Public Domain

Based in Ayr, Scotland, Public Domain comprises a group of experienced DJs and veterans of the Scottish music scene: Mallorca Lee (vocals), Alistair McIsaac (keyboards/programming), James Allen (keyboards), and Mark Sherry (keyboards). Lee had been part of the short-lived Bikini State, who were briefly signed to Deconstruction Records in 1996. Having met on the Scottish club scene, Public Domain began recording together in late 1998. Sampling a melody from a remix of New Order’s ‘Confusion’ that was used in the movie Blade, their debut single ‘Operation Blade (Bass In The Place)’ received a very warm reception in the clubs and on Scottish radio, while still a white label. Judge Jules began to play the track on his BBC Radio 1 show and it was signed to Alex Gold’s Xtravaganza Recordings for a full release. The record entered the UK singles chart at number 5 in November 2000 and remained in the Top 20 for 10 weeks before eventually selling one million copies internationally. Public Domain claimed to have spawned a new dance music genre, ‘hard hop’ - a blend of hard house and hip-hop, but their sound was said by some to be derivative of mid-90s rave stars, the Utah Saints. Nevertheless, Chuck D. of Public Enemy was impressed enough to perform a new vocal on ‘Operation Blade’, which was released in mid-2001 as ‘Rock Da Funky Beats’. The band’s debut, Hard Hop Superstars was released to a widely positive response from the UK music press. They also gave explosive live performances at most of the major events on the dance music calendar, such as Homelands, Berlin’s Love Parade and at Privilege in Ibiza.