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(Redirected from Freelance Hellraiser) British musician

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Roy Kerr, also known as the Freelance Hellraiser, is an English DJ, producer, remixer and one of the creators of the UK bootleg (mashup) scene.

Career

Under the Freelance Hellraiser name, Kerr gained fame with a mashup in 2001 called "A Stroke of Genius", which combined an instrumental edit of the Strokes' track "Hard to Explain" with Christina Aguilera's pop hit "Genie in a Bottle". Although originally greeted by a cease and desist order by RCA (the label which both Aguilera and the Strokes are signed to), he went on to remix Aguilera's single "Fighter", as well as tracks for Placebo and ex-Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft. "A Stroke of Genius" was later dubbed as "the song that defines the decade" by The Guardian.

In 2006, he released his album Waiting for Clearance, featuring such artists as Jan Hammer, Iain Archer and Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody. The following year, he formed Kid Gloves with Anu Pillai, writing and producing two songs for Ladyhawke's gold-selling eponymous debut album, including the single "Paris Is Burning".

Collaborations

In 2004, he was commissioned by Paul McCartney to remix some lesser-known McCartney tracks as preshow entertainment for his tour of that year. Those tracks, and several more, were released under the name Twin Freaks. In 2009, Kid Gloves contributed to Little Boots' gold-selling debut album, Hands, writing and producing her duet, "Symmetry", with the Human League's Phil Oakey.