Dan was scheduled to appear on Saturday night at the 5th annual spring ball in Reno, Nevada. Up Till Dawn Records initially posted on social media that Dan was unable to make it, followed by a photo featuring Dan with the caption "Our hearts are heavy this morning."

Born Daniel Wherrett in Lacey, Washington, DJ Dan lived in Seattle and Southern California. He left a career-spanning legacy in both, but his name would be written in history in connection with events in San Francisco in the ’90s. Dan was co-founder of the Funky Tekno Tribe

a “neo-mythical clan of promoters, artists and performers” who threw legendary raves that played a huge part in building the electronic music scene on the West Coast and the US.

"Funky Tekno Tribe was run by two friends of mine (which I introduced) and our concept was to bring the most funky psychedelic music to the Bay Area rave scene,” he said in a 2012 interview with 5 Mag

“The original parties started in San Francisco and were very elaborate in decor and always had the best sound systems. The decor was very tribal and organic… like you were in the middle of the jungle somewhere with really fucked up, funky music that you did not hear at any other

parties. We chose our DJs well and everyone understood that we were bringing the most underground, even experimental music to our parties. This was our baby and we wanted it to be 100% our vision.”