9th September 1978 - 30th September 2000 MC Kendo was a very talented person. He came to prominence as a resident MC for the Renegade Hardware events but he was more than this. Before becoming a resident for renegade Hardware, MC Kendo fine tuned his skills on the pirate airwaves stations with Reload, Flex FM & Rude FM in the late 90s. From this he became a resident MC at the Eclectic multi-themed events which were held in London & various locations around the UK. He also had a resident MC role at Fourplay at the old Paradise Club Venue in London. MC Kendo also went on to guest MC at the Movement events at Bar Rumba & Mass, which led onto his biggest break came in mid 1999 with an appearance on the T.O.V float at the Notting Hill Carnival, therefore gaining a residency for the Renegade Hardware & T.O.V Events. In just seven appearances between 1999 & 2000 MC Kendo attained a good following from the renegade crowd and he was receiving more bookings from other promoters, which means his persistence on the pirates was paying off and his career was leading onto bigger & better things. Just as his career was taking off, in April 1999 MC Kendo was Diagnosed with cancer. Throughout this period which would be testing for anyone, MC Kendo still carried on MCing to the best of his ability and that feat alone should serve as inspiration for anyone who he has left behind. As the disease took hold, he was worried more about everyone else around him rather than himself. He also carried on MCing regardless and hardly telling anyone apart from his close circle of friends of his condition. As anyone in his position would, Barrie tried to beat this condition. Aged just 22, on the 30th September 2000 after a year long battle to fight the disease, MC Kendo past away. After this tragic event, tributes flowed from all sectors of Drum & Bass Fraternity into all the major magazines & forums at the time. As mark of respect there were two memorial events at The End & Bar Rumba in London, held in his honour which were busy & well received events. Mace also did a graffiti piece in memory of MC Kendo which was left untouched for seven years.
