An Institution And An Icon On The Island…
Hi Kirk. A very dear friend you are. But before we get down to Ibiza life, tell us about the Raindance and Coventry Eclipse rave days and your involvement…
“I wrote the flyers, did the guest list, managed the stage for Raindance (which was the World’s first legal rave, incidentally), and was allowed to book one act each event. I brought Moby over to the UK for the first time. I met him at the gate and carried his keyboard to the marquee and we climbed up the ladder onto the stage – and he froze! He’d never seen anything like it!”
What was the best rave you ever went to back then?
“My first one! ‘Sunrise’ in July ’89 at White Waltham airfield, 15,000 people, Doug Lazy and MC Kinky performing, a beautiful sunrise…and then front page of The Sun the next day!”
So Ibiza is obviously a place in the world very close to your heart, when did you first step on this magical white island?
“For Mixmag back in June 1990. I was covering a huge launch for the Barcelona Olympics at Ku (now Privilege) featuring 808 State, Big Audio Dynamite and Sly Stallone’s girlfriend Brigitte Neilson who was launching a pop career. Crazy.”
What were the club’s that first set you alight in Balearic blissdom…
“Pacha of course. It possesses a very special energy.”
Who is the best ever Ibizan DJ in your opinion?
“DJ Pippi – his sets undulate in ‘natural time’ rather than chemical time; they rise and fall more subtlety and slower than that of a UK /US DJ.”
What is the best ever club night and venue you have been to there?
“Manumission at Privilege on any Monday from 1995-99.”
Biggest 3 Ibiza tunes ever?
“Sueno Latino.”
Ibiza’s best kept secret?
“That if you love the island, she’ll love you back.”
What’s the best party Radical Escapes has ever organized?
“Our non stop 24 hour marathon to Amsterdam was pretty memorable, but I’d say it was our Zoo party in Ibiza last June – beautiful people, great music, a golden sunset…and people having sex in the pool.”
Best restaurant in Ibiza?
“Es Boldado in Cala D’Hort. Is there a better view from any restaurant terrace in the World?”
We used to share desk space as journalists at Mixmag, who was the biggest artist / DJ you interviewed back then?
“I did the first interviews with KLF, The Orb, The Grid and The Shamen – in fact I had to lend Jimmy from KLF a fiver to pay for the colour photocopy of his album sleeve. Then I heard he burnt a million pounds! I saw him a few weeks later and he offered to give me the fiver back, I refused so that I could say that five pounds of the million the KLF burnt belonged to me, it was my small contribution to their never dull madness!”
Best UK club you have ever been to?
“‘The Land of Oz’, Mondays @ Heaven 1988-1990. Paul Oakenfold promoting and playing and all the ravers swapping stories in the queue about what they’d just done at the weekend – as a Christian paraded up and down with a sandwich board saying ‘ SINNERS REPENT’. Class!”
So what will 2009 be bringing us from Radical Escapes in 2009?
“We mark a decade of decadence – ten years of ‘dancing somewhere different’. We are gearing up for our annual opening party invasion: Ibizan Heat (www.ibizanheat.com) – and have just launched a really great value closing party package which includes FOUR free parties at top clubs – one important feature of what we do is getting Ibizan Heat DJ’s – unknown aficionado’s who come with us, to play sets at the top clubs; we will be playing at Cream opening, Tiesto at Privilege, Eden, Es Paradis for the water party – as well as hoisting a night in Ibiza’s latest superclub BoHo (formerly Extasis).
Any budding DJ’s who can bring a small crew should contact us via www.ibizaclosingparties.com
Has Ibiza lost it’s edge or do you think all the cowboys have been flushed out and the real people who love the music and island are now in control?
“The island will always attract sharks. It’s always changing and always will. I preferred Ibiza back in the early 90’s, before it became corporate, to be honest. But it’s still a very magnetic, happening place to experience. As I’ve already explained, we try to unlock the ‘closed shop’ mentality and give fresh talent a chance to shine and appear at venues which would otherwise be off limits as they are not internationally successful DJ’s.”
What did you think of the Mike and Claire sex shows at Manumission?
“I had no problem with what they did, but would question where they did it, as everyone knew it would take place on the main stage at 5am, it killed the vibe for an hour beforehand, as ruddy faced boys and girls from Hull and Newcastle stood down the front with their footballers haircuts and disposable camera’s in hand, waiting to capture the outrage to show their mates at home. I think it would’ve been better to vary the time and location – make it more unpredictable.”
Tell us about your snow activities…
“We organize some cool Snowboarding and skiing breaks for people in the biz – low key, just word of mouth, and we also consult for Snowbombing – the Worlds Biggest Festival on Snow! This year featured “ManyDJs, Dizzy Rascal and Grandmaster Flash (www.snowbombing.com)
Best party villa party you have ever been to on the island and also, tell the DMC world – your favourite three Ibiza anecdotes.
“I once went to a Swiss lingerie company’s private party in a Villa overlooking Es Vedra. As for Ibiza tales; there are soooo many – all I’ll say is…Having a wee in Mike Oldfield’s pool at dawn along-with a well-known promoter, not big or clever but it was fun. Playing in the toilets at Manumission as part of my DJ duo, The Cubicle Bros ( music policy – anything except dance music – and enjoying a cup or two of Alfredo’s 40th birthday punch with the man himself…golden memories!”
Ibizan Heat runs from June 20th for 7 nights and costs £379 inc flight/accomm and an event pass giving 4 free parties
Ibiza Closing Parties takes place from Sat 19th September and costs from £319.
Bookings: 020 8 780 5551
The Cubicle Brothers are available by emailing radicalescapes@btinternet.com
Photo credits : Frank Van Greunen