My (brief) life story by John Edwards / Hercules:
I was born on the 27th of June 1978 at hospital in Melbourne Victoria Australia. I grew up in a Melbourne western suburbs town called Melton where I attended Melton Primary school and later Kurunjang secondary college.
Growing up I was natural athlete and excelled at many sports including Cricket, Football and most of all our family sport of Baseball. Baseball quickly became the love of my life and with the support and help of my parents in particular my father (who played baseball for Australia and cricket for Victoria in the 70's) the love turned into success.
I represented Victoria and Australia and held scholarships with both the Victorian Institute of sport and the Australian Institute of sport. Around this time I was becoming increasingly noticed by professional US scouts and was hoping to sign a professional contract before finishing high school.
This wasn't to be and I took an offer and scholarship at a University in America. At the end of 97 after (barely) completing my VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education) I headed to Chicago Illinois to attend Triton College where I was to play as a catcher in their nationally recognized program.
My stay at Triton was short and very sweet the professional contract that eluded me as high schooler was now offered to me after I finished the season at Triton as one of the nation's leading offensive players. I was drafted on the 2nd of June 1998 by the Minnesota Twins in the 8th round of the national draft (which at the time was the highest an Australian had been drafted). Minnesota signed me to a 6 year contract and I immediately began my professional career with them.
I played with Minnesota from 98 thru to early 2002 at which time I was released by Minnesota. The Minnesota staff and front office never seemed to accept me for whatever the reason was and accordingly they never provided me with the full chance to succeed at that level. It is now one of the great regrets of my life having signed with them instead of another organization. But during this trying time a more significant event took place the birth of my son Mitchell James Edwards on the 1st of August 1999. Mitchell is now 7 and is a chip of the old block and is already showing skills at both Soccer as goal keeper and T-ball.
After becoming a free agent I returned to the Australian Baseball league and was named to the ABL Caxton Shield all star team in 2002 I was hoping my performance there would warrant another contract but I had to wait. I spent 2002 (us summer) season in the us with an independent league team and returned to Australia at the end of that season thinking my professional career was over. At this time I was approached by the Colorado Rockies who wanted me try my hand at position change and Pitch.
After playing in the 2003 claxton shield as a hitter leading victoria in average and being named to the All star team again I made the move that surprised many and signed with Colorado as a pitcher.
My time with colorado was fantastic they gave me every chance to succeed but we always new my stay there was going to be short due to my age. I had an excellent season as a pitcher with them producing excellent stats. I now wish I had of signed with this first class organization back in 98 rather than the poorly run twins.
Now being out of contract with colorado I decided against heading back to us in favor of a change of lifestyle and signed with a team in Germany called the Herrenberg Wanderers based just outside of stuttgart.
Simply put I dominated the competition in Germany and basically I was a far to superior player for that league leading every major offensive category and many categories as a pitcher. I feel in love with Europe while living in Germany, I love the lifestyle, the people, the way of life, the liberal and open minded thinking of the people. I do believe Europe is miles ahead of the US and Australia in quality of life.
At the conclusion of the season I backpacked around Europe for months and months and visited many countries. Side track: Paris greatest city on earth or what?
It was during my time in Germany that I was introduced to what would become the new passion and love of life, music in particular Tech music and djing.
I more or less stumbled upon a club in Stuttgart called Proton and meet a guy Thomas Bruckner (Tomcraft). Tomcraft djing and style of music instantly struck a cord with me and inspired me to also take up djing. Upon my return to Australia I immediately decided upon my retirement from baseball and took up djing, while working with my father as professional gambler (harness racing). I continued honing my dj skills during the day and working as a punter at night right up until mid 2005 when I began djing professionally in and around melbourne. Shortly after this I launched my own promotion and production company DIRTY VINYL PUSHER PROMOTIONS and since then have run regular nights at many clubs all over Victoria.
I know run a number of my own nights and perform at others, and also recently began attending NMIT where I study Event and Venue Mangement.
On the 27th of June this year I will turn 29 (how did I get so old). Thank you for reading my story and checking out my page. Drop me a line and say hello, you never know I may even write back :P
My msn is [email protected]
HERCULES DJ PROFILE:An ex professional athlete turned dj and manager of dirty vinyl pusher promotions, hercules stumbled upon the dance music scene and industry when living in germany 2004 after an encounter with bavarian dj producer Thomas Bruckner aka Tomcraft. This exposure to electro-tech-house immediately developed into a passion.
Hercules sets are varied, intense and strongly influenced by the german tech house sounds he was introduced to during his time in europe. Playing on a weekly basis around Melbourne at Nights such as PARLIAMENT, 3D, 140, RISQUE, HAUS @ NOVA, SIDE BY SIDE, OBSESSION, MANIC MELTDOWN, F@#% YEAH BERMUDA and more.
Hercules is also actively involved with producing some of his own tracks which he includes in his sets. If you would like a complimentary cd of some of hercules work then simply email [email protected]
