What’s your real name and where are you from?
Craig, born and bred in Essex – The Home of Hardcore

How did you get into the scene?
I got into the scene about 88/89 whilst working on Erith Market, back in those days I was into all sorts of music, but the guys I met on other market stalls got me into acid house, listening to stations like centreforce. The rest they say is history

When did you get your 1st set of decks and what were they?
My 1st set of decks were a pair of technics, not 1210’s but from my dad’s hifi system and from a mate, they had pitch control, but they were useless, you have to start somewhere. I got my technics 1210’s in 91

How long have you been Djing professionally now? Where was your 1st booking? Do you ever get bored with it?
Been DJ’ing since the end of 1990, my 1st booking was at an event called Bliss in Feb 92, it was an event in my home town at the local rugby club, it was rammed, I remember being really nervous, I still have the set on tape somewhere.

Do I ever get bored of it, never, I live and breathe Hardcore, my wife says im stuck in 1992!

What was the very 1st record you bought and the last?
That’s a really good question, if we are talking the 1st ever record it would have been something in the early 80’s, can’t remember what though, probably Adam and the ants lol. I think the first dance vinyl I bought was the 1st deep heat, I have all of them in the collection still to this day.

My most recent, Thanks to good old EBay, was Blame – Music Takes you – Original Seal Version, got it for a bargain.

Vinyl or CD’s?
I have a shed load of vinyl, well in fact a garage load, I always play vinyl but only because I have not got round to buying a set of pioneers cdj1000’s yet. You have to keep the vinyl alive even though CD’s are the future. I have been known to use Final Scratch every now and then, its good if you can’t get the vinyl you want.

What genre do you like playing most and why?
I love playing all my Hardcore bits from 1990-1992, I suppose my favourite year has to be 1991, true underground hardcore, I love the underground style. You can also catch me playing a bit of Jungle every now and then.

Best event you played?
Tricky one that, I have played at lots of good events over the years, Moondance NYE this year was a favourite, but I love playing to a good crowd, I always enjoy the Epidemik events.

Favourite promoter?
Over the years there has been some really good promoter’s its hard to name one, they are all good in many ways, most down to earth person I’ve met in the scene so far is Funki from Moondance, Sound guy! Also got to mention Crazy Grant @ Epidemik, he’s helped me out loads over the years!

Top 10 Favourite tunes?
Now this is a hard one, right in no order what so ever

Shades of Rhythm – Sound of Eden
House Crew – Keep the fire burning
Outlander – The Vamp
Debbie Malone – Rescue Me
Science Lab – Flesh and Blood
Tech Noise – I Luv U
Foul Play Vol 2 – Feel the Vibe
Nebula 2 – C.O.D Rider
Joey Beltram – Energy Flash
Unique 3 – The Theme

Worst tune?
There’s load of bad ones, hard to name the worst tune ever, but I will go for Rainbow by Solo, just too cheesy

What other Dj’s & MC’s do you rate?
Favourite DJ that I rate highly is Randall, it’s just a shame he does not play Old Skool anymore, his mixing skills and placing tunes together in my opinion is second to none. Also got to big up Slipmatt, probably the best DJ out there at the moment, and a sound guy too

Favourite MC’s
Mad P, Ribbz and Robbie Dee from back in the day, now days well not overly impressed by the majority of MC’s, I do rate Spenno, although I’d never tell him, but then again I suppose I just have. Lol

How did you become involved with Remaniss Radio?
Remaniss radio was an idea a mate and I came up with after doing pirate for a few years. I always wanted to do a net station, so we came up with the idea of Remaniss, I was bang into my Old Skool and there was a gap in the market for a professionally run Old Skool station, It ran from my garage for the 1st 2 ½ years, big thanks to my wife for putting up with that, and it has grown to become the largest Old Skool station on the net, winning an award last year, I am very pleased with what I achieved with Remaniss!

If you could be any other person, (past present, fictional or real) who would you be?
What a question, who would I like to be, I would not like to be anybody in particular, but I would of love to live the life of a Top DJ back in the day, some of the guys I talk to who where DJ’ing back then said it was always fun, wish id been there!

How do you think the scene compares now to back in the day?
It’s very different today, it’s a lot smaller, there are too many genre’s of music these days splitting up the rave scene. But its still here, its just more underground, exactly where it should be!

Hardcore Breaks is coming through in a big way, what are your thoughts on this?
If you had asked me this last year, I would of said, “I Hate it” But today, well im getting in to it a little, I do like the Old Skool style hardcore breaks, but some of it just feels like it trying to be something it isn’t, if that makes any sense. At the end of the day it’s just Hardcore!

How do you see the scene 5 years from now?
Even smaller, the older generation will stop going out and there will be just a few of us left pushing the scene. I hope it doesn’t get smaller but it will never be 1992 ever again!

What have you been up to recently?
The main thing is getting ready to be a Dad for the 1st time, Im really excited about it, I have been looking after my wife and nesting!

Also I have been promoting my event which I run with a few others History of Hardcore, it’s doing well in the scene at the moment growing and growing, I hope it keeps going that way! I have also been DJ’ing out loads over the past few months, I hope that continues.

What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully being a good Dad firstly, then keep on DJ’ing, and promoting events. If any Promoters want to book me, feel free!

Anything else you want to say? Any shouts?
Just want to say thanks to Fantazia for the interview, Leaders in the scene back in the day and looking good coming out of retirement!!

Also shouts to My wife, Bump, ESP (Partner in Crime) Insane, Mind, Nostalgic, Shiftee, Snypa, Crazy Grant @ Epidemik, Slipmatt, Slam, all the promoters that have booked me (Cheers) and to all the ravers out there making it happen


Events played:
Moondance
Back to the Oldskool
Epidemik
Hysteria
Bliss
Origin
History of Hardcore
Recycled
Freedom to Dance
Out of this world
Slip back in time
Ministry of Sound
Slinky
Raveworld
Unity
To name a few!!

Interview conducted by Bex 2007 for Fantazia