South London DJ and producer Michael Bibi made an epic return to music last night, surprising clubbers at the closing party for his label Solid Grooves. It marked his first set since his cancer diagnosis back in June put a stop to his extensive live plans for the summer.
The deep house DJ first raised speculation of a potential appearance at Ibiza’s iconic DC-10 club after posting an Instagram story from a plane window yesterday (September 28) and jetting off a mere two days after completing his main cancer treatment at hospital. He previously bowed out of playing shows for the “foreseeable future” after being diagnosed with the rare brain and spinal cancer CNS Lymphoma.
“Today I walk out with a smile having completed my main treatment,” he wrote on Instagram after being discharged. “Tired but happy…My fight against cancer is not over…but for now a break & some extra time to enjoy life.”
Rumours of a Bibi comeback grew even further as DC-10 posted a story of the closing party line-up on Instagram, which featured a special guest on the bill from 10-11pm, playing the Garden terrace. The DJ further added to the growing whispers, tweeting “one life, live it”, shortly after the mysterious post.
one life, live it.
— Michael Bibi (@MichaelBibi1) September 28, 2023
The news sent fans into a frenzy on social media. One fan tweeted: “If Bibi rocks up to Solid Grooves closing tonight that’ll be one for history books”.
Another wrote: ”I cannot physically believe I am missing Michael Bibi at Grooves tonight I will never forgive myself or easyjet”.
Bibi’s comeback set was recorded by hundreds of revellers, and live streamed by multiple dance music content creators, with footage shared across social media. Bibi was met with rapturous cheers from the crowd as he started his set with a segment of a thank you message recorded ahead of the show.
The DJ closed the landmark set with Technotronic’s 1989 classic Pump Up The Jam.
Bibi had previously been billed for a summer-wide residency at DC-10, and was set to be a big name around the Ibiza circuit this season, but was forced to cancel his upcoming shows due to his diagnosis.
He received an outpouring of support from the dance music community, and the wider industry following the news, with the DJ often posting uplifting updates of his treatment progress throughout summer.
The Solid Grooves co-founder is one of the country’s most popular dance music talents, often selling out the world’s biggest and best clubs and venues, including London’s Printworks.
The DJ has also been a heavy presence in Ibiza over the years, and a painted shrine was erected of him in Ibiza, reading “Get well Bibi”, following his season absence.
