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He was named most famous person from Drenthe ever.
That's probably mainly because of Google, which people use nowadays.
But there are more famous people from Drenthe,
like Erica Terpstra, Hans Wiegel, a lot of athletes,
so it's pretty funny that he's the most famous one... ever.
[Don Diablo produces soundtrack for Dutch wildlife documentary]
[Best dressed man of the year]
[Don Diablo produces track for new Batman game]
[Don Diablo wants to make movies]
It's hard to describe his music.
I don't even think he can do that himself.
I don't know.
It's not house, it's not hip hop, it's not trance. I think it's more like pop music.
And for people who are a little older, that's a bit easier on the ears.
I see him a lot.
If he's in the country, I see him at least once a week.
He really needs that, a place to rest.
Don Pepijn Schipper, born in Coevorden.
Your written comments are so sweet.
February, 1980. Not much to see yet.
We lived in Dalerveen, a little village near here,
and across the street from our house was a little supermarket.
I quickly needed some stuff from the store, so I took him with me on my arm.
I walked into the store and I saw the niece of the owner, she helped out every now and then.
She looked at him and she said:
"JESUS! What an ugly baby."
"Looks like a pig!"
"Is he okay?"
Well, I didn't answer, walked right back out, and took him with me.
And even if it were true, you don't say something like that.
That's so rude.
But I didn't really mind, because you know the Dutch saying: ugly in the diaper, pretty in the veil.
I didn't bother to get a haircut for 7 years, and just wore my brothers' clothes,
which didn't actually fit me.
But after my first show someone gave me pictures of it.
And before that I never really looked in the mirror, or at pictures of myself.
But then I thought: I could use some work.
So I cut off my ponytail, started working out, and started eating healthier.
That's when I started to develop my own sense of style and bought my own clothes.
It kind of happened over time.
This was the last day. - Are you going to undo it?
Okay, I just lost a few hairs.
This is what it looks like.
You get the gist.
This... this is... this is the person who lives inside me.
Yeah, well. We like looking like this.
So... I really have to... the things that I say...
I have looked at all these videotapes, and I think I can conclude that I'm...
I think I'm pretty uhm...
- Weird.
Yeah, thanks for filling that in.
Or slightly autistic, or quite crazy.
But, if I look back at it, I almost don't recognise myself.
But then again, I do. It just feels like that person is completely gone.
To me it was like, this boy who had grown up that way, and who was too insecure to look in the mirror...
actually became someone who looks okay, and can sell some records.
And maybe even make his mother proud.
I guess not, too bad.
I have always been proud of you.
When you still had that ponytail you did very impressive things, too.
I used to make home videos.
And I didn't want to do anything with music, but I wanted to do something with movies.
The stars were usually my father or my mother.
You've never actually seen this, right? - No, is it bad?
Check this, hold on.
Krevel! Hey, Krevel! Wake up, the experiment is starting!
Is that me? - Yeah, that's you.
That's why I love my mother.
I quickly noticed that when you use the right score, it creates a certain vibe.
And that's what I love about music.
Because music makes everything 10 times better.
That's how I got into music.
Of course there's a generation gap – it's hard enough to explain it to my mother.
Sometimes, I stand in front of 10,000 people,
and then I press a few buttons, and the crowd responds enthusiastically.
I think that's the best way to explain it to my granny, right?
Could be. - Could be, there you have it.
What does a DJ do, you know that? Grandpa always knew.
Yes, he carefully followed what Don did.
And he never missed anything about him on TV.
He was really on top of it.
Look at this, hold on.
There you are, you have... - It's upside down.
Yeah, why isn't it turning?
Okay, this one. Look.
Where was this?
In Indonesia.
You have 1,500 likes.
He was such a sweet boy, I don't know what to say.
And he was easy, but he used to be a real screamer.
He couldn't talk, but he could scream.
You just had to listen.
Terrible.
When he was born, he was the third son.
And they were all born within 4 years, so that's really close to each other.
And Don really had to fight his way up.
He always had the idea that he had to be at least as good as his brothers,
but he preferred being better.
