The coolest guy in Ibiza behind the nightclub Eden…
So… you are from Madrid and now own Eden in Ibiza, one of the biggest nightclubs in the world. How old were you when you moved from the city, what made you move to Ibiza and why did you decide to get into the nightclub world in the first place?
“I was born in Madrid 44 years ago. I moved to Ibiza on my 18th Birthday with a friend. We celebrated the night by taking LSD and in the middle of the night decided to get on a Vespa, drove to Alicante, then Denia, slept in the port and when we woke up noticed that a ferry was leaving to Ibiza. And that is the way I arrived on this wonderful, crazy island!”
So tell us about the different jobs you have done over the years…
“My grandfather opened a club in Toledo when I was four years old and Iived there until I was 18… we owned viñeyards and a cinema too, hey, maybe be that’s why I love the cinema and red wine.. oh and women, ha ha!. So, when I ran out of money I had two options, move back to Madrid or stay in Ibiza – obviously I decided to go for the second option and went for a job at Pacha, I started collecting glasses, then a waiter type thing, then barman and finally, Terrace Manager. I decided to leave and then open my own businesses and I hired bars in diffrener clubs and bars – Ku, Amnesia, Keeper. During this time I worked too for El Divino.. .I hired Cova Santa to make after-parties and I opened a bar in the Ibiza Port. After a few years I started to promote British parties in Spain and Ibiza, booking ‘Miss Moneypenny’s’, ‘Progress’ ,’Temptation’ with the likes of Jules, Tony De Vit, Brandon Block and Tall Paul. Then the owner of the old Kaos club in Sant Ant called me and asked me to manage the club 10 years ago and I accepted the challenge – even my friends told me not to do it as it was located in San Antonio, but after 10 years we have changed the perception of how the people think about San Ant.”
Who have been the best DJs you have put on at Eden ever and what have been your favourite ‘promoter night’s’ you have had on at the club over the years?
“Everybody has their own kind of music favourite style, my one is vocal house, but I must always say thank you to the first people that accepted my invitation to play at a new club in San Ant. People like Dave Pearce, Judge Jules, Masters at Work, Eric Morrilo, Tiesto, Armin Van Burren, Roger Sanchez, Tall Paul, Armand Van Helden… a big list. Now we have ‘Wonderland’ with Pete Tong that has attracted other kind’s of music to Eden. The gig Judge Jules and Roger Sanchez in 2001 sold more tickets than ever before, but I must admit, the Groove Armada / Pete Tong / James Zabiela party last year were probably my favourite. Promoters wise, ‘Judgement Sundays’, Dan Prince promoting ‘Dance Anthems’ with Dave Pearce, the Radio 1 Weekender, ‘Gatecrasher’, ‘MTV Dance, ‘Gods Kitchen’, ‘Garlands’, ‘Wonderland’… but my favourite was the Bill Wyman gig live with his band of 14 musicians… itwas amazing.”
Best villa party you have been to?
“I don’t usually go to villa parties as I hate driving back home for obvious reasons. But last year my neighbour who owns The Cirque de Soleil threw one which was brilliant.”
What do you listen to musically at home?
“Musicaly I’m very eclectic. I like vocal house which I mentioned, but when am home I listen to Jazz, Electronica, Classical – people like Lamb or Pavaroty, Path Metheny, Craig Armstron, Blue Nile, Donal Fagen, Bach and Puccini.”
Biggest celebrity/ famous person you have ever had in the club?
“So many… Grace Jones, Victoria Beckam.. Girls Aloud, Puff D, Matt Damon…
What did you think of Victoria Beckham when she did a live show at Eden?
“Victoria was great… always is good to have the media involved supporting Eden. Maybe Maddona will be the next?”
How has Ibiza 2008 been, we hear that many clubs have suffered?
“2008 had been the second best year for Eden, it’s obvious though that 2008 has been a crisis time for the big clubs, and some of them have seriously suffered. I think this is because they decided to work in a comercial way… just like social clubs and forgetting the clubber. Ibiza must be the forefront of the music and clubbing industry and the way that Eden is working, musically its a point of reference.”
How has Ibiza changed since you first arrived?
“When I arrived in Ibiza only Bohemian peple were coming to the island and there were just three clubs working and maybe ten bars… now the industry is huge, we are Las Disneyworld in the clubbing industry. Also when I arrived on the island the average of deaths on the road per year was 38… now we don’t have five.”
Best night at Eden in 2008?
“‘Judgement Sunday’ and ‘Wonderland’, but ‘Garlands’ and ‘Twice As Nice’ worked great too.”
Who would you rather go out and have a drink with, Alex P & Brandon Block or Cath Mackenzie?
“I would like to go with all three, in fact I do every year… ha ha ha”
What is the best thing about working in Ibiza?
“The best thing is the island, you can have the best party of your life – no other one around the world has such an international crowd. The interaction beteween celebrities and the normal customers is unreal and at the same time you can sail to Formentera or relax in the Es Cavallet Beach or Cala Tarida with beautifull sea and sand. And dont forgett we have at least 20 top quality restaurants – and shopping is great. And again, women oh my god…”
And the worst?
The worst is that in the winter we don’t have any culture activity – we have the best weather in Europe in the winter – apart from The Canarian Islands…”
What is the best beach in Ibiza?
“The best beaches for me are E Cavallet in San Jose, Cala Conta in San Antonio and Arenal in Formentera. I like Sa Capellai, Amalur, Blue Marlin, Sol den Siena in San Jose…”
The best secret place that the British won’t know about?
“A yacht to Formentera sleeping on the boat in the day, then a full moon nite and swimming in the sea at night.Perfect”
What do you think about Dave Pearce’s baseball caps?
“Ha ha ha – baseball caps, well Dave has a good taste about his caps. In fact, and I can’t believe I am saying this, I collect baseball caps from around the world. Can you send me some of them from the country’s that you visit in the future as payment for this interview?
