What it was to be young. Going to the jams at Scrubs entertained by the likes of Derek B (R.I.P.), MC Duke, the young but obviously talented London Posse, etc. And there was me, blagging my way onto the stage to a) avoid the inevitable rain (this is England, after all) and b) garner what knowledge, information and contacts I could from the event's host, Tim Westwood.
I remember when Westwood was leaving Kiss to join Capital, I contacted him and asked him to recommend me as his replacement. I should probably mention that at this point in my DJ 'career' I had absolutely no experience of being on the radio nor had I played in any clubs (either as a resident or guest). Indeed, my only experience (outside of selecting and operating for a local 'party' sound) was doing demo tapes in my bedroom.
However, despite all that Westwood did mention me to Gordon Mac and even gave me a contact number for him (long since lost and probably way out of date now anyway). Gordon didn’t take me on and I felt gutted, but Westwood made me aware of another station that he listened to who were doing good things at the time and encouraged me to get in touch with them instead.
That station was Faze 1, a relatively young station with equally relatively young DJ's that was just beginning to make it's mark, especially in South and East London and they had a different way of taking on new presenters. Unlike the 'send us your demo tape and if we can be bothered and/or you know someone here already and/or your face fits' school of employment (not that you’d get paid, but you know what I mean) that most 'pirate' stations used, at Faze 1 you were expected to do a live audition in the club that was associated with the station.
So I turned up at Club Mendoza one Friday evening with a bag full of tunes and nerves in equal measure and, once they accepted that I was supposed to be there that night and let me in, I was almost immediately slung into the DJ booth. Now remember, this is Friday night in Brixton and the club is in full operation. I was given the mic and told to present a show just as if I was on the radio. Talk about a baptism of fire.
However, despite all that Westwood did mention me to Gordon Mac and even gave me a contact number for him (long since lost and probably way out of date now anyway). Gordon didn’t take me on and I felt gutted, but Westwood made me aware of another station that he listened to who were doing good things at the time and encouraged me to get in touch with them instead.
That station was Faze 1, a relatively young station with equally relatively young DJ's that was just beginning to make it's mark, especially in South and East London and they had a different way of taking on new presenters. Unlike the 'send us your demo tape and if we can be bothered and/or you know someone here already and/or your face fits' school of employment (not that you’d get paid, but you know what I mean) that most 'pirate' stations used, at Faze 1 you were expected to do a live audition in the club that was associated with the station.
So I turned up at Club Mendoza one Friday evening with a bag full of tunes and nerves in equal measure and, once they accepted that I was supposed to be there that night and let me in, I was almost immediately slung into the DJ booth. Now remember, this is Friday night in Brixton and the club is in full operation. I was given the mic and told to present a show just as if I was on the radio. Talk about a baptism of fire.
If you know me, you'll know that my memory isn't my strongest asset and never has been (as far as I recall) but I do remember that the first record I played and, more pertinently for me, announced was James Brown's 'Get On The Good Foot'. I said something about it being the original Hip Hop record and followed it up with a couple of tracks that were current at the time. Of course, I can't remember what the tunes were now (the clue's in the beginning of this paragraph) but I do remember the crowd were rocking away and I was ejected from the booth with even more vigour than when I was manhandled into it!
The rest, as they say, is Mystory (I never was any good at History) and, I guess, the moral of the story (mine or his) is to take your chance(s) in life and go for it because you never know where it might take you.
One Love, Spy!
One Love, Spy!
P.S. While I'm being random, I'd just like to add that I think Alicia Keys is a wonderful human being and a very talented artist to boot!
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