That's how he accomplished so much: it all started in his childhood.
There's nothing you want more than a pat on the back from your father, right?
With your mother you just know it's okay.
For mothers it's easier to express their feelings.
Fathers are usually more quiet.
So, you never really know whether he's proud or not.
Does he actually like this? You never know for sure.
I also think it's because most people don't see dj's as artists or musicians.
There will always be a mystery around dj's.
They will always be the nerds of the music industry.
Which is a pity, because there are quite a few guys who really know how to make music,
and who are capable of doing way more than just press play.
You know this one? - Yes, I'm not a fan of it.
I mean of the video. - Oh the video. This is Mezelluf.
Yes, I liked Mezelluf. - I didn't make this one for you.
No, for yourself.
I really like this song, it's appealing, it makes you happy.
But I think the video is...
It looks like he's watching *** there.
In the past you had to – you can see it here, everything was analog.
So I had to save up money and buy a new piece of equipment every time.
I made money by throwing parties in the local club.
That's how I earned my first money.
And my mother sat at the door.
She was cashier and... - No, I was just... Twan was at the door.
Yeah, but you sat by the door, you did the tickets. - Oh sure, I was by the door.
See? This is my mom. She sat by the door, not at the door.
She wasn't part of the door.
We'd come home late at night, and we'd have earned like over 2000 euro.
And I'd take some of that money, and the next week I would...
buy a new synthesizer, or... just fill my studio with stuff.
This is the original Juno with which Dominator by Human Resource was made – or that's what they told me.
In this corner, I used to keep my synthesizer stuff, but my father moved it all aside.
For his own hobby, like his stamp collection, but also all the photos,
and a lot of books. My dad really loved reading.
We were definitely – I wouldn't say outcasts, but we did live in our own little universe.
Reality can be nice, but if you make it just a bit better,
add some fiction to it, it becomes even more fun.
My father felt this way too, he even named me after a character from Lord of the Rings.
My full name is Don Pepijn, Don is from Captain Beefheart,
and Pepijn is from Pippin from Lord of the Rings.
He loved myths, too. Reality isn't always pretty,
but if you can twist that around and give it a nice spin,
I think that's really beautiful.
Can you rememeber this? With... Oh, wait...
Peup's acting debut. - Is someone there?
That's all! - Was that really it?
My mom and dad are the foundation of my existence.
And I can't think how... A life without my dad used to be my biggest fear.
He was so important to me, that whenever my father used to leave,
and he had gum in his mouth, I'd ask him if I could keep the gum,
and I kept it in my pocket.
The thought of him not coming back, would completely panic me.
To me, that was the best thing in my life – being with my dad and my mom.
I still can't imagine a life without them.
Well, now I can, without Peup.
You don't really have a choice. - Yeah.
That's why, for me, wherever I am in the world,
I have to see my mom at least once a week.
For me, the hardest part is the moment I leave here, and...
- We used to wave together, Leo and I,
behind the window or outside, but now it's just me waving.
That's difficult.
I feel like I got to know my father best in the last week of his life.
Men among each other is always a difficult.
You don't just say to your father: "Hey old man, I love you."
You just don't do that.
this could be the last day of his life.
But you keep delaying the thought, because you want him to keep fighting.
And how do you thank somebody for your whole life?
That's not something you just... Where do you start?
I tried it a few times, but...
Sometimes, in the hospital, we'd sit there, just the two of us...
I decided to write a letter to my father and read it to him.
That way I could say everything I wanted to say to him, without stuttering.
So then I did the scariest thing I did in my entire career, which was showing something very personal.
If I get hit by a truck today, I won't be remembered for...
"Get your *** hands in the air" of "Where the bottles in the club".
I will be remembered for something that came from deep inside of me,
and that is a very comforting thought.
I did say to my father, just before he passed away:
"I'm going to make you very proud," and that's what I'm trying to do now.
And it's working, although I'm sorry that he isn't here to see it.
We always say to each other: "He knows."
I don't necessarily make music for my grandmother.
- Is that thing heavy?