A DOCUMENTARY has been premiered chronicling the journey of Tony de Vit, the iconic DJ from Kidderminster credited as being the pioneer of the hard house music genre.

The movie commemorates the 25th anniversary of Tony's passing in 1998 at age 40 and explores his rise from being a local DJ, to one of the leading figures in British DJing.

De Vit, originally from Kidderminster and born to Raymond de Vit and Jane Silcock on September 12, 1957, began his DJ career in the late 70s. 

He became synonymous with acclaimed residencies at renowned gay clubs such as Nightingales in Birmingham, as well as Heaven and Trade in London.

By 1997, Tony's popularity in Britain rivalled that of Paul Oakenfold and Carl Cox. He performed at numerous gigs every month, headlining major events of the era such as Cream, Gatecrasher, Godskitchen, Slinky, and Creamfields.

The film is titled Don’t Ever Stop, named after one of de Vit’s signature tracks, and had its World Premiere in Birmingham last month at the Midlands Arts Centre.

The movie produced, by Restless Films, documents his impact on the music industry and his role in mentoring Fergie, a troubled teenager turned global DJ sensation.

The London Premiere took place at the Rio Dalston on November 2 with a further screening in Birmingham at the Mockingbird Cinema on November 11. The screenings are part of the Doc n Roll Film Festival.

Don’t Ever Stop will have a nationwide cinema release early next year.

The documentary features household names in the dance music industry like Judge Jules, Eats Everything and Danny Rampling.

The producers have worked closely with Tony’s family and friends, uncovering previously unseen archive video footage of the DJ.

Tony's sister, Jayne Parkes, said: "It has been 25 years since Ant left us. This film is something I could have never imagined happening. It is incredible that after a quarter-century, he is finally receiving the recognition he so richly deserves on the big screen.

"Ant was an innovator who embraced progress. To keep his spirit alive, we must pass his legacy on to the next generation, who may not have heard of him before but will now seek out his original music."

"I miss him deeply, but he continues to make me proud every day. It is a privilege to have had him in my life. When we lose loved ones, all we wish for is their remembrance. I believe that has been achieved, especially after last year's unveiling of the blue plaque in Birmingham."

In September 2022, Tony de Vit became the first DJ in history to receive the prestigious honour of a Blue Plaque Memorial.

Tony's plaque is located at the site of the Custard Factory recording studios, where he produced and remixed over 100 tunes between 1994 and 1998, including 11 UK singles chart hits under his own name.