Greg Packer (musician)

Greg Packer was born in 1972 in Northampton, United Kingdom,^[3] and moved to Perth, Western Australia, in the early 1990s. He began collecting vinyl records in 1982, spanning hip hop, electro, soul, and jazz-funk. By 1989, he was DJing and won the Western Australia Mixing Championships in 1991 and 1992. He was among the first DJs in Western Australia to play drum and bass and jungle music. In 1994, Packer toured the UK with DJs such as Carl Cox, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Seduction, and Sy. In 1995, he won the 'Most Popular Rave DJ' award at the Perth Dance Music Awards. Over the late 1990s and early 2000s, he won multiple awards including 'Best Mixing DJ' and 'Best Drum & Bass DJ'.^[4]

In the early 1990s, Packer emerged as a prominent figure in Perth's drum and bass scene. He also experimented with hard dance genres, releasing mixes that incorporated hardcore, happy hardcore, and jungle elements. Notably, his 1994 promo mix Volume 18 showcased this blend of styles.^[5] He toured the UK alongside DJs such as Carl Cox, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Seduction, and Sy. He also performed sets featuring hard breaks and stompers, reflecting his engagement with the harder edges of dance music.^[6]

Packer has been a central figure in shaping Perth's electronic music culture. He regularly performed at events across the city, including jungle, rave classics, hard dance, and drum and bass nights. He was recognized multiple times at the Perth Dance Music Awards, cementing his influence on the local scene. He also hosted live sets and DJ mixes on platforms such as Mixcloud and SoundCloud, preserving the city's electronic music legacy.^[7][8]

In 2013, Packer shifted focus to soul, funk, and disco, adopting the alias Dr. Packer. He began creating edits and remixes of classic tracks, leading to the creation of his own label. His work was featured by DJs such as Greg Wilson, Dimitri from Paris, and Joey Negro. He became Traxsource’s #1 Nu Disco / Indie Dance Artist for 2017, 2018, and 2021, and was named Australian Producer of the Year in 2020.^[9][10][11]

Packer has performed internationally, including the UK and Europe, collaborating with prominent DJs and participating in major electronic music events. His remixes and edits have gained global recognition and have been played on international radio shows, including his monthly resident program on Street Sounds Radio, featuring disco, house, electro, and re-edits.^[12][13]

• 1982 – Began collecting vinyl records, including hip hop, electro, soul, and jazz-funk.
• 1989 – Started DJing in Perth, Western Australia.
• 1991 – Won Western Australia Mixing Championships.
• 1992 – Won Western Australia Mixing Championships (second consecutive year).
• 1994 – UK tour alongside Carl Cox, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Seduction & Sy; released Volume 18 promo mix.
• 1995 – Won Most Popular Rave DJ at Perth Dance Music Awards.
• Late 1990s – Early 2000s – Multiple Perth Dance Music Awards for Best Mixing DJ and Best Drum & Bass DJ.
• 2013 – Transitioned to Nu Disco; adopted alias Dr Packer.
• 2017–2018 – Traxsource #1 Nu Disco / Indie Dance Artist.
• 2020 – Named Australian Producer of the Year.
• 2021 – Traxsource #1 Nu Disco / Indie Dance Artist.