Paul Oakenfold – the Cream legend reflects on a stunning Liverpool journey
Interview by Dan Prince
Hey Paul, welcome back to DMCWORLD. So a sad date coming up in your diary but also a chance to celebrate at the Cream @ Nation Grand Finale. So many UK venues are closing down at the moment, this though is a major blow. What was your initial reaction to the news?
Of course it’s a truly sad day because the place has such a legacy and so many amazing memories, but I’m not altogether surprised that Nation as a venue has been sold. It’s so central and house prices have gone up I’m guessing in Liverpool – so selling the building off for residential purposes is a sad but unfortunately inevitable conclusion to this pioneering chapter in the Cream story.
Can you recall your first ever visit to Nation?
Wow – that’s a tough one. I spent a substantial section of my life in the venue so while I might be able to pinpoint the first time playing there for Cream – it was more the overall collection of experiences and the Courtyard specifically that hold such a special place in my memory.
For a cheeky Londoner and a Chelsea supporter, the Liverpool crowd took you under their wing straight away. You must have made a lot of friends via Cream over the years?
Absolutely. When you return to the same venue every Saturday for two years you build a special friendship and relationship with the promoters, the fans, the crew – even the building. But with Cream it was certainly a family affair and I felt part of that inner circle from the start.
During one of the most famous club residencies of all time, between 1997-1999 you created 84 sets and played over 8000 records. Can you try and explain just what that Saturday night experience was like for you as an artist?
Wow are those stats accurate? The thing about a residency is that it enables you to build a level of trust and understanding with the regulars that you can’t necessarily get from going to plays somewhere once or twice a year. It was that level of trust that was at the center of the whole thing – the crowd went with me – in whatever direction I chose and that – in terms of an experience for any DJ is the best kind of show you could ever hope for. Absolute freedom to play what you want to play.
During that time you infamously ‘sat on records’ that nobody else in the world had, playing them to create a unique buzz. Can you tell us some of those tunes…
Well Cream was where records like “Bullet in The Gun” were first broke. Sometimes I played key records twice in the night when I was playing for 3 hours – just to really get them stuck in people’s minds. Records like the CJ Bolland B side “The Prophet” – they were anthems that were made anthems in the Courtyard.
You are well known in the industry as an artist who never likes to go backwards as a person and DJ, reunions for instance aren’t your bag. How difficult though was it for you staying away from Cream for 10 years after your residency finished?
Was it really that long? I had moved to the US and was focused on various work there for a long time – so wasn’t coming back over this way often. When you have been tied down to a country – with a weekly residency – for two years – it has many pluses – like being able to go and see Chelsea every Saturday before heading to Liverpool – but when that period was over I wanted to hit the road and get out there. So then the opportunity came up to base myself in LA and get involved in film score writing – I was up for the change of scene.
Your Cream All Time Top 10…
1. Planet Perfecto “Bullet In The Gun” (Saturday Mix)
2. CJ Bolland “The Prophet”
3.Grace “Not Over Yet” (Perfecto Mix)
4.Tilt & PVD “Rendezvous”
5.Mysterland “Y Tracks”
6.Brainbug “Nightmare” (Sinister Strings Mix)
7.Amoeba Assasin “Rollarcoaster” (Oakey’s Courtyard Mix)
8.Man with No Name “Vavoom”
9.Mansun “Wide Open Space”
10.Transa “Prophase” (X-Cabs remix one)
There are some DJs who just ‘get’ playing at Cream. Dave Seaman and Guy Ornadel stand out for me, who are some of the DJs that you have enjoyed shuffling your Adidas to over the years?
Hernan Cattaneo has been my favourite DJ for many years. He’s a master at what he does and really knows how to evolve vibes and moods.
We have all enjoyed the James Barton after party hospitality up at Cream. I have ended up on a church roof, a seedy sauna and a brilliant little pool hall over the years talking bollocks ‘til the pubs opened Sunday. What are some of the GREAT afters you’ve enjoyed?
Ha ha – I can’t possibly tell you that – but let’s say it sounds similar to what you’ve experienced. The hospitality in Liverpool was always top form.
A difficult one. The 3 main factors to the success of Cream at Nation…
The music, the crowd and the sound system.
Have you thought about your closing set at the weekend or are you just going to leave it until the last minute to pick your tunes?
Absolutely not. I’ve had the fans choose what they want to hear so my playlist is going to be made up of whatever they have chosen. It’s going to be an entirely fitting end to this era. A trip down memory lane and a final sign off for one of the most important places I have every played in my career. I don’t often do classics sets – but it would be a crime not to in this case.
And finally – your GREATEST ever night at Cream @ Nation?
Will be this Saturday night. See you there.
Tickets for the Cream Grand Finale part one, on October 17 have now sold out. For tickets to part two on October 24 featuring sets from Dimitri Vegas & Like Mike, Danny Howard, Carnage and Michael Woods, go to http://cream.co.uk
