{{Short description|Jersey musician (1964–2015)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use British English|date=December 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Guru Josh | birth_name = Paul Dudley Walden | image = Guru_Josh_half_shot.jpg | caption = | origin = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1964|6|6|df=y}} | birth_place = Bailiwick of Jersey | death_date = {{death date and age|2015|12|28|1964|6|6|df=yes}} | death_place = Ibiza, Balearic Islands, Spain | background = non_performing_personnel | genre = {{flatlist| * Acid house * techno }} | years_active = 1981–2015 | label = {{flatlist| * Deconstruction * Sony * Ministry of Sound }} | associated_acts = | website = }} '''Paul Dudley Walden''' (6 June 1964&nbsp;– 28 December 2015),<ref name="obituary"/> better known as '''Guru Josh''', was a Jersey musician, active in the British post-acid house scene, best known for his debut single, "Infinity".

==Biography== ===Musical career=== Walden was the son of a Jersey dentist, Harold Walden.<ref name="obituary"/> After studying dentistry himself in 1981, he began his career as an entertainer and keyboard player at the Sands nightclub in Jersey, performing under the names Syndrone, and Animal and his Crazy Organs.<ref name="obituary"/> In 1983 he moved to the United States to pursue a musical career but did not progress, instead working as a chauffeur and decorator.<ref name="obituary"/> He withdrew £1,000 and moved to London, setting up rock band Joshua Cry’s Wolf, alongside saxophone player Mad Mick.<ref name="obituary"/> In 1988, Walden tried ecstasy for the first time at a London pub during the "Second Summer of Love", subsequently switching from rock to house music.<ref name=graun>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/sep/03/voodoo-ray-infinity-rave-anthems-baby-d-guy-called-gerald |title=From Voodoo Ray to Infinity and beyond – the story of the UK's biggest rave anthems |last1=Richards |first1=Sam |date=3 September 2015 |website=theguardian.com|access-date=4 September 2015}}</ref>

In 1989, Guru Josh released "Infinity" also known as "Infinity (1990's... Time for the Guru)", from his debut album, ''Infinity''. Mad Mick played the saxophone on the song.<ref name="obituary"/> The song was originally produced for a friend of Guru Josh, who was organising a warehouse party of the same name. He made 500 copies and distributed them to leading DJs.<ref name="obituary"/> gained attention when it started to be played by Haçienda DJ Mike Pickering.<ref name=graun/> Guru Josh signed for BMG Records,<ref name="obituary"/> and the song achieved success in Europe, especially in Germany, the UK, Portugal and Austria. The song was later re-mixed and re-released on multiple occasions (the most popular remix by Klaas), still receiving particular success in 2011.<ref name="Charts">{{cite web |last=Hung |first=Steffen |title=Guru Josh Project – Infinity 2008 |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Guru+Josh+Project&titel=Infinity+2008&cat=s |access-date=2015-12-29 |website=Australian-charts.com}}</ref>

Guru Josh released several other singles in the 1990s, including "Freaky Dreamer", "Holographic Dreams" and "Whose Law (Is It Anyway?)", which reached number 26 and number 12 in the UK and Germany, respectively.<ref name="discogs">{{cite web |title=Guru Josh Discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/17605-Guru-Josh |access-date=2024-09-13 |publisher=Discogs}}</ref> In a ''Record Mirror'' interview, he endorsed the poll tax at a time that its unpopularity was leading to riots, which may have affected the outcome of "Whose Law (Is It Anyway?)".<ref name="obituary"/><ref name=needham/> "Hallelujah" was released in 1991. Shortly after this, Guru Josh diversified into also doing multimedia production creating the ''Dance in Cyberspace'' series of music videos under the name of Dr. Devious and also VR. His single "Cyberdream" achieved heavy rotation on MTV programme ''Party Zone'' for its psychedelic video.<ref name="obituary"/>

Following the success of "Infinity", Guru Josh moved to Ibiza, concentrating on art and running a promotions company.<ref name=graun/>

In 2007, he was part of Guru Josh Project, formed by Darren Bailie and signed by Big City Beats. The group consisted of Paul Walden, Anders Nyman and Darren Bailie. In 2008, "Infinity" was re-released as "Infinity 2008", which was remixed by the German DJ Klaas. It experienced widespread success, peaking at number one on the Belgian, Dutch, French and Danish singles charts, the Czech airplay chart and the Eurochart Hot 100.<ref name="Charts"/>

In 2010, he released a new single entitled "Frozen Teardrops".<ref>{{Cite web|title=Passion Promotions presents Lauren Rose|url=https://ra.co/events/196317|access-date=2021-04-25|website=Resident Advisor|language=en}}</ref> In March 2011, he released "Love of Life", with a more modern and punchy house style.

