Amanda Jett ROLLINS

Mandy Rollins, the Queen of Tribal and Sydney's gay underground clubbing community, entertained and moved people with her DJ sets at Mardi Gras, Sleaze Balls, Hellfire, Tropical Fruits, Inquisition and other parties in Australia and overseas. In the past three years she also became a promoter of the successful Extra Dirty parties.

The Hellfire promoter Craig Donarski said: "She was called the 'Queen of Tribal' for a reason. Everyone loved to dance to her sets, from all subcultures and sexualities. Differences evaporate on a good dancefloor. The way Mandy used music spoke to the new urban tribes, uniting them with a kind of shamanistic power into a cross-cultural alternative community.''

"She created some of the most memorable transcendent dancefloor moments that people still talk about. She mixed the soundtrack to our lives.''

Mel Fitzpatrick, known as DJ Feisty, said: "The raw, tribal sound she pioneered had not really been heard here before 1996. We had the circuit tribal sound complete with screaming divas, but the Rollins sound was different; it was raw, a mix of techno infused, percussive, tribal house."

Amanda Jett Rollins was born on January 9, 1968, in Hobart, the younger of two daughters of Derrick and Anita Rollins. Derrick was a foreman for the Department of Main Roads and Anita did domestic duties at a nursing home.

Rollins was especially close to her father, who accepted her sexuality. He died in 1993 and Rollins had his nickname, Tiger, tattooed on her forearm.

Rollins went to Cosgrove High School, where she was talented in art and excelled at sport. She was a member of the school tennis team and a local athletics club, and represented Tasmania in athletics.

Her early tastes in music included Kiss and Stevie Nicks. She worked behind the bar at the Cadillac Club in Hobart and was involved in the club scene, where she was regularly on the dance floor or chatting to the DJs.

Her sister, Karen Munro, recalls that in her early 20s they spent "many a night dancing until closing time", then having breakfast at a local bar and getting home as the sun rose.

Rollins's interest in DJing was encouraged by another DJ, Richard, at Wrest Point Casino's Regines nightclub, who, when security staff weren't looking, would let her take over the decks for a couple of tracks.

Rollins became distant from her family, and in 1986 she left Tasmania and lived in Melbourne and Brisbane, before settling in Sydney in 1996.

This was when Hellfire promoters Jackie McMillan and Donarski met her when she was practising DJing at a friend's house in Darlinghurst.

"Her mixing was terrible but her song choice was impeccable," Donarski said. "It wasn't long before her technical skills caught up with her repertoire, so we were soon employing her at the Hellfire Club, Sunday School, Tilt, Milkbar, No Holes Barred - wherever we were running events."

Rollins's breakthrough came soon afterwards, when she played at Sleaze Ball at the Hordern Pavilion in 1996. She then became a regular at the Mardi Gras party, Sleaze Ball and Inquisition, and played at gigs in Asia.

The Rollins name also became synonymous with masculine gay clubs on Oxford Street, where she became the resident DJ, advertised as "M Rollins", at the men-only S&M leather bar The Barracks. With her cap pulled low over her buzz-cut hair style, few of the guys knew she was a woman, but she won them over with her music. In the leather bars, Rollins found a synergy between her music style and the patrons.

In 2000, Rollins moved down the road to the Phoenix Bar, where she held a Saturday night residency , teaming up with DJ Feisty in 2002. With Fitzpatrick, Rollins found a collaborator whose music style complemented her own and together they put their stamp on the "Phoenix" sound. They also began a personal relationship which ended in July after seven years.

In 2006 Rollins started, with Fitzpatrick, a monthly club night called Dirty at the Phoenix, with Buck Naked and Rob Gilbert as the resident DJs. Such was its success that in 2008 Rollins held the larger and bolder Extra Dirty three times a year in larger venues and featuring big-name international DJs. It was one of her proudest achievements.

Rollins sometimes struggled with depression. A tribute held at Hellfire raised more than $3000 for suicide prevention.

Mandy Rollins is survived by her Hellfire family and her mother and sister.

Cotton Ward

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ROLLINS REMEMBERED

Police have told Mel Fitzpatrick that they believe Mandy Rollins took her own life at The Gap on Saturday, September 4.

One of the most popular DJs on the Australian dance scene, Rollins went missing that night, becoming uncontactable by phone some time after 7.30pm. The following day her cap, wallet, phone and watch were recovered by police at The Gap.

Police have made several searches of the area but have been unable to locate a body.

Fitzpatrick, better known to many as DJ Feisty, said she and Rollins had been best friends for 12 years, with seven of those spent together in a loving relationship that only ended two months ago when Rollins decided to go her own way.

“We did not have relationship problems [but] Mandy had her own personal battles and despite my best efforts she chose to leave our relationship to follow her own path.”

Fitzpatrick remembered Rollins as a complex person who put people at ease, but had intermittently struggled with depression.

“Mandy had a way of engaging people and making everyone feel special,” she said.

“She was gentle, loving, generous, dignified and very proud of her achievements — but also very shy.

“She loved being part of Australia’s gay community and I know her passion for music was something we all felt and enjoyed over many years and so many parties.”

Fitzpatrick said Rollins had been particularly proud of her move into party promotion and Extra Dirty parties.

She said for this reason she was proceeding with the October 3 Extra Dirty as a tribute to Rollins, with proceeds going to an education campaign aimed at teaching people how to look after each other in regards to depression.

Sydney Star Observer’s web page and Rollins’ Facebook page have been overflowing with tributes. Fellow Sydney DJs have praised her music skill and personality.

“Mandy was a master of her craft, the top of her game,” DJ Murray Hood said. “She’s inspired so many of us, and has light up dance floors for so many years.”

Friend and associate DJ Sveta said her 14-year rivalry, and subsequent friendship, with Rollins pushed them to be better DJs.

“I have the greatest respect for everything she brought to our diverse community … the music, parties and the joy of dancing… and I will miss Mandy greatly,” she said.

“Mandy was a much-loved institution at Phoenix and was part of our family,” he said. “Her spirit and music gave listeners many happy memories over many years”.

“There ‘s no doubt Mandy will be missed by our community, and we are all grieving the loss of someone so special to us.”

Sydney Leather Pride president Rod Spark said Rollins had a unique place in the community.

“We are a poorer community for having lost her, but her spirit will shine on forever,” he said.

Fitzpatrick thanked those who gathered at the Clarence Hotel on Saturday to remember Rollins and said a private memorial service would be held for Rollins’ close friends and family in days to come.

“She was my very best friend and we had no doubts we’d be mates for life,” Fitzpatrick said.

“I have lost the other half of my soul, but I know I will always have Mandy in my heart and especially in the music.”

Name:	ROLLINS Amanda Jett	Sex:	Female
Year of Birth:	1968

At Time of Disappearance
Age:	42	Height (cm):	175.0	Build:	Thin
Hair Colour:	Brown	Eye Colour:	Brown	Complexion:	Fair
Nationality:		Racial Appearance:	Caucasian

Circumstances:

DJ's music brought the tribes together

Mandy Rollins, 1968-2010.

ROLLINS REMEMBERED