RIP Mike Allen.

Mike Allen passed away yesterday. Great broadcaster and early champion of of hip-hop. His show on Capital was essential listening for fans of the genre. Though at the time, it did seem quite odd. Mike Allen was a middle-aged, middle-of-the road mainstream radio presenter. Then suddenly he was the UK’s leading electro and rap DJ feted by the likes of Chuck D, Grandmaster Flash and LL Cool J. Then just as suddenly, he re-invented himself again as a rather bland talk show host on LBC. I met him once or twice and he was a thoroughly nice man. But you got the impression he was a bit of a phoney, slightly wary of being caught out. We talked music and he said this was his favourite track. Not exactly Public Enemy. So who was the real Mike Allen? I don’t suppose we’ll ever find out.