After a stint in the acting business that saw roles as a gangster in British soap opera Eastenders and a villain in a James Bond movie, Goldie has returned to DJing and will be in Japan on May 16 and 17.

Goldie rose to fame in the mid-1990s and perhaps did more than any other DJ to raise the profile of drum and bass, his long-player "Timeless" was the first to reach the top 10 in commercial album charts and a track from the CD, "Inner City Life," introduced millions to the music when it was played on daytime radio. Once his reputation was established, Goldie became a British celebrity, perhaps as much because of his rags-to-riches story as his music.

As a child, Goldie had been put up for adoption, and growing up he became a break-dancer and graffiti artist before moving to the United States. After a stint selling "grills" — the gold teeth for which he is known — Goldie returned to the U.K. and started his music career. Since then, high-profile romances with the likes of model Naomi Campbell and Bjork, and appearances on reality shows and small acting roles, have kept Goldie in the limelight.

Goldie has never quite matched the levels of acclaim or success that he achieved with "Timeless" on later albums, but to this day he continues to make intelligent, dark and gritty drum and bass that ensures he has a solid following wherever he plays in the world.

Goldie plays at Triangle in Osaka on May 16 ( www.triangle-osaka.jp, ¥3,500) and Drum and Bass Sessions at Unit in Tokyo ( www.dbs-tokyo.com, ¥4,000) on May 17.