Snooker star Alfie Burden admitted his shock upon learning of Steve Davis’ unlikely career as a DJ. Davis dominated the sport in the 1980s, claiming six world titles, but has since embarked on a musical venture away from the sport.

Burden clinched his first ranking title at the Shoot Out in December, defeating Stuart Bingham 63-8 in the final of the single-frame format in Blackpool. The 49-year-old also won the World Seniors Championship last year after overcoming Aaron Canavan. However, Davis’ electronic music career came up during his discussion with snooker icon Stephen Hendry. Davis, whose passion for obscure music is well known, adopted the moniker DJ Thundermuscle and has played several major shows with his band, The Utopia Strong.

“Davis is a DJ now, isn’t he? That’s incredible,” Burden said during his appearance on Stephen Hendry’s Cue Tips. “When somebody first told me that… what is he Thundermuscle or something? I thought it was a wind-up. I thought, ‘How can you go from a snooker player to a full-on DJ with a name like Thundermuscle?’”

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Providing some detail on his BBC colleague’s musical output, Hendry responded: “I think he’s just brought out his fourth or fifth CD. I mean, it’s not music. If you heard it, you wouldn’t believe it. He’s played Glastonbury twice, I think. He’s supported Blur at Wembley.”

Davis enjoyed an illustrious snooker career, accumulating 28 ranking titles, before retiring in 2016. Shortly after hanging up his snooker cue, the 68-year-old’s love of DJing led him to form The Utopia Strong in 2018, who have released four albums together.

The group were given the opportunity to support Blur during their two Wembley Stadium shows in July 2023. Ahead of the gigs, Davis told the Mirror: “I am just absolutely chuffed – how much fun will that be to do.

“There are probably other DJs that should be a lot higher up the pecking order for something like this. But whoever decided they liked this strange thing we are doing, I am grateful.”

He continued: “It will be very different to being a punter – just mad. Glastonbury was just mad when we got asked to that, and this is ridiculous. The party atmosphere from DJ-ing is great fun and I have done it enough that I don’t get too uptight about it and just enjoy playing music that maybe turns people on to different music.”