On a weekly basis Joe would be out from Wednesday through until the end of the weekend, at events such as: Future, Shoom, Klink Street Studio, Apocalypse Now and Genesis, & Spectrum, he watched them all rapidly grow in size, paving the way forward for the acid house sound and rave scene that was rapidly evolving around him.

Following the likes of Trevor Fung & Tony Wilson on the decks, it wasn’t long before him and his 20- 30 strong crew were talking about staging their own parties for the massive themselves…!

Due to other parties of the times not holding up to the authorities, he took to staging his first night which was a huge success, and from then it was almost plain sailing into the days of Dalston Lane other memorable nights that were centred around Club Labrynth…

So after 110 parties and loosing 11, it was to infinity and beyond with parties that have rocked and well and truly put London and the music that we know and love today - well and truly on the map!

We are now in the final countdown to Labrynth the 21st birthday, and what with the raging success of the last party, it is only fair that we give you a little insider with the man himself! –

JOE !

First off, how has your 2009 been? - Good / bad let us know!…
“ I’m not going to lie and say it has been all plain sailing , my life has been great , I work in a place much like heaven , and I have no real problems at this time. Im a very lucky man , although I have to add that the price of 2009 has been the untimely death of two of my oldest and closest friends , Guy Mascolo who over thirty tears ago changed the course of my life for the better ,something I will never ever forget. And my old buddy Mark (Ginge) Daltry , my good friend and my neighbour for over twenty years - I miss em both. “

An impressive and extensive time within our wonderful scene!! - What aspects have changed to the fact that you think are for the better (if any ) - and likewise for the worst..?
“ As you must know the scene is many light years away from back in the day , it’s almost as if the dance scene and the powers that be have reached a compromise regarding the running of events , a large part of the dance scene is now nothing more than a commercial tool geared up to make mucho pesetas, but that’s progress for you , and I have to be honest I am surprised that the smoking ban has been excepted on the whole , it has made clubs with a garden area far more desirable.”

Labrynth led the way back in the day - with not many gracing its doors to join the party! - What would you say led to its success and unique party vibe!? : )
We started Labrynth amongst friends , and along the way we chopped and changed our music policy to suit the current time , in the beginning we decided to use our friends as opposed to the formula dj list. Adrian was given the name Adrian Age , the same applied to Ginge , Vinyl Matt , Easy Mo , and latterly Billy “Daniel” Bunter , we liked the idea of the apprentice ladder , the prize was the last slot , it paid the most money , and you had to earn it , if age was not up to scratch he knew that the wolves were waiting with their record boxes gleaming with anxiety, bless em.”

“ We created a belief that the last hour was the one that mattered most, they even started covering their tunz in black marker so the others could not suss out their set and nick the best bits etc, got very bitchy - the odd remark was even made by whoever had the last slot, funny as fuck.”

We all know staging an event of ANY proportion is not a mean feat… Your last event (and return to the scene) saw you take to Hidden in Vauxhall and absolutely smash it as a party filling it from wall to wall! -

What made you want to give it all another go - and how did it feel getting such a GOOD reaction that you did!??
When I went to see Ginge in hospital he said that he would love to play at one more Labrynth , although at the time I had no idea how quickly the idea would develop into reality. It all seemed to just take shape ,nut nut Dawn had been badgering me for years to start up again and to be honest I had always thought better of it, but before I knew it I was back on the road again , and loving every minute of it I might add. - I can’t begin to describe how I felt at Hidden when I saw how many people were outside in the queue , and later on when the place was rammed it was an amazing feeling! I did not realise how much I had missed it all ,and the friends that I just kept bumping into was also something else - that alone made it all worthwhile , and I must admit to having the bug again. - I have missed Labrynth so much.”

“ And when Hidden was rammed and rockin in front of my eyes I felt a feeling I had missed so much."

Musically SO much has changed… But today - what is still doing it for you?
"I have to be honest my love of the original has never waned, 87,88,89,90, maybe it’s because I know all the words now I don’t know, but I get a special tingle whenever I hear, yeke yeke or Seduction or Tony's song: Ride the Rhythm (This aint Chicago), guess I’m just an old skool disciple , they still do it for me.”

What words of encouragement can you offer - the Labrynth. Artists and also raving crew, to see them all - well into a kick ass 2010 and hopefully beyond…?! ;)
Words of hope do not come easy , all I will say is never ever give up if you believe in you and what you are doing , if you fail you will only have sympathy ,which as you may know is somewhere in the dictionary between shit and syphilis , and you really don’t want to be between them two fuckers.”

What was the best year of parties for you and why?
1989 was I believe an amazing year for Labrynth , we began by smashing it for six weeks at Dace road Bow E3, then followed that up with ferry lane Tottenham on two occasions , then Homerton high street when ,Middle row bus garage in Ladbroke grove was brilliant as well, and then we slipped into silver city for nearly a year of Friday and Saturday nights , it is a little hazy though for obvious reasons, but my feet did not touch the floor, luved it”

For a raver who has JUST got a taste for the music- what would you say to them to bring them to a Labrynth party?
I’m not sure I could help him too much on the current scene , I have little in common with today’s upfront dance scene, but if you want to see how it was done back in the day then you really ought to try Labrynth at least once in your life , because at Labrynth we still believe that you have to have a certain vibe about you to be part of a great party , if you’re not in the right mood then we could have the pope on the decks and you would still not move yourself, hence the by-word for Labrynth , “only the happiest of people need apply” , and that’s why we have always had someone on the door looking for idiots who are not in the right frame of mind for our event , after 21 years you become a little wise to the people and type that you don’t want around.”