Brian Pibb - DJ/MC

Brian Armstrong, aka ‘BrianPibb’, was born and raised in Gainesville, Texas. This is also the place where he came to know and nurture his love for music. It all began when he was passed down a cassette tape of the soundtrack to the film, Cool World in 1992. And on that tape, he came across Moby's "Next Is The E (Long Arms Mix)" and was instantly hooked. This first romance with Moby’s music had ignited a mission to search for more artists and material that would continue to grow his love of music. While he was young and unable to attend concerts, he found solace in a Dallas-based radio station, 94.5 KDGE, aka ‘The Edge’. This particular station hosted a show on Saturday nights dedicated to dance music: Edge Club '94 w/ hosts Jeff K & DJ Merritt. As Brian and his musical tastes matured, he began hosting dance parties and exciting social gatherings that symbolized a ‘rights of passage’.

These events normally were put on by means of a local garage band. Or the alternative, made-up rig with a record player, dual tape decks and some lights from Radio Shack. Brian ventured weekly to Musicland, a record shop, to buy several albums which consisted of rock, metal, industrial, alternative, and electronica. At this shop he came across an artist, Josh Wink, who’s music would later impact his life when he heard the track "Higher State Of Consciousness".

In 1998, he was handed a flyer to an event with Josh Wink as a featured artist. It also featured DJ Merritt on the lineup, who would also be an influence on Brian throughout his life and career. As his love for dance music grew, it was time he felt that he needed to embrace it much closer. Brian attended the event and was handed a postcard while he was there. It promoting a Dallas networking Rave Board through online social media-this was still during the Internet’s early stages of online networking. While contemplating this new adventure, Brian realized he needed to build a brand and identity for this new opportunity. Then looking down at his drink, a Mr. Pibb in hand, he found that this new musical persona would be named BrianPibb.

A year before graduating high school, Brian decided to throw a rave in his hometown with two close friends who also had a passion for the music community. His abilities as a social organizer developed into something much bigger than he expected and he soon began making a name for himself.

At his first rave he attended, he was introduced to the music that he didn't know would soon change his life. It was called Drum & Bass, and the DJ artist playing was Dieselboy. It was a unique sound, but it wasn’t the same conventional beats and rhythms he had grown up knowing. This type of music didn't immediately appeal to Brian. Until, as a joke, he had decided to get on the microphone with one of the DJs at the event and Brian rapped Vanilla Ice's "Ice, Ice, Baby" over the music. He received such a positive response during this mock performance and it reached the ear of Dallas promotion company Zedan Productions. He received a call a week later from Reggie Zeno of Zedan Production; who was later known as the ‘godfather’ of the Dallas Dance Community. Brian accepted a gig as an MC at The Ridglea Theater, in 1999. From then on, MC Pibb was born, and he was ready to grab and run with any chance that he was provided.

As an MC he helped make the Drum & Bass scene thrive in Dallas when the underground was rearing its head to the public. He has had the opportunity to MC for some of the biggest names globally in the genre when tours made stops in Dallas. He has also traveled to perform in other cities in the US and of course throughout Texas. In 2003, he wanted to try his hand at DJing usually playing the opening slot or small events when given the opportunity. As time progressed he started to focus on promoting himself as a DJ and less as an MC.

In 2007, Brian took a break from the music scene to prepare for welcoming his son and prioritized making a home for his new family. After just two years away, Brian made a return to his business in music after his son was diagnosed with autism. Due to the high and frequent costs of medical treatments, it was important that he did everything he could to make sure his son received the care this condition required.

The next steps were clear, and Brian took an opportunity to DJ a wedding event for a friend. He then was given a gig at Chaucer's in Allen, TX, where he was concentrating on music outside of the comfort zone. He was hired there and rose to the occasion by learning about Trance, House, Top 40, Latin, and Hip Hop genres that he had never experienced before. Soon he branched out to other Chaucer’s locations and received more opportunities as time went on. In 2012, he decided to start his own business as a mobile DJ for a multitude of occasions. He has been in business for almost 8 years. In that time, he has worked with some of the biggest vendors in the DFW Metroplex. He had the opportunity to DJ on 89.3 FM and was featured in the Dallas Observer. He has DJ-ed proms, Quinceaneras, charitable events, corporate events, house parties, karaoke events, and several weddings. He owns dance lights, lasers, haze machines, fog machines, wireless mics, up-lighting, and other sound equipment to ensure every event is special. In his free time away from musical interests, he enjoys spending time with his son, his girlfriend of 8 years, Sheena. He is also an avid movie watcher and collector and the proud owner/parent of 3 cats.