Hi Greg, you’ve just got back from your travels I hear…
“Hi Dan, yes we’ve just a few weeks in Australia, Brazil and my first time in Japan – what an eye opener. Tokyo is an amazing city, I can’t imagine what that place and country must have been like 50 or 60 years ago – it must have been incredible. I know it’s been westernised over the years, but wow, what a culture…”
So, you have deep DMC roots…
“I have known your parents from way back, your dad is The Royal Ruler.”
So on with the music, if there is one person who is an authority on Electro Funk – it’s you. The early 80s was such an important time for both the UK and US – it really spearheaded how music has developed for clubland ever since. What record labels stood out for you?
“Well, West End, Tommy Boy, Prolude, Sugarhill and Emergency were all major players that brought us out of the Jazz Funk and Norther Soul era into a different journey that has created a whole new musical world for us all.”
What were the records that paved the way, what records from that era do you still, occasionally, bring out?
“Rockers Revenge ‘Walking On Sunshine which I did an edit on, The Webboes ‘Under The Wear’ and Cyberton’s ‘Clear’ pretty much stay in my box all the time.”
What music did you listen to as a kid growing up – what influenced your music mode that made you get into your sound that you have championed?
“Well I grew up in the 60s, one of the best eras for music ever. So lot’s of great early pop and stunning soul music. My older brother and sister educated me a lot, listened to lots of Trax, Atlantic and Motown….”
Why do you think the sound of Electro, as it’s now known, has moved from black kids grooving on the dancefloor to the most cutting edge white clubbers in Britain today?
“Well to be honest, they are totally different sounds. Same term but different musically. It’s a more ‘straightened out’ version of what it used to be like. Back then it was more a funk direction, it’s like the R&B sound of today, that’s totally different to what it was like in the 60s and 70s.”
When your music started to establish itself, it came up against a barrier if you like, of the Soul crew, DJs like Pete Tong, Chris Hill and Jeff Young – these guys had been playing their music for years and all of a sudden there was a new kid on the block. What did you think about what these guys were doing, was there any resentment between the old skool and new skool camps?
“Good question. The Soul Mafia, all power to Chris Hill. I really believe that if the likes of Tong and Young had started playing and listening to music in a different era they would have followed our sound. They ignored our music, I think the guy who really suffered was Froggy, his style suited the Electro groove but he didn’t go with it. I came along, the young Northerner making black kids rock on the dancefloor and it split things down the middle. I knew it was cutting edge, I felt I was revitalising things, giving the scene a well needed shot in the arm. The Soul Maffia lost their power and then people like Tim Westwood and Kiss FM came through. Those people didn’t embrace it, obviously Pete has gone on to super stardom but the others didn’t see it was the forward and it led to their demise. When a movement is so strong the status quo changes…”
New York – tell us a tale…
“You know, I’ve only been twice strangely enough. And the biggest tale is a tale that never happened. I was meant to do a Hacienda Party in 1983 at ‘Danceteria’with Madonna’s then boyfriend Mark Kamen and it got pulled at the last minute.”
‘Planet Rock’ – a pretty important record for us all yes?
“A real moment for us, very controversial in actual fact. I got some serious shit for playing it, but a seminal record. It played itself. It split the atoms, a totally different concept awaking new possibilities and embracing the new wave of technology and taking it to the next phase. A huge influence, the sounds coming out of our radios was never the same again.”
So The Wigan Pier, you were rocking that whilst Ian Levine who we had on DMC Update a few weeks back was playing The Wigan Casino…
“Well before I started there I was DJing in Germany, six or seven nights a week for not very good money. The Pier was a totally new direction for the UK. It was all about the sound and lights, people would literally just stand their and stare at the lights! You can mention places like The Warehouse in Leeds and The Embassy in London and all of the New York discos. I fell in love with the place, I had to send a tape to the manager to get my slot there. The logo was a frog with a USA flag, the DJ booth was a 15 foot frog – insane. However it was the best technically equipped club in the country. There was no comparison to The Casino, chalk and cheese, that place was a dilapidated old ballroom.”
What has 2008 been like on the dancefloor?
“Do you know what, a really simple answer to what has been a great year…it’s just been so nice to see people singing their hearts out whilst dancing in front of me.”
Greg, you had a 20 year break from DJing and returned five years ago – what gives?
“Well I was managing some people mainly, people like The Rap Assassins and Kermit, I had the success with Black Grape…the 90s was an odd time for me, I couldn’t really get my bearings. However, I’m loving it now again.”
So what city do you enjoy spinning at these days the most?
“Well Hamburg totally blew me away. As you said, I’ve only been back a few years and suddenly I’m in this German city to a packed club and everyone knows all my records. Brilliant.”
What DJs over the years have stood out for you?
people like when i was younger in les spaine, liver the timepiece – eye opener, minory, miusiuc whart wanted, powerful, all djs taking notes, and then playing in their clubs. no north soul in liv always funk, his influ permetated out – Bambara Shack – dj called on radio mersey terry lennae – further into timepiece sound playing more widespead. shame with liv in a sense lost 81 riots lost links to black music, never ever got a decent black mus night – the city wouldnt allow it. colin curtis blackpool music moved tp jazz funk – best jazz dj on earth, not technm but passiobnate, later he played houase never dj int never documented, theres a major 3 sep scenes, cant think of any other djs.
What have been the best records of 2008?
“The Frankie Knuckles mix of Hercules and Lofe Affair ‘Blind’ – that has been a great tune, house music at it’s best. And the Soulwax mix of The Rolling STones’ ‘You Can’t Always Get What You Want’ was superb also.”
Did you ever breakdance?
“Ha no – but I did manage Broken Glass who in 1984 were the best known breakdance crew in the UK, hailing from Manchester.”
So an honorary Manc born in Liverpool – which football team do you support then?
“Been supporting Manchester United since the 60s so I am not a Man Utd glory hunter like all of these people down south who follow the team. I was there when we got relegated and am enjoying what we are doing today.”
What is on your stereo when you get home or in the car?
“Classic Marvin Gaye stuff like ‘ Whats Going On, that sort of vibe.”
‘Greg will be performing a DJ set at the next Bulleit Bourbon Originals event at The Caves, Edinburgh on 30 January. The live event also features soul legend Marlena Shaw and a DJ set from Jazzanova and will track the inspirational journey of Soul and Funk, demonstrating how much of the music we listen to today is inspired by original pioneering musical genres.’
