Their 14th Birthday last Saturday, we salute head honcho JFK…
Passion, JFK, an amazing club that just runs and runs. How did it all start?
“It was launched by then owners Mark Walsh and Eric Schofield, it was called Crystals back then and I urged them to turn it into a dance club…the lay out was just perfect. Then London club promoter Chris Hall who helped set up Club UK suggestion a name change and a dance night ‘Passion’. He had the contacts, booked Todd Terry for the first event and BANG!”
So how did your residency begin?
“Well they asked me to be the main resident at the night, I now own 50% of the brand so it’s a big responsibilty. I played the first ever record at ‘Passion’, I remember the day I got the residency like it was yesterday, I jumped around the room for hours in disbelief that I was going to warm up such a legend”
Did you ever really think ‘Passion’ was going to grow to such a status?
“I always thought we had the potential as the club was pretty special, but in all honesty as it was the major cities that were attracting the big numbers, Coalville was always going to be tough.”
Which DJs have stood out over the years?
“Well before the trance explosion in 1999, Tony De Vit will always be remembered fondly, he was a monthly resident with Jeremy Healy. Jeremy in my eyes was like Tiesto is today, he was mobbed everywhere he went. I remember Boy George pulling out some great sets too. My own favourites were Tall Paul for his sublime DJ skills, these days Ferry Corsten and Armin Van Buuren are really close to my heart as they have made it big but never forgotten their roots and for sheer fun, Alex and Blocko.”
What have been the big Passion tunes you’ve belted out?
“Well there’s been a few! Alison Limerick ‘ Where Loves Live’ was the first ever record played at Passion so a special place for the team. Westbam’s ‘Wizards of the Sonic’ will always be remembered by the glow stick generation as I played at every night back in ’99, but for me the best record which best describes the huge success of the club is System F’s ‘Blue’. Last year Ferry played a new stripped down version and the place went really quiet in recognition of what an awesome track it is. Pure emotion with a kick drum.”
Best ever Passion night?
“The Millenium Radio 1 live party and the night I went three way back to back with Ferry and Armin. All trying to take each other on, amazing…”
Funniest story from the club…
“Well the night boxer Nigel Benn played was funny. He was a big celebrity DJ back then but couldn’t really DJ. When he arrived he told me what he usually did was play a couple of records and then his mate would then take over and he’d drift into the crowd and chat the girls up. But that night he couldn’t as his wife was there! So he sank a bottle of champagne and was pretty pissed when he went on – not a great start. Some clubber, as he was playing, came up to the booth and gave him the wanker sign… seconds later Nigel had him pinned up against the wall with his feet dangling before his wife eventually dragged him away. People then started booing his mixes and leaving in droves. I went over to him and said “do you want me to take over?”. He replied “No, fuck off.
