Rollo Armstrong

In 1992 Rollo made his first record; Felix's 'Don't U Want Me'. It was created in a garden shed in Packington Street, Islington and Rollo charged £300 for his production skills and the use of his (very little) studio. He thought this was a good deal. The record went on to sell 2½ million copies.



The 1990's was the decade of dance music and Rollo was involved in some of its finest moments : Felix, Usura, Kristine W, Sister Bliss, the Rollo Goes series, Gloworm, and Frankë – creating hits here and in Europe.



Then in 1996 he teamed up with Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz to form Faithless: Insomnia, Salva Mea, God is a DJ , We Come One, Mass Destruction and Bombs followed.



Faithless have made 6 albums and sold over 12 million records in the 10 years they have existed.



Rollo founded Cheeky Records in 1996 to release Faithless and then Dido (who he produced and cowrote with). Once these artists took off, Rollo sold the label to BMG, fell in love, got married, had two kids, relaxed and only recnetly returned to the mixing desk



Rollo's top 20 favourite albums are (in no particular order):
U2: Achtung Baby
Leftfield: Leftism
Aswad: Live & Direct
REM: Automatic for People
Neville Bros: Yellow Moon
Millie Jackson: Caught Up
Pink Floyd: Darkside of the Moon
Talk Talk: Spirit of Eden
John Martyn: Solid Air
Underworld: Dubnobasswithmyheadman
David Gray: White Ladder
Radiohead: OK Computer
UB40: UB40/Present Arms
Marvin Gaye: What's Going On
LSK: Outlaw
Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
Enya: Watermark
Tracy Chapman: Tracy Chapman
Fugees: The Score
J. M. Jarre: Equinox/Oxygene



Rollo has been very lucky in his career: he has never had to compromise his musical taste and can count on one hand the records he has made that he would not rush out and buy (well, maybe 2 hands if you include some rather dodgy remixes in the early days).
His recent work includes producing one eskimos beautiful album, 'all balloons', he is working on the All thieves album ( both these artists you can hear above), writing a novel (i know, please), has some productions on forthcoming pete lawrie album and in september starts working with dido on her new record.busy but happy.