MC Free & Easy Interview 1994

MC’s first started creeping into the rave scene back in 1989, with the first MC being Chalky White, MC’s are now an established part of our scene and this month Blaze bring to your MC Free and Easy, a partner at Turbo Promotions and Hard Edge Records. This is how his story goes…

So what is your real name and how old are you?
My name is Terry John Pettit and I’m 22 years old.

What made you decide to call your MC Free and Easy?
I don’t really know, a mate came up with the name one day and it sounded good. Also, it might have something to do with me being an old tart – not really!!

When did you first start MCing?
My first event was NRG at Basingstoke in 1991.

So how did you get that work at NRG?
I didn’t really get the work, I knew the promoter and I just went up to the stage and picked mike up and spoke.

Did you make your name from doing this NRG event?
Well it helped because they sold tapes of the DJ’s with my MCing on. I did do other things which helped spread my name including Spirit in Chertsey. Everything led up to my first big break which was the massive Vision in 1992.

To date, what other places have your MC’d at?
Club Kinetic in Stoke, Equinox on the South Coast, Desire, The Sanctuary plus all the clubs in London except Labrynth.

Do you find because you are a white MC that it’s harder to get work?
Some DJ’s give me attitude because I’m white. They look at me and think that I’m just going to gurgle on. Please do look for black MC’s.

A lot of DJ’s say MC’s get on their nerves, what have you got to say about that from an MC’s point of view?
I think the DJ’s should give the MC a chance and not just think “oh my god an MC” without even hearing him/her first.

Who do you like MCing with?
DJ’s that I have enjoyed working with includes Peshay, Ray Keith, Kenny Ken, Swan E, Hype, Loftgrover, Easygroove and Ramjack, but the one I work with the most is Torchman.

So why do you think that you’ve been successful as an MC?
Mainly because of my style and perseverance. Being a white MC you have to try twice as hard to get work. Also I don’t go on too much, just enough to get the crowd going.

Do you have any phrases you say a lot?
I haven’t really got any phrases I use a lot, I am inclined to use little bits of records that I like. One thing I do say a lot though is “Let the good times roll”, especially with piano tunes.

What’s your favourite sort of music you like MCing to?
Dark Jungle. I don’t mind techno, but there’s about five different types at the moment. My favourite techno is the breakbeat stuff.

Is there any particular parts in records where you would MC or do your lyrics come out at any time?
It comes out at any time. At the start of the DJ’s set I would announce the DJ and hype the crowd. I would try not to MC over the mixing too much, although it has to be done a little bit. The best time to MC in my opinion is when a break comes in. For example you might have a bass bit, then it changes to piano, something should be said in that situation to enhance the hands in the air bit.

Do you need to know all the music that is played?
Definitely. If you don’t know the music there’s no point MCing. You’ve got to understand the music and know when to talk. For example you need to know vocal bits are coming in so you don’t talk over them.

What sort of style MC would you say you were?
Serious, I’m not really funny because I think it would do peoples heads in.

Do you like standing right at the front of the stage getting the crowd going?
If it’s a cordless mike I like to walk around the crowd getting them hyped up, but most of the time I’m up at the front of the stage.

What is the best thing about being an MC?
Being important. I know the DJ is the most important, but an MC is now part of the scene.

And what’s been your most embarrassing moment as an MC?
Well once in my early days I was at the front of the stage doing my stuff and I thought Loftgroover was playing. So I was shouting out Loftgroovers name, then I turned around and it was Colin Dale playing. I thought Oh my god I knew Loftgroover was due to hand over the Colin Dale soon, but I didn’t realise they had changed because the music hadn’t stopped.

What other MC’s do you rate out there?
A few that I rate are Five O, Chalky White, Fearless, MC GQ, Smokey DJ, Montanna and Rage.

What have been your favourite events you’ve MC’d at?
There are three that I’ve really enjoyed. One was Fantasy at the Astoria on New Years Eve, Vision last year at Popham and Club Kinetic in Stoke.

Finally, what are your main ambitions over the next year?
I want to do more work abroad. I want to make a record and finally I want to MC for such people as Dreamscape, Perception and any other big promoters that I haven’t already worked for.

Reproduced with the permission of Blaze