Jon Ward, better known as Fat Mandy in drum & bass circles, is a prominent figure in the scene and is responsible for throwing some of the sickest parties in the south. Having dedicated much of his time and craft towards his local scene, Jon is now facing a massive challenge of his own.
In June 2023, Jon was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and with recent news of this now reaching the liver, ultimately, time is ticking down for Jon and his battle. There is however a light at the end of this tunnel with precision-based immunotherapy treatments being offered by overseas private oncology clinics.
The medical bills for such treatments are however out of reach for the Ward family, so the Brighton drum & bass community have come together to support Jon. The Jon Dub Pack features unreleased tracks from artists like Aries, Kleu, Sola, DRZ, Levela, JFB, Fat Mandy himself and many more, all to raise money for the overseas treatment.
We spoke to some of Jon’s friends who highlighted just how influential the main man himself has been.
Kleu – “This dub pack has been a joint effort and Kirk (Kleu), who is very well respected within the D&B scene pulled in a load of his top producer mates to contribute tracks, which is why we have some absolute bangers on there from Aries, JFB, Levela, Ogstan, Kleu, DRZ and more.”
Bunkle – “Jon is a dear friend of mine that I met when we were promoting raves back 2002. His Gnomelands events were something else! Seeing the way everyone in and around Brighton have pulled together for this VA is phenomenal and a true testament to just how much of a legend he is.”
DJ Gash – “Jon has been a staple in the dance music scene for years having played many festivals, as well as releasing his own tunes on vinyl under his Fat Mandy alias on Wobbly Records. He was a promoter and resident at Sicknote down The Volks for years as well as co-promoting another club night called Shift. He is a prolific producer having just written 25 tracks for a new album and has toured around the UK and beyond as a DJ.”
The amount raised on Jon’s gofundme page show just how much he is respected and loved by his family, friends and peers. The Jon Dub Pack is out now, please show Jon and his family some support by buying the or donating now.
