Grammy winning Paul Harris, a member of one of the biggest dance bands Britain has ever produced – Dirty Vegas…
So Paul, before all this DJing and when I first met you, you were 16 and was working as a Trader in the London city ? What was all that about, were you one of those workers who stepped off the dancefloor onto the office floor?
“My job started at 6.30 am every day, I would head off with the gang for a drink and then go to a club, getting home at maybe 5 am. The whole 24 hours merged into one. How I survived I don’t know.”
So what were the early clubs you were going to?
“‘Special Branch’, Heaven on a Monday and Thursday obviously, I went to all of the big M25 raves with my brother too.
Who were the DJs that you followed around the capital?
“My favourites were Pete Tong, Danny Rampling and god love him, Nicky Holloway.”
What was your first break into the DJ world?
“The upstairs room called ‘Balearic Beats’ at Philip Salon’s ‘Troy’ night at Buzby’s in London.”
How do you think your DJing style has changed over the years?
“Well I’ve moved with the times, my theme has always been to play vocal records, good grooves. It doesn’t matter what genre, techno or house – the sound is a lot different to what it was when it started but there is so much good music out there now, the future is looking great.”
What music did you listen to as a kid in your bedroom?
“Oh wow, unashamed pop music I have to admit. I listened to the charts ever Sunday, taped it and then went out to buy what I liked. Early Stock, Aitken and Waterman stuff which in reality was early dance music, then Acid House and Pirate Radio.”
How did your production career begin?
“I started in the studio around 1993, I saw people like Dave Seaman moving into production mode, stepping up their game. I didn’t want to be left behind so I got stuck in. It was a long time ago but I think it was a track with Radio Slave in his studio, some disco cut up…”
So the seminal Dirty Vegas band you are in. You formed, won a Grammy with ‘Days Gone By’ in 2003, you sold a million albums in America and then split ?
“At the last end of the album we were all in different places musically. We were all best mates but for instance, Ben wanted to keep going live and I was itching to get back onto the DJ circuit. We decided to call it a day.”
So why did you want to get back together?
“After a solid five year stint of DJing I just decided I wanted to get on a stage again, I have seen some brilliant live artists this summer and just felt the time was right…”
Your production work is incredible, your Dirty Vegas, Atrium (I’m In Love With You – one of the most beautiful house records ever made) and Dirty South stuff, working with Kylie Minogue, Justin Timberlake, Fatboy Slim and Madonna – what are you most proud of?
“Well, obviously ‘Days Gone By’ for what it achieved for us all and how it changed our lives. My remix of Madonna’s ‘Die Another Day’ which was used in a James Bond film and now my writing for the likes of Kylie Minogue and Sophie Ellis Bexter. It’s strange how it’s gone full circle, I started playing people’s records and now I am writing their records.”
So you now have reformed and have a new Dirty Vegas single ‘Pressure’ which is available on Beatport now. What was it like being all together again?
“Probably like going back to your ex wife, the first couple of days were bizarre. Steve lives in Boston and flew over and then we all went to Los Angeles for ten days to work on the track.”
The artwork/photography/videos you have put out over the years are just so cool, who has behind all this?
“A mixture of people, to begin with we used Blue Source who came up with the concepts. The artist we used on our first album was the brilliant Richard Phillips and the last album Playboy images which Hugh Heffner who gave us permission to use it all. We nearly made it to the Mansion but got pissed in some bar and didn’t get there.”
You are resident at Bungalow 8 in London – who is the biggest celebrity you’ve made shake it on the dancefloor?
“Georgio Armani.”
Which city and club do you enjoy the most?
“Easy, ‘Tribe House’ in Dusseldorf – amazing people, amazing club – my favourite club of all time.”
Best record ever made?
“Donna Summer’s ‘i Feel Love.'”
Who’s taller, you or Tall Paul?
“Tall Paul by a couple of images, saying that though Paul Gotel is taller and the tallest of us all is Andy from Groove Armada.”
There’s a story about winning the Grammy for Best Dance Single, you weren’t in your seats when the winners were announced?
“Yup, we were in the bar, we had already missed out on two awards so we headed for a drink. We were watching it on the telly in the bar and nearly fell off our chairs. I can’t describe that moment. We legged it down the aisle and all I can remember is seeing Robert De Niro and Aretha Franklin looking at us as if we were madmen because we were laughing so much as we passed them. Unreal.”
Who is the maddest promoter you have played for around the world?
“Not naming any names, but let’s say the Russians have the weirdest ones.”
Tell us about touring the States on the Dirty Vegas Tour Bus, what was the weirdest town you hit – what was it like on the bus – what was the best gig you rocked.
“Let’s see. You start the tour with ten grown men on a bus knowing you have to live in each other’s pockets for the next three months. After week two you start to get used to the smell. We did it three times. But what made up for it was seeing America, seeing how immense the country is. Weird places? Kansas City and Albuquerque stand out. And Santa Fe in New Mexico is just awesome, it’s the oldest capital city in the States and just has to be seen.”
I was out having a drink with ex Mixmag, 7 Magazine’s and Que Pasa head honcho Nick Green the other night and he called you ‘Cross Course Harris’ – what’s all that about?
“Ha ha. It’s when us three go to the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival every year and instead of watching the live racing I always sneak off and head into the Bookmakers and start betting on horses at random races around the UK in places like Fakenham and Uttoxeter. I’m usually very lucky.”
If you were single, would you f*ck Kate Moss?
“Dan, you can’t ask me that!”
I know you play a Helluva lot in Brazil and have an agent down there, what is the best club down there?
“Warung on the beach is still the best by miles and miles and miles.”
What’s next for Dirty Vegas?
“Well, hopefully we can get back on the festival circuit. Do what we do best and rock crowds all over the place.
Thanks Dan, gotta go, my missus is moaning that I have to make lunch and change a lightbulb, see you soon pal.”