Seb Fontaine joins an all star cast for a weekend of orchestral manoevers in the dark
Interview by Dan Prince
Seb a big welcome back to DMCWORLD. Where on planet earth are you today? A massive gig coming up for yourself and the city of Liverpool with the Cream Classic weekender where The Garage will be hosting the Official After Party after the Philharmonic Orchestra perform classic tracks from Cream’s 23 year history at the city’s cavernous and monolithic Anglican Cathedral. Pete Tong wowed The Royal Albert Hall last year, Park & Pickering have been doing the Hacienda proud – have you checked out these orchestral manoeuvres in the dark events yet?
Of course, I was watching the Hacienda one the other day. To be fair this is more Klass’s show, I am just proud that I am introducing everyone and kicking the show off. I did consider maybe a guest rap but thought at 45 years old that my rapping days may be behind me.
What instrument did you play at school?
The only instrument worth mentioning…the recorder. My “London’s burning” recital was hailed as a thing of beauty.
Righteo. Moving very swiftly on, you of course were one of the finest Resident DJs Cream at Nation ever had the fortune of securing. An incredible time in the 90s at what was, at the time, the No. 1 club on the planet. Can you remember the moment your manager called you to tell you that you had been offered the Cream residency. Your initial thoughts?
Actually James Barton and Jon Hill spoke to me directly. Initially I was concerned about not playing at other clubs that had supported me but they were lovely and let me still look after the other clubs as well. It was Oakenfold that persuaded me (it didn’t take much) that it was a great move. Honestly they were some of the best times ever to be a DJ.
“I used to go there before DJing there to see guys like Graeme Park and Andy Carroll…and so when I was eventually asked to play for Cream, well it was a complete no brainer.” Another nice little quote from you on some random late night clubbing show! So what are your memories of early days Cream, before the days when it was you ensuring thousands raising their hands skywards thanks to a drop of a beat?
I really did go there, I was always a bit of a Graeme Park fan and Andy Carroll still is a fantastic DJ with a great tune selection. The club was awesome and I went with a load of mates that i had met in Ibiza, how could anyone not have a good time at Cream with that line up.
And the night of your first residency…the first record you played and how much thought had gone into it?
Haha funnily enough, it wasn’t the first record that was the issue, it was the last one. Oaky was famous for having an end of night record that everyone knew. It took me a few months to find “the one” but sure enough Atlantis “Fiji” became the end of the night anthem at Cream. There were a few nights that I tried not to play it and got told off (in a funny way). It always made me laugh that one chap every week, without fail would ask me “what time are you playing Fiji mate ? (it was obviously played the same time every week.
Whenever I went up to Cream and saw DJs play there from outside of town, London, Leeds, Scotland, the States etc. I’d always end up having the same conversation with them. Unless you became part of Cream, unless you made a real effort to get on with the people who mattered the most – the clubbers – you didn’t stand a chance of success. You basically had to have Cream – not blood – running through your veins! Would you agree with that?
100% Cream wasn’t my residency…I was their resident!!! That meant you had to become part of the club, and love the club. The nicest thing about the Cream Finale and Birthday is that it has reignited a whole community of clubbers who are now chatting, sharing tunes, memories and stories. Being part of that even now is something special, I feel really lucky.
What was cooler for you? Securing a residency at Cream or opening up for Beyonce at a gig and getting a little cheeky wave from her as she took to the stage?
Haha the Beyonce wave was fleeting, Cream and it’s army of clubbers are forever. (I have to say this as I’m less likely to bump into an angry Beyonce).
5 tunes that remind you most of your time at Cream…
– Atlantis – “Fiji” – Spot On Records.
No matter where I am in the world a scouser will ask me what time I’m going to play Fiji.
– DJ Remy – “Backstabber”
What a Bassline, what energy!!!
– Lustral – “Everytime” – Hooj
Pure definition of a goosebumps tune.
– Durango 95 – 5.55
Love this tune. Tall Paul’s brother Danny created a fantastic slice of acid driven mayhem. A real set opener at Cream.
– Bedrock – Heaven Scent
A real Cream classic. Seeing the videos of everyone going nuts to this on the Birthday always puts a big cheesy grin on my face.
What was the best night you ever had at Cream?
I think it may be Cream Amnesia in Ibiza when the whole club sang Happy Birthday. I honestly had to wipe away a little tear on this one.
I asked Paul Oakenfold about the legendary Cream after parties and we were laughing at the places we’d be taken – dodgy pool halls where James Barton would have a back door key, church roofs in the summer (John Kelly you amaze me), a strip club just because they had beer. What are some of your after’s memories…?
Haha!! Oaky always loves leading me astray, he’s the king of the after parties and I think I made it to some very odd places. Sometimes I even made it back to The Cross in London for an after party there…
True or false? Last year you got banned from Sainsbury’s for theft of a computer game?
100 % false – I was returning a game that I bought for the kids that didn’t work. The manager was incredibly rude so I told them what I thought of them. It didn’t go down well and am now reduced to shopping in Iceland, but it was worth it.
Where have some of the stand out gigs over the winter months been for you?
Cleethorpes – Better Days with Tall Paul and Todd Terry was pretty special. Cream Birmingham with Danny Rampling on the Terrace was greathttps://evermix.fm/mix/af152884-116e-4f4a-b0de-8372cfb637fd/
It has been a great start to the year with stand out gigs at Fire in London, Dubai and Verbier…
3 new tunes you’ll be slamming out this weekend…
One For The Dj ( Get Up ) T Markakis
I Like Diz (Original Mix) Benny Royal
Walkout – Dimo – Defected
Some gigs you just cannot wait for…
Creamfields, Clockwork Orange – Ibiza, Cream Classical – After Party, Sankeys (Manchester) – Wax Format.
Seb Fontaine also performs at Creamfields which returns to the Cheshire countryside this August Bank Holiday weekend (25th – 28th August)
Info: www.creamfields.com
