Music Sounds Better With You
DMC have been involved in dance music since 1982, our Directors though have had their feet stuck firmly in the music world since Elvis Presley and The Beatles shook their hips in the 50s and 60s. And so, it’s a wonderful moment to kick back and relive someone’s memories from back in time, with someone who is now back in the limelight.
Steve, a colourful life that led you into the world of music, albeit via synthesisers and all things Electronica via a purchase of Chicory Tip’s ‘Son of My Father’. The record spent thirteen weeks in the UK charts, and was a hit across Europe. What other electronic artists had you dancing around your bedroom to back then?
“It was a fabulous time Dan. It was All about the glam side of music, Slade, Cockney Rebel. Roxy Music even early Kraftwerk where I saw at The Liverpool Empire. They all rocked. My professional involvement with music began in 1980 when I took a job as the resident DJ at a Roxy/Bowie night in Liverpool. This was after spending the previous four years as a regular at Erics, Brady’s and various other alternative music clubs. Over the next five years I established myself on the New Romantic/Futurist scene as a high profile DJs in the UK with a reputation for breaking a number of bands that went on to huge pop stardom – including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, The Human League, Heaven 17 and ABC. During that time I branched out into management and live gig promotion. It was during this time that I auditioned to be a presenter of The Tube and brought Frankie Goes To Hollywood to the attention of the programme. In actual fact, I was one of the last four people to audition at Tyne Tees TV which consisted of me interviewing Jules Holland and reviewing ET to camera. I facilitated the filming of Frankie at The State ballroom where I was the resident DJ for a number of years on Thursday night’s. I was known to play everything from The Cramps to early House. It was a true forerunner to what became the Balearic/House music scene. It was during this time I turned down the residency at Amnesia before Alfredo got the gig.”
Well, you obviously help kick off the New Romantic scene, helping the likes of bands you have just mentioned…the likes of Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and The Human League spinning their records at some of Liverpool’s finer clubs. What were those days like?
“Oh wow. They were great times, becoming mates with Duran’s John Taylor, Gary Blackburn who is now managing the likes of Fatboy Slim calling me up looking for slots, jumping in the back of police vans with 1000 girls trying to jump in, the music was just so special back then. Wild, wild times.”
Steve, why did you turn down that incredible opportunity at Amnesia? You could have stepped into the sandals of one of the most famous DJs ever?
“Ha, I have no anger or bitterness to Alfredo at all, he is a fantastic DJ, it was just the wrong opportunity at the wrong time. I was asked by Sid who now who runs The Funky Room at Pacha to take over Amnesia, but it was only a three month deal over there. At the time I was putting on such huge artists as Sigue Sigue Sputnik, New Order and Big Audio Dynamite, and – it was just too much of a risk for me as I was doing so well. We also had PA’s from a young Jeremy Healy and Dead or Alive. Madness.”
Did you think Jeremy was shit back then?
“No comment Dan.”
So what happened after 1987…
“In January I moved to London to work for Polydor Records, responding to the Rare Groove movement and set up a label called Urban and had immediate success with the re-release of a number of Rare Groove classics such as Maceo and the Macks ‘Cross The Tracks’, The Jackson Sisters ‘I Believe in Miracles’, Bobby Byrd ‘I Know You Got Soul’ and Roy Ayres ‘Can’t You See Me’. I also compiled Urban Classics Vol 1 & 2 and managed British Rap artist Derek B and the original Soul to Soul vocalist Rose Windross negotiating the deal for ‘Fair Play’. I left Polydor in the summer of 1987 to return to my first love – DJing.”
And a great motorway story around then…
“I remember driving Paul Oakenfold to Liverpool from the Prestatyn Soul Weekender on a Saturday morning when he told me how he wanted to start a night full of alternative and Balaeric music, just like Ibiza. I told him that it was nothing different than alternative DJ’s across the country had been doing for ages, but I would support him if he tried it in London (a brave move).”
And after that great conversation on the M1?
