The Doctor - Fantazia Exclusive Interview 2005

As you all know The Doctor will be playing arena 2 for the Big Bang 2 in January. As I publish this The Doctor has just smashed it at a rave in the middle of the Arizona desert !! An international Dj, he regularly plays out in the USA, Holland, Spain, France, England and his home, Scotland. The Doctor plays UK Hardcore in Scotland and abroad, but gets more bookings for Gabba in England. The Doctor has Dj’d at :The Fubar, The Tunnel, Nosebleed, Magic Kingdom, Impact, Raverbaby, Hardcore Paradise, Twisted & Brainfire, Luminous, Rebirth, Addiction, Ambition, to name but a few!

And to the interview :

So why The Doctor? Did you call yourself that? Or was it someone else?
It was me, at the time you had the Surgeon, the Dentist, so I said... The-Doctor

How did you get into Djing?
I was living in Manchester 1989 and got into dance music went to the hacienda then moved to Glasgow 1991 bought decks the next year messed about with them for a year and got hacked of with them then a met the dancers from Q-Tex and the rest is history I got very friendly with Scott Brown and we've been best m8's for 11 year's now

Are you from Manchester then? Or are you a Scot through and through
No Glasgow my aunt lives down Manchester

Heard loads of stories about Hacienda, knocked down now isn't it?
Yes big time if you go to Scott’s profile on your main website it's from years ago it's me and him in a car getting interviewed the Hacienda was class it was all the trouble that they knocked it down.

How do you think the scene compares now to back in the day?
I don’t think it’s as good as it was but if you go back even 5 years the scene is wicked just now

As well as a Dj, The Doctor is also a writer and on keyboards with Hyperbass, with MC Korrupt & Copey

We put the PA back together last year I was writing tunes my self and Copey asked me if I wanted to go in the studio with him and do the Hyperbass stuff with him. I get on very well with them they are top guy's.

Are you as scary as you look in the picture?
No haha, if you ask anyone in the scene who knows me will tell you, I'm a gent, I'm just up for a giggle (The tough looking ones are normally big softies).   Used to be a bit of a lad but not for a long time I got into djing got away from all the football trouble

So you reckon what they say about the footie violence and then the rave scene bringing peeps together is true?
Yes defo, it was back in the day.

What were your 1st set of decks? And what do you use now?
Set of 1200 tec's, now I play most my set of cdj's.

Did you keep your vinyl?
Yes, I’ve still got all my vinyl plus I still use vinyl when I do a gabba set...I go over to Amsterdam a lot just to buy vinyl

You’ve played in a lot of different countries, how do the crowds differ?
The crowds are all different ,in America they love all the big vocal tunes, Holland it's very dark, and Spain and France are very alike

Where do you like playing most?
Nothing beats playing at home but I do love the traveling and meeting nu friends I’ve made so many over the years it's the best job out....I love it!    That's what I love about raving, the people.   That’s what it's all about people coming together as one and having a good time...dancing to music they love

Do you ever get bored with the dj lifestyle? Ever play and want to get out of there? Or do you always stay and party on?

I never get bored of it and if I’ve only the one gig I always party

Who’s your favourite Dj?
Carl Cox

MC?
MC Ribbz

Favourite tune?
Papua New Guinea - Future Sound Of London

Worst tune?
Anything by the Spice girls!

So you looking forward to Fantazia? Did you go to the last Big Bang?
Yes I’ve been to Bowlers in Manchester plus the big bang in Glasgow, it's funny I bought the DVD of the big bang last year and I had it with me on a trip to a gig in Spain with Scott brown so we watched it on the plane I didn’t stop laughing I think Scott was 20 when he did it he was just a young boy

How different do you think it will be this time round? Music has moved on a fair bit since the 1st Big Bang?
Well I think some of the dj's will do old skool set's some will play nu style but it will be top notch the scene is getting better up here there's loads of smaller night's plus you've got BTTF it's great the big bang 2 will go offff……. I’ll be doing a UK Hardcore set cant wait big massive respect to all involved in bringing this great event to Scotland we won’t let you down.

Will you be wearing a kilt in Jan? Have you the legs for it?
I'm a big guy but I’ve got the legs for it but I won’t be wearing one it's to cold.....

And apart from Fantazia, where else can we look out for you?
In the near future I’ve got luminous' H.T.I.D, Hardcore Paradise, Trip to Arizona, Rebirth v's Addiction.

Anything else you want to say? Any shouts?
THANK everyone for the support over the years you know who you are and all the ravers big respect

Interview conducted by Bex
(Copyright Fantazia 2005)