The Boys Own champ still showing the way… and a real DJ who know’s his music.
Okay, at DMC we talk about everything. You are renowned for supporting Chelsea… what are your thoughts on the whole Jose leaving incident…?
“I was on my way to the Garden Festival when I found out Jose had gone and I know this sounds really shit, but I was devasted – almost like a family member had died (a distant cousin or a cat maybe) but he is like a fabulous looking girlfriend who is high maintenace. You know she will f*ck off one day and break your heart so you just enjoy the moment and at least we got rid of that snake Avram Grant. Big Phil is making us forget JM at the moment anyway….
The Boys Own parties in the early days pretty much set the standards for festivals, outdoor parties and the like… what were the best ones…?
“The first one (and first outdoor all night party in ’88 ) was in Guildford in a barn with Steve Proctor spinning – that was fabulous with the OB turning up at 10 am in the morning and just letting us carry on without any grief. The East Grinstead one is the classic party (with the Swindells pics) that always gets talked about when people speak about outdoor acid house parties , a beautiful setting with lakes with flying geese and Californian sunrise E tablets…perfect….”
Best clubs you’ve ever lost it at over the years?
“Groove Jet year in year out for the Tenaglia WMC party from 95 to 2000… I was almost part of the night’s entertainment!”
You know I was one of the editor’s at Mixmag for 20 years and I am shit hot, but your Boys Own fanzines are f*cking hilarious… your writing is great. Self taught?
“Self taught ? i left school with no qualifications and still can’t spell to save my life and to be honest, I have rehashed the same story over and over for the last 20 years…”
Big tunes of the moment?
“‘Diva’ by Sebo K and ‘Mamas House’ by Osunlade. Oh and Dixons re-edit of 3rd Eye’s ‘Men With Sticks’. Our remake of Blaze’s ‘If You Should Need A Friend’ due to the wonderful vocal of Londoner Marc Anthony is my fave H and F moment though.
You DJ’d with Oaky at the Raid parties… what were they like?
“The Raid parties were fantastic. Oakey, Tongy and myself – a real mix of suburban soul boys from the Special Branch scene, the West End trendies and warehouse clubbers. We played a lot of house, Go-Go and rare groove… quite druggy as well for a pre acid house club.”
Best classic record in your box?
“Adonis ‘No Way Back’ never leaves my box and always hits the spot, whatever the crowd.”
What DJs do you think promoter’s should be forking out for at the mo?
“Dixon is my fave DJ at the moment, a real house DJ with an excellent taste in music and haircuts.”
Best Charlie Chester party you’ve ever been to?
“I loved his Soho Theatre Club nights behind The Astoria in London. A real alternative to the Shoom / Boys Own thing with a younger and potty crowd and some great DJs.”
What’s next for Mr Farley?
“What’s next? Well we have a collaboration with the Berlin fashion collective Firmente who are doing a limited edition of classic Boys Own t-shirts, a book of all the Boys Own fanzines , more JBO CDs with Defected, a reissue of Ultraflava with new mixes that’s coming via Defected and a new Heller and Farley record. Plus a Xmas editin of Faith Fanzine (the world’s ONLY house onlyrintenzine) – plus a couple of underground tracks coming out I’ve done with Rocky from X-press 2….”