Tributes paid to Nightcrawlers' John Reid following his death aged 61

The DJ, singer and songwriter co-wrote Number 1 singles for Leona Lewis and Westlife

Tributes are being paid to John Reid, the DJ, singer and songwriter behind Nightcrawlers, who has died aged 61.

Glasgow-born Reid founded Nightcrawlers in 1992. That year, their acid house track Keep the Feeling On became a minor hit, peaking at Number 86 on the Official Singles Chart.

Three years later, a house remix of the song by American DJ Marc Kinchen (aka MK) became a huge hit, peaking at Number 3. The MK remix was first released as the B-side to the original 1992 single, then gained momentum on the club scene.

Nightcrawlers' subsequent hits included Surrender Your Love, a Number 7 smash in 1995.

In 2021, Nightcrawlers teamed with DJ-producer Riton and social media stars Mufasa & Hypeman for Friday, a dance anthem based around a sample from Keep the Feeling On. It climbed to Number 4 on the Official Singles Chart.

I just learned that John Reid has died. I wrote over 100 songs with him and find it very hard to come to terms with.https://t.co/ufKHtXVvnB
— Ian Levine (@IanLevine) June 16, 2025

Sorry to hear this news. RIP John Reid. DJ, producer, songwriter & Nightcrawlers star. The classic Push The Feeling On. Co-writer of Leona/Kelly hit “A Moment Like This” plus songs for Westlife, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, Bad Boys Inc, Eternal, Andrea Bocelli. My Condolences 🖤 pic.twitter.com/sEVP9wS2Oe
— Kevin Hughes (@Popprince) June 16, 2025

The MK version of Keep the Feeling On has been heavily sampled over the years, including by Pitbull on his 2009 Top 10 hit Hotel Room Service and AJ Tracey on his 2020 Top 5 single Dinner Guest.

Outside of Nightcrawlers, Reid was a prolific and highly successful songwriter.

He co-wrote Westlife's 2002 chart-topper Unbreakable and Leona Lewis's chart-topping debut single, A Moment Like This, which spent four weeks at Number 1 after she won The X Factor in 2006.

A Moment Like This had previously been recorded by Kelly Clarkson, who took it to Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 after she won American Idol in 2002.

Reid's other song writing credits included Bad Boys Inc.'s 1994 Top 10 hit More to This World, Tina Turner's 1999 Top 10 hit When the Heartache Is Over, and The Saturdays' 2008 Top 10 hit If This Is Love.

Our thoughts are with John's friends, family and fans at this time.