The Old Skool Duo, Back In The Spotlight
A rather amazing new album coming out ‘How The East Was Won 1989-2009’ on Shut Up And Dance Music, but before we talk about, let’s go back to the day…
Your group – and label was formed in 1988 in Stoke Newington in London courtesy of Messrs Phillip ‘PJ’ Johnson and Carl ‘Smiley’ Hyman. Early rave days with tunes that had some early success – which artists and clubs were the people and night’s exiting you back then “Back then we were into people like Derrick May, Prince, Michael Jackson, Jah Shaka, The Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, Whodini, Run DMC, and going to lots of Hip-Hop gigs and reggae sound system clashes. Basically our environment was to take in lots of different styles of music.
Tell us about the clearance on one of your big hits that happened…’
“It’s ‘Raving I’m Raving’ you’re referring to. It was an issue which basically got resolved in the end, hopefully other artists learned from what happened to us and the industry since then has become a lot more clued up on aspects regarding samples, use of melody’s etc.”
So, ‘How The East Was Won 1989-2009, a rather massive amazing album coming from you – ‘a Shut Up & Dance’s’ 3 CD album spanning 20 years, 11 albums, and multiple single releases. It features artists such as, Shut Up & Dance, The Ragga Twins, Peter Bouncer and Nicolette. How did that feel putting it together and what tunes made your spine tingle?
“It felt great putting it together, but we had so many era’s to cover, like the late eighties to the mid nineties which was the rave era, tracks like: £20 pounds to in, The green man, Hooligan 69, Spiiffhead, & Raving I’m Raving, then from mid Nineties up till the Millennium, you had the Drum & Bass & Breakbeat era, with tracks like ‘Bastards’, ‘Hip-Hip & Here This’. From the Millennium onwards music was more about the 2 Step garage style, and the harder end of Breakbeat, tracks like ‘Holdtight’,’ Nova’, ‘No Doubt’ and ‘Reclaim The Streets’. When we sat down to compile it we soon realized that one CD wasn’t enough to cover all of the above.”
Best club you have ever have gone to?
“There’s been so many, but basically the one’s that rock and people come out to truly get a groove on, Germany rocks wicked, Festivals is more our thing, lots of people having it with very big grins across their faces.”
Biggest tune you replayed at your house at a ‘back to mine’?
“‘Raving I’m Raving'”
I used to be Clubs Editor at Mixmag for a long time, too long! You were one of the big boys of the scene back then, then the scene changed and people’s attitude to music changed too. How did that feel, did it take a while to regroup and think, fuck it, we’ll come back bigger and better?
“Well in our time we’ve seen a lot of changes, but the key is to adapt to those changes, figure out where you fit in within whatever’s happening at the time. Musically we’re survivors, it must be the east Londoners in us.”
What are the big 10 tunes you are playing now?
CREAM – SHUT UP AND DANCE
FUNKDANATION – BSD
LOVE WILL (REMIX) – SHUT UP AND DANCE FEAT A’DE
GANGSTER – RICO TUBBS
GOING ON – WHITE LABEL?
AUGUR – WHITE LABEL
SUICIDE – SHUT UP & DANCE & AFGHAN HEADSPIN
DEEKLINE & TIM HEALY- TITSWORTH
SOMEWHERE- RENNIE PILGRIM
GUNFINGER – SHUT UP & DANCE
What’s coming next from your studio?
A new Shut Up & Dance artist album in 2010, it doesn’t have A title yet, but it’s sounding FAT!!!
Best new tune you’ve been sent in recent weeks?
Augur – White label
Okay, we come back to yours. What’s the cheesiest tune you put on?
We don’t own any cheesy tunes, we have a high quality control to maintain.
The cheesiest tunes we own are probably from our early Mod days, we got all the original The Specials, Madness, Bad manners etc tracks. And all on 7″ singles, remember them?
What one artist in the world would you like to make a record with?
“Why just one??, Prince would be the first artist to name check. Remember he can play multiple instruments, write, sing, arrange, perform, and has written so many number one tracks for so many other artists. You have to give it to the man, he knows his stuff.”
What was the first club you performed at and how much were you paid?
“When we first started out, before we even began our label, we use to rap with a DJ called CJ Carlos when he would play at many nightspots around London, we did it for the experience, figuring that if we could rock a hardcore, stubborn, predominantly black crowd, then we could rock anyplace, and we wear right, that experience gave us a lot in terms of how to interact with an audience, that we’re hard to win over. Can’t remember the fee, wasn’t much but we had many a good night, oh yes.”
Stoke Newington is trendy now – where do you hang?
“Church Street is cool for restaurants, every type of cuisine can be got from there, we tend to venture out all over though ’cause we been here in ‘Stoky all our lives and we like to spread our wings a bit.”
Best ever release you’ve made?
“5678, cause that was our first release and started the whole Shut Up And Dance ball rolling…”
Best live gig you’ve done?
“Glastonbury 2002, we came on before Fat Boy Slim and that dance tent rocked baby, there hasn’t been a gig that has eclipsed that one.”
Ever had any knickers thrown on stage?
“Unfortunately not, we’ve been kissed, offered drinks, offered drugs, but no knickers, shame innit, it’s so un rock and roll.”
Do you miss the rave days…
“People always associate us with the rave days, but really we just love MUSIC, that’s why I suppose we’re still here, the whole everyone coming together vibe, and the always having somewhere large to go to at the weekend is missed. But as long as there’s good music on offer, we’ll find somewhere to have it large at.”
http://www.shutupanddance.co.uk
www.myspace.com/shutupanddancetunes
Shut Up & Dance ‘How The East Was Won 1989-2009’ on Shut Up & Dance Music
!!!20 YEARS OF SUAD!!!!
SHUT UP & DANCE ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY
SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER 2009
AT THE RHYTHM FACTORY
16-18 WHITECHAPEL RD
LONDON
10pm till 6am
The award winning Vinyl Touch join forces with the legendary Shut Up & Dance for their official album launch party.
We will be playing you a mixture of Breakbeat, Dub step, Old Skool, Drum & Bass, House, Electro and Club Classics.
This is gonna be one big shindig…
Lineup:
ROOM 1:
SHUT UP & DANCE with PETER BOUNCER
RENNIE PILGREM
ELLIS DEE
J-MAGIK & WICKAMAN
DR S GACHET
SOTO
SWIFTY B
DJ LOCK-UP
ANDY SKINUP
REVERB & CUSTARD (Rob Watts & Mode X)
Hosted by Mr Reload, Ken Mac & Ca$h Mc.
Room 2:
ELLIS DEE & RENNIE PILGREM (New Funk Set)
AFGHAN HEADSPIN
APPLY THE BREAKS
THE MAGNET MEN
NIKI DIMENSIONS & TWISTA
JC & RUMBLE
JYNX
CHUG
CONCEPT
UPFRONT & SHNAK (Epidemik)
Address
The Rhythm Factory, 16-18 Whitechapel Road, London E1 1EW
Nearest tube
Aldgate East / Whitechapel
Music policy
Breakbeat, funk, old skool, house, electro, dubstep, drum & bass, club classics.
Entry
£5 all night!!!
Non members £10 before 11pm, £12 after
emailthevinyltouch@hotmail.co.uk to become a member
Can I wear trainers?
Yes
Good stuff
Late bar licence, full light and laser show across both rooms, TNT Dancers, UV performers, Exclusive TVT merchandise & fun stall, Urban jewellery stall from silver apple boutique, chillout bar area, covered outside smoking area.
