James Sparrow… responsible for the craziest day of the week…
Yo dude. A legendary UK club promoter now settled nicely in the States working with your brother Neil on a band project, what’s the latest news on that front…?
“Thanks for asking. It’s going really well we holed ourselves up in Aruba and just wrote for the first 8 weeks. Now we are finishing off the album in a studio here. It’s really fantastic stuff. We are very excited. Neil is such a talented guy. A lot of work has gone in. We should be done in a week or so. And we have a deal in place in the States. So we are ready to go. A BIT OF ROCK AND ROLL FOR YA!”
A Salford lad, danced his trainers off around all of the best clubs in Manchester, Blackburn, Blackpool etc. what were the best clubs in your opinion… and who were the best DJs back then?
“Best clubs – 1. Hacienda, Manchester. 2. The Blackburn raves. 3. Shaboo in Blackpool. 4 Shelleys, Stoke on Trent. 5 The Thunderdome, Manchester. 6. Bugsys, Ashton Under Lyne. Best DJs? 1. Sasha. 2. Graeme Park. 3. Steve Williams. 4. Mike Pickering. 5. Jay Wearden. 6. Justin Robertson.”
So Miami rolling up again, what have been the best parties you have rocked at over the years?
“Groovejet with Sasha, a fantastic little club with a terrace that rocks. Coxy and Guetta at Ultra, Sander Kleinenberg’s Lewis at Space – wow!, all of Tongy’s Essential parties, Mr C at The Pawn Shop and Damian Lazarus always throws amazing parties.”
What has been your biggest Miami tune that you’ve shuffled to?
“Well that’s a tough one. Over the years, ‘Born Slippy’ – Underworld, Jacques Le Cont’s The Killers mix he did, ‘Sasha and Charlie May’s ‘Expander’ – Miami just has too many too mention.”
“You promote and host the infamous Sasha/Diggers boat parties…stupendous parties, brilliant fun, amazing music, just incredible days out at sea knowing you are probably dancing at the best party at WMC. What have been the best parties aboard the good ship Sasha and Diggers and why?”
“The boat parties are an amazing entity. It feels so different every year, but it keeps that excitement and energy. It’s like Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory – and of course you NEED that golden ticket! There’s no cluckyness, it’s a different crowd each time and once the boat sets sail you know you are going to have an experience that’s going to be really special. They have all been great. But a couple of years ago Tommy Sunshine played the most amazing eclectic set – artists like Bowie and Floyd, set against the backdrop of a beautiful Miami sunset. It really set it up for Sasha and John who then simply tore it up.”
What has been the maddest Miami party you have ever been to?
“Fuck! Well ‘Sunday School’ for degenerates, a ‘Back To Basics’ party at The Pawn Shop, Sander at Space, our boat parties are always fantastic – just fucking madness and really on top of their game. When you walk into somewhere and the place is rocking it’s always exciting, but every now and then you get freak parties where the whole place explodes in Miami. Combine that with the DJs who are on fire – you just have to buckle up your seat belts and go…”
What are the best records ever made that have made you smash it up?
“Jeff Buckley ‘Grace’, Leftfield ‘Leftism’, The Beatles ‘ Revolver’ and KLF’s ‘Chill Out’ album.”
You move around your homes in America and the Caribbean all the time, come back to the UK and party in London (normally at The Queens in Primrose Hill!). Which have been the most memorable parties you have sauntered out of at silly o’clock?
“Well there have obviously been thousands – ha ha. But my most memorable are the Hacienda’s 10th Birthday with Sasha, Bungalow 8 in New York on New Years Eve partying with Amy Sacco, Scarlet Johannson and Benico Del Torro. A party in Mexico last year with Steve Bug and Mr C, ‘I Love Muzika’ in Aruba was off the wall, John Digweed was amazing at Liquifield in Los Angeles one time, one of my Essential Selection parties down in Plymouth with Pete Tong and Nick Warren I will always remember, Twilo in New York – always, always incredible. Oscars in Los Angeles and basically anyone’s house after a club who wants to have it right off.”
How did you first meet Sasha?
Funny tale really. I lived in a small German town for a while called Shnitzel. At school we were given a twin town in Britain to have pen-pals with. I hooked up with this guy called Alex from Wales who we all now know as Sasha and the rest is history… pure luck.”
Do you think Miami has outgrown itself, last year saw 147 parties…
“It’s hard to say. I don’t think so. There are so many genres now that it’s automatically going to lead to more parties. Plus there’s always going to be new promoters and at the end of the day, it’s a music conference – it has to stay diverse and grow! Saying that, I think all of the experienced lads and lasses realise that maybe today less is more so that they take more care with their parties. No, I don’t think it’s outgrown itself. Although last year I went to 396 parties over the week – you might want to check your facts in future – ha ha!”
You are currently hooked up in Aruba, what is the scene like there?
“Amazing. Carefree, beautiful, madness. Go to www.ilovemuzika.com – and have a look. It’s brilliant. Maurice and Karm Neme – awesome promoters.”
Your brother Edward is getting married in LA soon…I hear there’s quite a big actor coming?
“Yes, young Edward is marrying the lovely Lauren at the end of March. She works with Jenny Mcarthy and Jim Carey is her boyfriend, so they will be attending. I really want him to do a speech – how freaking funny will that be?!?! I’m gonna try and get him drunk and do a ‘Dumb And Dumber’ piece… what a geezer.”
You are known as one of the all time mashers of all time, I have got to ask you one question about the silliness… what is the wrongest antic at a party you or one of your crew has got up to?
“I think the real wrongness is still to come to be honest. I have seen some dreadful behaviour from a lot of very famous and prominent people. Luckily I had nothing to do with it, but if yo wanna see some of it go to my new web site www.stitchallyourmatesup.com“