In 2012, saw the release of a remix of the 1989 original of "Infinity" called "Infinity 2012" by Guru Josh, with the main remix done by DJ Antoine.<ref>{{cite web |last=Binz |first=Nils |last2=Pfeiffer |first2=Rene |title=Infinity 2012 ist der neue Magnum-Song |url=http://www.bigcitybeats.de/news.php?nid=2583 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101214849/http://www.bigcitybeats.de/news.php?nid=2583 |archive-date=1 November 2013 |access-date=2012-12-26 |publisher=Bigcitybeats.de}}</ref> This single was then used by Langnese for a large marketing campaign promoting a new product launch during the summer of 2012 in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.<ref>{{cite web |date=2012-06-04 |title=Magnum Infinity (offizieller Kinotrailer) mit dem Magnum-Song: Guru Josh – Infinity 2012 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNEut3Tz8s8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/VNEut3Tz8s8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |access-date=2012-12-26 |publisher=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Guru Josh created 3D glass art under the name of "Louie Fabrix", sold in small exhibitions in New York, Madrid, Paris and Berlin.

===Death=== Walden died by suicide on 28 December 2015, at the age of 51. Associates said he had been suffering from drug and alcohol addictions as well as depression following a breakup with his girlfriend.<ref name="obituary">{{cite news |last=Sweeting |first=Adam |date=5 January 2016 |title=Guru Josh obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jan/05/guru-josh |access-date=23 February 2019 |work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref name=needham>{{cite web |last=Needham |first=Alex |date=29 December 2015 |title=Guru Josh, rave star, dies aged 51 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/29/guru-josh-rave-star-dies-aged-61 |access-date=13 September 2024 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" ! rowspan="2"| Title ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Details ! colspan="6" style="width:3.5em;"| Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|UK<br><ref name=occ>UK chart peaks: *Guru Josh: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25983/guru-josh/|title=Official Charts > Guru Josh|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=2015-12-30}} *Guru Josh Project: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5251/guru-josh-project/|title=Official Charts > Guru Josh Project|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=2015-12-30}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|AUS<br><ref name=aus/> ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|AUT<br><ref name=aut/> ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|GER<br><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-1085|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Guru Josh – Infinity (album)|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=2015-12-30}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|NED<br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Guru+Josh&titel=Infinity&cat=a|title=dutchcharts.nl > Guru Josh – Infinity (album)|language=nl|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2015-12-30}}</ref> ! style="width:35px;font-size:smaller;"|SWI<br><ref name=sui/> |- ! scope="row"| ''Infinity'' |1990 | * Released: 14 July 1990 * Labels: BMG, Deconstruction * Format: Vinyl, Cassette, CD |41 |80 |15 |23 |79 |22 |}

