“Sheffield, 2003: taking a turn off main-street, away from cacophony and real life relics, & into the outer spaces myriad faces & sweet deafening sounds of rock'n'roll. And inner space... the mind loses its bearings. What's the date again? (It's so dark in here) 1983? or twenty years on?â€
Razor Stiletto launched on 23rd May, 2003
The venue was unlicensed, and there was no security (except for a friend who was a black belt in kick boxing, who said he’s keep an eye on things and sort out any trouble).
The decks kept skipping and the night ended when the sound engineer got fed up and unplugged the PA system half way through ‘Nag Nag Nag’ by Cabaret Voltaire…
There were 173 people in attendance including members of Pink Grease, The Long Blondes, Reverend & The Makers, (The Arctic Monkeys were too young to get served back then), plus The Human League and old school Sheffield legends Clock DVA.
Since then, there have been 53 Razor Stiletto events, over 20 000 people have been through the doors, 3000 balloons have been popped, 109 live acts, performers and guest DJs have appeared.
Instigators, protagonists and resident DJs Ralph & the Ralphettes have made guest appearances at and played records everywhere from Torture Gardens to Bugged Out! to the legendary Nag Nag Nag (RIP)...From Glastonbury Festival to Vivienne Westwood launch events
There has been 10 different venues (8 in Sheffield, 2 in London,) 8 Ralphettes, (including one drag Ralphette!). ‘Easy Lover’ by Philip Bailey and Phil Collins has been played 47 times, Amy Winehouse has been turned away at the door by security, and 1 compere has been bitten by an enraged transvestite!
Here's what the press have said about Razor Stiletto:
"such vitality and experimentation would have been inconceivable a decade ago... Razor Stiletto goes one stage further, adding vicious style, bizarre burlesque and a good dollop of humour into the mix"- THE GUARDIAN GUIDE
"Don't expect the DJs to mix"- MIXMAG
"I clocked a large lady dressed as a teddy bear handing out lollies... In an instant she made me feel quite at home"- BIZARRE
"Sheffield gave birth to electropop and for the past two years Razor Stiletto has been nursing the baby"- NME
"this club could claim to hold the most anything goes attitude in the north of England. Does your mum's wedding dress need a second outing? Get it on!"- ATTITUDE
Launched in May 2003, the following bands, artists, performers and DJs have all appeared at Razor Stiletto:
Roxyrama * Jodie Harsh * Methodist Centre * Little Anthony * Wow & Flutter * Peek-a-Boo Burlesque Cigarette Girls * The Glitter Kittens * My Toys Like Me * Lords of Flatbush * Pygmy Globetrotters * Miss Sahara Star * Adam Kesher * Sisters of Transistors * Artery * The Tigerpicks * The Black Ghosts * We Are The Black Lights * Kid Acne * Ezra Bang & Hot Machine * Beautiful Balloon * Ebony Bones * The Flaming Doo Dits * The Cous Cous Torture Company * Jagz Kooner * Screaming Mimi * Darlings of the Splitscreen * The Cabaret Carousel Show * Deluka * Rubber Ritchie * The Barnacles * Kreeps * Salon Boris * Russian Folk Musicians * Pollinates * Bruce Airhead * Baby Long Legs * Shakes * Tits of Death * Jean Genet * Helen Held * Mu * Black Lamb 1984 * The Yell * Gwendoline Lamour * The Priscillas * Janny James (female Elvis tribute) * Lets Bitter Cinema * Atomizer * The Whip * Motormark * Metronomy * Bane Overlord * Michael J Coxx * Heart Yeah * The Bastard Son of Tommy Cooper * HK119 * The Neon Plastix * Billie Ray Martin * Temposhark * Phones (Paul Epworth) * Richard H Kirk (ex Cabaret Voltaire) * The Ape Drape Escape * Surplus Millions * Noblesse Oblige * Pink Grease * Techno Ken * Supersonic Winds of Neptune * Phil Oakey * Empress Stah * Siobhan Fahey * Spektrum * Ten Minutes With My Dad * Adam Sky * Gob Sausage * Mark Moore (S'Express) * Mignon * Troupe * Erol Alkan (Trash/Bugged Out!) * Ping Pong Bitches * The Modern * Hot Chip * Fast Lady * Black Wire * Ricky Haley (Liars Club) * The Real Heat * Club Suicide DJs * The Lovers * Wrong Toy * Stazi * The Unfolds * Chips DJs * White Trash * Kings Have Long Arms * I Monster(DJs) * Performance * Midnight in Moscow