Dieselboy

Damian Higgins, known professionally as Dieselboy, was born in Tarpon Springs, Florida, in 1972. His early life included a move to Colorado City, Colorado, and later to Oil City, Pennsylvania, where he attended Oil City Senior High School. Dieselboy’s musical journey began with drumming in a school marching band and DJing at high school dances. He further developed his DJ skills and earned a degree in information science while attending the University of Pittsburgh from 1990 to 1995. During this period, he also DJed for a Carnegie Mellon University radio station, WRCT. In 1994, Higgins produced a mixtape called “The Future Sound of Hardcore,” which sold approximately 100 copies through online LISTSERVs, leading to early booking opportunities on the East Coast. Building on this momentum, he released “DrumAndBass Selection USA” in 1996 through British label Suburban Base, followed by “97 Octane” in 1997. His 1998 mix, “Director’s Cut,” showcased a quasi-cinematic presentation, packaged in film cans. In the same year, he established Philadelphia’s first 21+ drum ‘n’ bass weekly club night, “Platinum,” at club Fluid. The event ran until 2004 and was rekindled in 2009.

Dieselboy’s career progressed with significant releases on various labels. In 1999, Moonshine Records released “A Soldier’s Story,” featuring his first original intro and his debut as a producer with the track “Atlantic State,” co-produced with Technical Itch. He continued to release music on Moonshine, including “System Upgrade” (2000). Partnering with Palm Pictures/Island Recordings, he released “The Descent,” “Invid,” and “Render.” “The 6ixth Session” was a double-CD release on Palm Pictures, noted for its cyborg-themed mix which the Washington Post described as “hard-edged hyperdriven dance music.” In 2000, Dieselboy co-founded the drum and bass DJ crew “Planet of the Drums” with AK1200, DJ Dara, and MC Messinian, further establishing his presence in the drum and bass scene. This period marked a significant expansion of his artistic and entrepreneurial endeavors. He appeared on magazine covers, featured on MTV and ESPN, and was a presence in numerous video games, securing sponsorships from brands like DC Shoes and Pioneer Pro DJ.

More recently, Dieselboy expanded his creative and entrepreneurial ventures beyond music. In January 2022, he founded “Destroyer Design,” a graphic design agency specializing in branding and creative direction for restaurants and bars. His design background began in 1991, and he transitioned to launching Destroyer during the pandemic. In July 2018, he co-founded Death Saves, a streetwear company focused on metal and fantasy-themed apparel, alongside actor Joe Manganiello, where he served as Design Director. Furthermore, Dieselboy has engaged in culinary pursuits, writing for the James Beard Award-winning FirstWeFeast.com blog and participating in culinary events. He cooked a collaboration dinner with esteemed chefs in Dallas in 2014 and competed in nacho battles, winning against chef Seamus Mullen in 2014. In 2015, his cooking was featured in “pop-up” events at restaurants in the Netherlands, and he collaborated with Chef Bryce Shuman on a limited-edition hot dog for PDT in New York City. His cocktail, “The Higgins,” is published in Robert Simonson’s 2014 book “The Old-Fashioned.”