Whilst teaching one of my recent lessons (in China's Changzhou city) from a slightly-dated book, a pic of Zoe Ball and Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) was part of a ‘celebrity’ piece. It wasn’t until a week later; I remembered that I’ve met him at the Escape Club’s 20th Birthday Party (when I used to live above the nightclub) in Brighton.
For f**ks sake, I thought, how could I almost forget that? Then I started thinking about all the dance music legends I’ve had the pleasure to party with or that I've met.
What if I could get them all together under one roof or better still in a glorious set of green fields somewhere in the countryside for a massive festival? I know, right. Well, I couldn’t. So instead I figured I’d knock up an imaginary Claim to Fame Festival Line-up.
I thought this will come in handy when I’m trying to reminisce during all my impending years of forgetfulness. After all without this, what will I tell the grandchildren? So here it is… pat yourself on the back now Owen.
MAIN STAGE
Audio Bullys / Faithless / Carl Cox / Moby
Clubbing UK Interview / Met Maxi at London Festival / Met at Escape Club / Played at Proud Camden
Pete Tong / Chocolate Puma / Brandon Block / Seb Fontaine
Clubbing UK met at Miami WMC / EID Party at Little Buddha / Ministry of Sound Egypt / Concorde 2
Orbital / Armand van Helden / Fatboy Slim / Judge Jules
Met at Concorde 2 / interview for Clubbing UK / Met at Escape Club / Had him play for us in Egypt
Paul Oakenfold / Darren Emerson / Crazy P
Interview for Clubbing UK / Had him play for us in Egypt / Interview for Clubbing UK
Tim Deluxe / James Zabiela / Howard Marks
Interviewed all for Clubbing UK
Sander van Doorn / Alex P / Danny Howells
Tried kicking him out of VIP (doh) / Met at South Coast Weekender / Hastings Crew
Graham Gold / Freq Nasty / Wally Lopez
Had him play for us in Egypt / Met at Concorde 2 / Interview for Clubbing UK
Jonathon Ulysses / Pete Gooding
Had him play for us in Egypt / Met in Egypt when he played at a friend’s bar
Lisa Unique / Promiss / Lisa Pinup / Jakki Degg / Lisa Lashes / Nakadia
MoS Egypt / MoS Egypt / Met on Hastings Pier / MoS Egypt / interview for Clubbing UK / Mos Egypt
ONE NATION OLD SKOOL ARENA
Met One Nation's Terry Turbo at a promoter's course in London (2000)
K-Klass (Live PA)
Had the pleasure to have them out to Egypt on at least one occasion…
was surprised the vocalist still gets nervous performing live (circa 2010)
Ratpack
I had them out to Egypt twice to rave-n-blaze it up (circa 2009)
They kindly played a special farewell send-off at my brother’s funeral (2011)
KLF
Met whilst attending a music seminar in Brighton (2003)
Shades of Rhythm (Live PA)
Interviewed them under their more recent guise of Drumattic Twins (circa 2004)
Ellis Dee
We met in Concorde 2’s VIP room after a show, he still looked younger than me;
and I’ve been a fan of his since I was 14 or 15 (circa 2005)
Billy ‘Daniel’ Bunter
The Kool FM DJ who’s been smashing dancefloors for over two decades came to Egypt (circa 2010)
Doc Scott
I interviewed the drum 'n' bass pioneer for Time Out Beijing in 2015, partied with him at Dada
- then me and the Dada boss staggered back to his hotel with him through Beijing's hutongs.
WE LOVE meets BACK TO BASICS ARENA
I interviewed Darren from We Love twice (circa 2006) and bumped into Dave Basics;
on the dancefloor of Manumission at Space (obviously - circa summer 2001)
Andrew Weatherall
He came out to DJ at Ministry of Sound Egypt and my boss made me pull him off the decks:
before he’d finished his set – one of my most embarrassing nights ever
Graeme Park
I interviewed him for Clubbing UK back in 2005/2006-ish.
Hed Kandi VIP Area
Phil Faversham / Carl Hanaghan / Sarah Louise / Andy Norman
Worked with most out in Egypt (plus a load more ex-Kandi DJs) - with the exception of Andy -
at the world’s first (and only) Hed Kandi Beach Bar, now defunct; met Andy at Pacha London 2002.
IT’S AN URBAN TING ARENA
Dizzee Rascal
Met him twice at MOBO award ceremonies in London town
Tim Westwood
Bumped into him staggering around San Antonio, Ibiza – we were both a little worse for wear;
he was chasing a group of young ladies round the bars... circa 2001
Africa Bambaataa
Met him at a Brighton Festival around 2005-ish
I’m sure there’s a few more I’ve omitted already so no doubt I’ll update this as and when the flashbacks inspire me again... it’s fair to say though that all of these dance music legends have been – in general – extremely down to earth and friendly, super cool people.
It’s inspiring that most people in music that we occasionally idolise are just regular people who’ve worked extremely hard and have received the levels of success and recognition they deserve.
I feel privileged to have met and partied with so many of them. Superstar DJs and friends – I salute you.