Los Angeles rave pioneer DJ Reza dies at 51

The LA underground loses one of its architects and the mind behind iconic SoCal events as DJ Reza passes away at 51.

DJ Reza, Reza Gerami, a pioneer of the Los Angeles’ underground rave scene and founder of influential promotion company Go Ventures, has passed away at 51.
Reza Gerami was born in Tehran in 1974 and immigrated to the United States with his family after they fled the Iranian Revolution. Growing up in Southern California, he discovered electronic music and quickly became a self-taught aficionado. DJ Reza was also known by many as the moniker “Party Rocker,” inspired by his underground warehouse appearances in the 1990s, where he blended genres like funky house, electro, and breaks.

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DJ Reza branched out from the club scene and later founded the legendary Go Ventures, revolutionizing the scene by organizing events that transitioned raves from the underground to full-on festival experiences. Through Go Ventures, he produced legendary Southern California events including Monster Massive, The Love Festival, and the iconic New Year’s celebration Together As One. These events drew tens of thousands of fans and helped shape the early blueprint for the modern EDM festival, and inspired hundreds and hundreds of people along the way. Los Angeles events simply wouldn’t be what they are today without DJ Reza.

Reza’s family shared a heartfelt message announcing and honoring his passing: “To many, Reza was an icon, visionary, entrepreneur, and trendsetter of the underground EDM music industry,” they wrote. “But to us he was a son, father, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend.”

The family also asked the community to respect their privacy while they process the loss, sharing that “our beloved Reza’s heart stopped beating and he is gone. We are left to figure out how to pick up the pieces.”

Those closest to Reza say the role he cherished most was being a father. Friends of the family shared that the light of his life was his daughter, Kiki. The dance music community has already begun rallying around her in the wake of his sudden passing, and those who want to contribute can do so by donating to the family’s GoFundMe page.

Featured image courtesy of DJ Reza Facebook

About The Author

Lily Tenner

Hi, I’m Lily! I’m an LA-based concert & festival diehard! My life was forever changed after my first festival, Coachella 2019, and then fully spiraled (in the best way) after my first EDC in 2023. I have attended over 140+ shows… I am the ultimate stage hopper and will always make it to the barricade. I love dubstep, house, trance, techno, bass, you name it.

If I’m not at a show, I’m working as a social media manager & photographer, or probably listening to music, learning how to DJ, planning my next festival, or watching a Gordon Ramsay cooking show with my cat.

I am so excited to be writing for Exron and sharing my love for music. If you’re reading this, thanks for being here and reading my stuff!

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