HEY, MR DJ

DJ A-Dam, October 2004

Age: Enlightening

Where can we hear you DJ?
Fuck The Pain Away, Dynamite Boogaloo, We Love Pop, and occasionally, Concorde2, Departure Lounge, and Avant Garden Centre.

Do you have a day job?
Last night a DJ saved YOUR life! I'll say no more. Musically, I've been in a few bands playing Bass guitar, programming and breaking up washing machines with angle-grinders! Industrial, Indie-pop, Cocteau-Cure, Techno-House-Italo-Disco-Dark Wave sums up all the bands.

What was the first club you ever went to?
The Zap Club in the days of One Arch live gig fame. The first gay club I went to was the Beacon Royal in the days of Hi NRG House crossover - with a bit of Dead or Alive thrown in! The Brighton Gay scene was less ghetto'd back in those days.

How did you first get into DJ-ing?
It's one of those horrendous stories about helping out some guy who had a well known Mobile Disco in the early 80s. It gave me six years of pop-DJ training, ie playing to the crowd. Although the crowd always hated it when I played Sylvester, Donna Summer or New Order. In the late 80s, I did a few local things where I was living and was mashing things up; Bunnymen, Kylie, S-Express, New Order, Mary Chain. It worked really well, so it was good to get involved with Dynamite Boogaloo about 6 or 7 years ago and do the same thing.

Career highlight so far?
Attempting to start my first Gay Electro Night called Ring Modulator. They didn't really go for it in a pub - but Jonny Slut liked the name! It still makes me laugh. Fuck The Pain Away is number one, because of the music, the club and DJ Wanker.

FTPA - what's the big idea?
Give them what they want Ð Hard Electro beats with the right attitude in the coolest club. You could pretend you're in Berlin!

How has it changed in the year since it started?
The musicÕs got harder. The roles were initially reversed. I was for throwing the odd Indie track in and Richard wanted to keep it Electro. Now it's 95% Electro with a bit of guitar-based stuff thrown in Ð more like Electropunk. They like it noisier, as well. I still get a rush out of chucking in the occasional retro classic that everyone's forgotten about, and then watching them go mad makes me feel really good. It's good when you get the odd person coming up and asking for Nitzer Ebb, Revolting Cocks or Skinny Puppy. I'm on their side and I'll try and play it or bring it next time.

What would you say to persuade a non-believer to go along?
Bless you my son! I have to be at work for 6 the next morning. There is no excuse... EVER!

Best record to start the night?
Fad Gadget Lady Shave. No reason, it's the first thing to come into my head. Fuck The Pain Away is great - it's the only club I DJ at where everyone starts dancing as soon as they come in.

The greatest dance record of all-time is?
Moroder/Summer I Feel Love. I still get the same feeling today, I got back in 1977 when I first heard it; an Analogue Sequential Orgasm!

Record that best sums up your most Fuck The Pain Away?
Peaches Fuck The Pain Away Peaches. What else?

Does being a DJ get you much cock?
My cock in my hand, is worth...

Which other DJ's box do you most covet?
I fucking hate DJ culture. Everyone's a DJ and most of them are arrogant tossers. I prefer to covet my own box, naturally!

Has a DJ ever saved your life?
I hope not, that's my line! If only people knew!

What music do you listen to at home?
Electro-anything. Shibuya-Kei, Club Pop, Nu-Bossa, Industrial, Experimental, Avant Garde.

Do you dance?
On my own, like a spastic.

DJ A-damÕs Retrofit Floorshockers
1) What! - Planet Claire
2) Sparks - No. 1 Song in Heaven
3) The Slits - Heard it through the Grapevine
4) Bauhaus - Kick in the Eye
5) The Cure - Primary
6) Soft Cell - Memorabilia
7) Bis - Shack Up
8) Man2Man meets Man Parrish - Male Stripper
9) CervoBoyz - Boys
10) Yazoo - State Farm (Paul Dakeyne madhouse mix)