact that it rhymed versus having anything to do with Tong's music. The DJ has always embraced the phrase however.
"It just stuck and turned into an amazing legacy—I've never had a problem with it," he said. "Why run away from something that's so catchy so I use it as my brand really when I do parties around the world."
