Adelaide DJ Ian Bell dies in Paris

Much loved Adelaide DJ and music expert Ian Bell has died suddenly while on a family holiday in Paris.

DJ Ian Bell, pictured in 2011.

Popular Adelaide nightclub DJ, pop culture expert and music authority Ian Bell has died from a heart attack while holidaying with his family in Europe.

Bell, 60, was a well-known and much loved figure in South Australia’s music industry, and spun discs at numerous clubs including Limbo in the 1980s, Heaven and his own regular Pop! night on Gouger St in the 1990s, followed by Bang! and Crank! in the 2000s and 2010s.

Adelaide DJ, music writer and photographer Ian Bell. Picture: Supplied by family.

Mr Bell died on May 2 after suffering a heart attack in Paris, the first stop on a trip which was meant to include attending the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool in the UK.

A noted concert photographer and writer, Bell’s images, reviews and articles were featured in numerous Adelaide street press publications and on music websites.

He also owned and ran the Andromeda Records store in Gawler Place for many years, and worked and performed at the Big Day Out festival in Adelaide throughout that event’s history.

More recently, Bell collaborated on shows with Melbourne comedian Andrew McClelland.

Bell is survived by his wife Jordan, their daughter Ruby, and his sisters Susan and Janet.

Fellow DJ and nightclub owner Driller Jet Armstrong posted on Facebook that Bell was “a true pioneer”.

“Tried and trusted, from the Toucan club to Sugar and everything in between,” Mr Armstrong wrote.

DJ Ian Bell, pictured in 2011.

Disc jockey Ian Bell preparing for the Eurovision song contest in 2005.

Former EMI and Sony records representative Deb Edwards said there would “only ever be one Ian Bell.”

“Blessed was I to have him amongst my DJ meetings … He was always keen as beans to hear and see new music,” Ms Edwards posted.

Adelaide writer Andrew P Street posted that Bell was “one of the loveliest, kindest, most endlessly enthusiastic people I have ever known”.

“So many friendships, so many relationships, began on the sticky floors of Bang! and Pop! and Ian’s many other club nights,” Mr Street wrote.