It all started back in the 1980’s, 1987 to be precise. I was on holiday in Ibiza. There was a guy called Alfredo booked to play at this place called Amnesia. Apparently only a small club but this guy was playing something that I’d never heard of, Balearic. I was intrigued, so my then girlfriend and me purchased 2 tickets and it was all set.
On arrival at the club, much smaller than what it is today, we were ushered inside. The air was sweaty and hot. There was also an energy inside there that I’d never experienced before. The things that happened over the next 24hrs changed my life forever.
On return from Ibiza the quest began to find somewhere that played this music. Venues were scarce. The only ones I could find were ‘The State-Liverpool’ and ‘The Hacienda-Manchester’. After attending both of these places it became clear that this new music was getting bigger and evolving into something that would later take the underground music scene to another dimension.
By the end of 1989, after attending several of the southern so called ‘M25 Raves’, Sunrise, Energy and Helter Skelter. I was hooked.
Next stop the Technics shop to buy 2 turntables. Then to Eastern Bloc in Manchester for the vinyl.
The next 12 months was spent learning the art of mixing. Once this was accomplished I was ready to play out in public.
In the summer of 1990, I played my first gigs.2 illegal warehouse parties. The first at Winwick Key, Warrington. The second a fortnight later at an industrial estate just off the East Lancs. Road at Newton Le Willows.
The first party at Warrington was a success. The Police came in after an hour then decided to let it run until 6 in the morning. I played the whole night from about 2 till 6. I was instantly hooked.
Two weeks later a different venue, some 15 miles from Warrington, A disused warehouse, just off the East Lancs. Road at Newton Le Willows.
Things this time were not going to run according to plan. After gaining entry and setting up the equipment, the place was stormed by a couple of vanloads of police. There were probably about 15 of them. They switched off the generator and the music slid to a halt.
It took them a minute or two to get everybody outside, but once we were there it became obvious that the police were clearly out numbered. About 2-300 ravers had, now joined our original posse of about 15 lads including the security boys. It was at this point that all hell broke loose.
We re-took the warehouse and barricaded the doors and windows. The party was back on.
Again I played all night. Again I loved it. But at 6:30 am the police had had enough. The place was severally busted. I lost my turntables and records and it was several months until I persuaded the police to give me them back.
Over the next 3 years the workload increased. Revenge parties, a weekly residency at Mr K’s Wigan. Which eventually moved to Maximes for Revenge. The summer of 1990 saw my first weekend residency, Annabel’s, Carlisle. This ran for nearly 18 months.
In the summer of 91 I lost my father to cancer. What I intended to be a short break turned into a long one. Apart from small private parties the music was put on hold.
Another visit to the white isle in 94 finally cemented my love for the music and the energy that could be found there. The following year I would go for the season.
The following summer became 3 summers. You know how it is! Here’s where I played. Bar M with Jay Manumission. Bombay Pussy@ Es Paradis again with Jay. Rave and Cruise Beach party @Salinas beach with Afrika Islam. Leisure Lounge @ Space with Alfredo and Tom Costelloe and The Italian Job @ El Divino.
By day I was working in the Open Mind Music shop in San Antonio. By night if I wasn’t working it was party time.
In 1996 after playing several times on their Kiss 102 radio show, 808 State asked me to support them at their Don Solaris album launch. A memorable day. Only a week after the IRA had blown up the city centre, between 15 and 20 thousand people were determined to carry on as normal and turned up at Castlefield to party for free.
After a 12 month residency at Kudos Manchester finished and after my penultimate season in Ibiza I decided it was time to take things to next level.
In 1998 I enrolled at City College Manchester and did a 3-year diploma in music technology. This I passed with a distinction. The knowledge I gained here provided the passport I needed into the field of production.
From 99 till 2001 I held a weekly residency at Pure Space Blackburn. Warming up for people such as Rob Tissera and Gordon Kaye.
2003 till 2006 was spent improving production skills and putting on small parties at a disused farm.
October of this year saw me secure a new monthly residency at Dirty Tourism Manchester
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