29/07/2009
The Tube – A Night In NYC
25 minutes long and a blast from the past - well worth a watch. Jools Holland and Leslie Ash hit NYC for a night of culture, Arthur Baker, Paradise Garage and B-Boys.
11/07/2009
DJ Tat - SCR Radio Show from 1992
Whilst going through the daily process of logging into various message accounts, work email, Discogs, Facebook etc - and rarely finding much of note, it was really refreshing to find a message in my Facebook by my Conspiracy Worldwide homeboy Nasir Montana. A big fan, and now player in the world of pirate radio, he had very kindly upped an old tape of mine from about 1992 when I dj-ed on Saturday night's on Sheffield Community Radio (SCR). What made it really special for me was that after doing something close to 400 shows between 1991 and 1999 I had virtually no documented evidence of ever being on air - no tapes, no files. So at last I will have something to play my daughter, although I doubt she'd feel the vibe ;-)
SCR along with its sister station Fantasy FM was seminal in bringing unheard black and underground music to the streets and alleyways of South Yorkshire. So much were their appeal that they regularly hosted packed out nights across the city and surrounding area. SCR run from the 80s until the mid late 90s when it became increasingly difficult to avoid the authorities, find decent loyal and talented djs and compete against the growing number of legalised shows playing the same music. SCR was particularly important due to it's connection with the local community, and played everything from dub reggae, to lover's rock to R n B. My show focused on what I was playing at the time, which was pretty mental listening to this recording. I was the only DJ on SCR to play rave, due to the reggae focus, my desire for overtime allowed me to cross polinate across the station, eventually slipping in my first and second loves of hip hop and house music.
Obviously I sound about 17 years younger and three stone lighter. 18 years on from my first show on Hardcore FM, before moving on for the full duration with Fantasy FM - which went on to become legendary in the rave community across Yorkshire and East Midland. DJs such as Asterix and Space (Chris Duckenfield, Easy D and MC Rush, Mongoose, DJ Dream, Desi, and many more including later one our very own Fatty G created a serious buzz playing cutting edge breaks, techno, house and hardcore.
If you want to catch me now playing old school hip hop and realted genres - tune into Conspiracy Worldwide 8-10 gmt, Friday nights. Tune in or drop out.
Hopefully there is a part two in the pipeline (it's taken from a tape).
Download it from HERE
SCR along with its sister station Fantasy FM was seminal in bringing unheard black and underground music to the streets and alleyways of South Yorkshire. So much were their appeal that they regularly hosted packed out nights across the city and surrounding area. SCR run from the 80s until the mid late 90s when it became increasingly difficult to avoid the authorities, find decent loyal and talented djs and compete against the growing number of legalised shows playing the same music. SCR was particularly important due to it's connection with the local community, and played everything from dub reggae, to lover's rock to R n B. My show focused on what I was playing at the time, which was pretty mental listening to this recording. I was the only DJ on SCR to play rave, due to the reggae focus, my desire for overtime allowed me to cross polinate across the station, eventually slipping in my first and second loves of hip hop and house music.
Obviously I sound about 17 years younger and three stone lighter. 18 years on from my first show on Hardcore FM, before moving on for the full duration with Fantasy FM - which went on to become legendary in the rave community across Yorkshire and East Midland. DJs such as Asterix and Space (Chris Duckenfield, Easy D and MC Rush, Mongoose, DJ Dream, Desi, and many more including later one our very own Fatty G created a serious buzz playing cutting edge breaks, techno, house and hardcore.
If you want to catch me now playing old school hip hop and realted genres - tune into Conspiracy Worldwide 8-10 gmt, Friday nights. Tune in or drop out.
Hopefully there is a part two in the pipeline (it's taken from a tape).
Download it from HERE
06/07/2009
Frightwig
During Frightwig's influential history they had many line up changes. Deanna (bass) and Mia (vocals&guitar) formed the band in San Francisco in 1983 because they were bored with the cheezy male dominated rock scene and the growing number of "hair" bands. The duo were then joined by Cecilia (drums) and were now ready to kick serious ass! 1984 saw the release of their debut album 'Cat Farm Faboo' and the inclusion of an extra guitarist called Susan. Extensive touring provided an opportunity for Frightwig to gain themselves an irresistable and infamous live reputation. Their shows included the worshiping of women and the band ordering male members of the audience to dance naked (!). Described by one reviewer as "Beautiful, noisy chaos" and "loud women with foul mouths, big songs and fat attitudes". The wild women set an example that was to influence many other bands such as L7, Babes in Toyland, Faith No More and Hole. 1986 saw Rebecca replace Mia (who was pregnant) and the band recorded their second album 'Faster Frightwig Kill Kill!'. However Rebecca decided to quit due to pregnancy, followed by Cecilia who went for therapy. BUT the band were not finished yet and in 1989 Rebecca and Deanna reformed the band with a new drummer (Lyn Perko from Sister Double Happiness). They were together long enough to record the 'Phone Sexy mini album! Sadly Rebecca and Deanna joined Cecilia in the Betty Ford Center, whilst Lynn rejoined her old band. The most psychotic, beautiful and cathartic band of the 80's was dead. However their attitude, wit and determinism to break boundaries became the blueprint for the early 90's alternative scene. Courtney Love went as far as to say that without Frightwig "there would be no Hole, no Babes in Toyland no riot grrl and no PJ Harvey". Whilst L7, Bikini Kill and The Butthole Surfers have also made clear their admiration for one of the most intelligent, ferocious and provocative bands ever.
Cat Farm Faboo (1984)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)