Killed ... DJ Ajax. Credit:Facebook

Ajax was one of the founding members of the Bang Gang crew, and has been voted among Australia's top five DJs in the inthemix 50 poll each year since 2005. He took out the number one spot in both 2006 and 2007.

In 2008 he launched his own record label, Sweat It Out, and regularly played the main stage at many of Australia's biggest music festivals, including Big Day Out and Parklife.

Duncan MacLennan, who was signed to Ajax's label Sweat It Out for two years, said the DJ pioneered electro music in Australia.

"Jaxxy was the spark that flipped Australian dance music on its head in the mid noughties," he said.

DJ Ajax ... twice voted Australia's top DJ. Credit:MySpace

"The Bang Gang crew... attained a cult status previously unseen by a group of DJs."

MacLennan produced the song We No Speak Americano with Yolanda Be Cool on Ajax’s label and it has since notched up nearly 9 million YouTube views.

"We sent Ajax our first rough," MacLennan said.

"He called us straight back - lads, this is going to be big. We didn't think so until he had said it, but we believed him. History will show just how accurate his finger on the pulse was. He was a music visionary, an unstoppable energy whose time was cut short. We will all be at a loss."

RIP to Ajax, my thoughts are with all the Australian homies, I can't believe this.

Sweat it Out released a statement paying tribute to Ajax, who was described as a "great friend" of dance music.

"We are devastated and heartbroken to have lost Adrian and our thoughts are with his family and many, many friends who share our grief at this time," the statement said.

The label said Ajax was instrumental in shaping the landscape of Australian dance music.

"He was a hugely talented individual and was highly respected by the local and international dance music community as a pioneer and innovator," the statement said.

"Adrian touched so many people and it is impossible to sum up his legacy in words.

"We could talk about his countless successes and accolades in the many roles he played throughout his career.

"Instead we remember Adrian as person who was loved by everyone, a person who was regularly described as the 'nicest guy in dance music' or the 'reason I got into dance music', a person who made time for every single fan in every club he ever played, a person [who] gave his unconditional support and encouragement to artists on his label and a person who was smart, funny and extremely generous."

Tributes are pouring in for him on social media.

"RIP to Ajax, my thoughts are with all the Australian homies, I can't believe this. Such a warm and generous dude, a real leader," tweeted US DJ A-Trak.

"If you're a DJ and you ever toured Australia chances are you knew Ajax, he was like the ambassador. Much love to the Banggang homies."

Australian indie rock band Children Collide wrote: "DJ AJAX was one of the best guys I ever knew. He was respected and loved in all corners of the music world and will be forever missed. RIP buddy. Jx"

Sydney nightclub Chinese Laundry, where Thomas regularly performed as a DJ, wrote on Facebook that the news was "absolutely heart breaking".

"Ajax was resident at Chinese Laundry for over 7 years and was a great friend to everyone here & an amazing DJ that was always a crowd favourite," it wrote.

"You will be sorely missed by everyone who knew you and everyone at Chinese Laundry.

"RIP Buddy."

Another Bang Gang crew DJ, James Wirth, was already mourning the loss of his business partner, James Miller, the Sydney publican who was found dead at his Elizabeth Bay flat in January.