“Ha. Well, I was one of the small number of DJs who started the Balearic/ Acid House Scene, the effects and influence of which are still felt twenty years on. I worked at ‘Shoom’ with Danny Rampling (my first night coming to the rescue and the spirit of the night after Coldcut). Having played at the early Boys Own parties with Andy Wetherall and Terry Farley, The Hacienda with Mike Pickering and numerous parties with Paul and Love at the Wag where I was resident DJ with Dave Dorrell as my warm up, I headlined the first two legendary Sunrise parties and then played right across the UK , playing at Most Excellent, Back to Basics, Slam, Golden and Quadrant Park amongst numerous others, as well as running two very successful clubs in London , Promised Land and Better Days. The guests who played at Better Days read like a who’s who of DJs and Includes most of the DJs mentioned above as well as John Kelly, Justin Robertson, John Digweed, Jon Da Silva and Kelvin Andrews. I very quickly started to make records to feed the scene and released music under the names, Technodelia, Precinct 13, Better Days and The Better Days Project.”
And then you made a very difficult family decision…
“Yes, when my son Tom was diagnosed with Autism I had to concentrate on looking after him. I gave up DJing. Years later a friend called me and asked me to become a resident for The Drunken Monkey night in Shoreditch which I have been doing for four years as well as playing at the likes of Faith, The Egg and all over the UK. I still has a genuine love and excitement for playing music that moves people.”
Tell us your all time 10 classic tunes…
Acid Tracks …Phuture
Promised Land …. Joe Smooth
Vertigo/Relight My Fire (full instrumental with Loleatta Holloway vocal only)…Dan Hartman
Let The Music Use You ….Nightwriters
‘Who’s gonna Ease The Pressue’… Mac Thornhill
Lack of Love…Charles B
Big Love…Fleetwood Mac
Invisible Sensuality ..T99
Just Can’t Wait ( Cool and Breezy Jazz Mix…Mandy Smith
Reachin…Phase Two
Present times, well as headlining clubs around the world, you are part of the wonderful charity Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, organised by Jonny Lee. What is your main goal/objective for Last Night A DJ Saved My Life?
“Our main objective is to become a focus for the Dance industry to start supporting more charitable causes and raising awareness and funds for them. We are asking for DJ’s, artists, promoters, venues etc. to donate one gig a year to our charity. With this long list of supporters we are then able to put together various events designed for various charitable causes. We are therefore acting as a bridge for charities to get involved with the global dance music community, and also helping DJs and artists to get involved in more charitable work and therefore help create positive change. With industry sponsors we are talking about doing events globally and involving many facets of the dance music community. We see the events as awareness raising events which bring people together for something greater than themselves!”
What are the tunes rocking your floors today…
Untitled Love ….. Still Going
Holding back Your Love ….. Tensnake
Miss World ….. 6th Borough Project
Hypnotic ….. Faze Action
Pop Muzik …. Todd Terje re edit
Break For Love …… Steve Proctor Acidiscotech Remix/edit
Kinky Girl ….. Jazzy Eyewear
People Hol;d On ….. Tony Stevenson Rework
You Changed The Way ….. Hideo Kobayashi
Here I am ( Shur- I -Can Dreamy Dub) ….. Fred Everything
Why did you come back to clubland Steve?
“Unfinished business Dan. There’s still love out there.”
Clubland, big respect for a true gentleman. One more…
Sat 5th June: Official Launch (London)
THE ACID HOUSE EFFECT on WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL DAY w/ DJs – Alfredo, Nancy Noise, Steve Proctor, Trevor Fung, Noel Watson, Frankie Valentine, Winston Hazel AKA FMG, Eren, Colin Hudd and Chris Duckenfield + many more
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=277653098532&ref=mf
Sun 6th June
BALEARIC MYSTIQUE @ The Light Bar, London w/ DJs –Danny Rampling, Phil Mison, Ross Allen, Balearic Mike, DJ Sergio, Lucci Capri, Moonboots, A Man Called Adam, Bill Brewster + many more
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=108084702561087&ref=mf
Saturday 5th June @ Corsica Studios @ £15 in advance, £20 on the door / Sunday 6th June @ Light Bar @ £10 in advance, £12 on the door / Weekender Ticket @ £25
All tickets can be purchased from https://last-night-a-dj.clubticks.com/wt/Default.aspx <https://last-night-a-dj.clubticks.com/wt/Default.aspx> or text ACID to 82500 in the UK (+447781482353 Abroad) to get the mobile internet web site.
COMPETITION *** The Acid House Effect & Balearic Mystique *** WIN TICKETS
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122888817736336&ref=ts <http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122888817736336&ref=ts>
http://www.survivalinternational.org <http://www.survivalinternational.org/>