===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="width:100px;" rowspan="2"| Single ! style="width:20px;" rowspan="2"| Year ! colspan="12"| Peak chart positions ! style="width:100px;" rowspan="2"| Certifications ! style="width:100px;" rowspan="2"| Album |- !width="30"|<small>UK</small><br><ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"> {{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 238}} UK chart peaks: *Guru Josh: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/25983/guru-josh/|title=Official Charts > Guru Josh|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=2015-12-30}} *Guru Josh Project: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/5251/guru-josh-project/|title=Official Charts > Guru Josh Project|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=2015-12-30}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>AUS</small><br><ref name=aus><br>Australian (ARIA) chart peaks: *Top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Guru+Josh|title=australian-charts.com > Discography Guru Josh|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=2015-12-30}} *Top 100 peaks: {{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia|page=122}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>AUT</small><br><ref name=aut>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Guru+Josh |title=Discographie Guru Josh |website=Austriancharts.at |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>FIN</small><br><ref>{{cite web |last=Hung |first=Steffen |title=Finnish charts portal |url=http://finnishcharts.com/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |access-date=2015-12-29 |website=Finnishcharts.com}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>FRA</small><br><ref>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://lescharts.com/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |title=Les charts français |website=Lescharts.com |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>GER</small><br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/FWpV4de.jpg|title=Offizielle Deutsche Charts > Guru Josh (singles)|language=de|publisher=GfK Entertainment|access-date=2015-12-30}} {{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Guru+Josh |title=Die ganze Musik im Internet: Charts, Neuerscheinungen, Tickets, Genres |website=Musicline.de |access-date=2015-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113145542/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Guru+Josh |archive-date=13 January 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> !width="30"|<small>IRE</small><br><ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/FXWPerL.jpg|title=The Irish Charts – All there is to know (search results for Guru Josh)|publisher=Fireball Media|access-date=2015-12-30}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>ITA</small><br><ref>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://italiancharts.com/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |title=Italian charts portal |website=Italiancharts.com |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>NED</small><br><ref>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://dutchcharts.nl/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |title=Dutch Charts |website=Dutchcharts.nl |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>NOR</small><br><ref>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |title=Norwegian charts portal |website=Norwegiancharts.com |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>SWE</small><br><ref>{{cite web|last=Hung |first=Steffen |url=http://swedishcharts.com/search.asp?search=guru+josh&cat=s |title=Swedish Charts Portal |website=Swedishcharts.com |date=2008-07-31 |access-date=2015-12-29}}</ref> !width="30"|<small>SWI</small><br><ref name="sui">{{cite web |last=Hung |first=Steffen |title=Discography Guru Josh |url=http://swisscharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Guru+Josh |access-date=2015-12-29 |website=Swisscharts.com}}</ref> |- | scope="row"| "Infinity (1990s...Time for the Guru)" |1989 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 5 | style="text-align:center;"| ― | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | * ARIA: Platinum<ref name=aus/> * BVMI: Gold | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;"| ''Infinity'' |- | scope="row"| "Whose Law (Is It Anyway?)" |1990 | style="text-align:center;"| 26 | style="text-align:center;"| 64 | style="text-align:center;"| 18 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 23 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 30 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | |- | scope="row"| "Infinity 2008"<br>{{small|(as Guru Josh Project)}} |2008 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 4 | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 20 | style="text-align:center;"| 1 | style="text-align:center;"| 3 | style="text-align:center;"| 8 | style="text-align:center;"| 2 | * BPI: Platinum * BVMI: Gold * IFPI SWE: Gold | rowspan="9" {{n/a| Non-album singles}} |- | scope="row"| "Let Me Know (Infinity)"<br>{{small|(as Copycatz presents P.Six vs. Guru Josh Project)}} | rowspan="3"| 2009 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 71 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | scope="row"| "Crying in the Rain"<br>{{small|(as Guru Josh Project)}} | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | scope="row"| "Eternity" | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 24 | |- | scope="row"| "Frozen Teardrops" |2010 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | scope="row"| "Love of Life" |2011 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | scope="row"| "Infinity 2012" |2012 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | * FIMI: Gold |- | scope="row"| "Ray of Sunshine" |2013 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | scope="row"| "Love to Infinity"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/love-to-infinty-with-anike-ekina-single/1512032146 |title=Love To {{sic|Infi|nty|nolink=y}} (with Anike Ekina) - Single by Guru Josh Project, Anike Ekina & Darren Bailie on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |access-date=2020-06-23}}</ref><br>{{small|(with Anike Ekina and Darren Bailie)}} |2020 | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | style="text-align:center;"| — | |- | style="text-align:center;" colspan="17"| <small>"—" denotes a single that did not chart</small> |}

==References== {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links== *{{IMDb name|id=3478907}} * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/17605-Guru-Josh Guru Josh at Discogs] * [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Guru+Josh+Project The Guru Josh Project at Discogs]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Josh, Guru}} Category:1964 births Category:2015 deaths Category:Acid house musicians Category:British electronic musicians Category:British house musicians Category:British record producers Category:British expatriates in Spain Category:Jersey musicians Category:Suicides in Spain Category:2015 suicides Category:Deconstruction Records artists