Bill Brewster - Ask the DJ
Originally a chef, a football pundit (co-editor of fanzine When Saturday Comes) and record collector, Bill began DJing in in the late 80s, but he cut his teeth playing ‘Low Life’ warehouse parties in Harlem and the East Village – he moved to NYC to run DMC’s US operation – and anyone hearing Bill today can see how these New York ‘roots’ shine through. For eclecticism, surprises, amazing unique music and sheer long-haul dedication to the dancefloor, Bill’s your man.
He is also a fantastic writer - the co author with Frank Broughton of the the definitive history of DJ'ing - ‘Last Night A DJ Saved My Life' and ‘How to DJ properly‘. He has also written for the Guardian, Independent and Mail on Sunday.
He and Broughton are the duo behind the ‘LowLlife’ parties now also an annual festival along side the infamous Croatia boat parties. They also together launched and run the excellent website Djhistory.com a website dedicated to the history of dance music and DJing and also an online record label and book publishing company. It aims to encourage interest in obscure, overlooked and collectible dance music (in its broadest sense), by creating an archive of reference material on the subject and by licensing and reissuing rare and exceptional music for download.
He’s an industry insider, having brought Twisted records to the UK and launched his own highly successful deep house label Forensic. In his spare time he is often found in the studio, either with Fat Camp partner, Theo Noble, re-editing old disco, funk and rock records; or producing original music. They run a small edit label Disco Sucks.
We asked him our 12 acid house questions 'Ask the DJ' questions..
1. What was your first acid house moment?
First time I heard someone only playing house was in September 1987, when Mark Moore played at the Fridge in Brixton. It was a shock to the system and I hated it. Couldn’t understand what he was doing. I avoided it for the next period, only going to rare groove nights.
Second time I took ecstasy for the first time in a gay club called Troll. I went every week after that until Troll closed in 1992. Didn’t go to a straight club for about three years.
2. Favourite club/night ever?
Tricky question. Troll was important to me, because it’s where I first got into house, but I think Sound Factory shades it because I was lucky enough to live in New York when it was firing. Every Saturday, until it closed in 1995, amazing every week.
3.Best acid house debacherous moment?
Doing a line of coke off a trannies’ ‘tits’ in the Sound Factory toilets?
4.Guilty pleasure always in your box?
I don’t feel guilty about anything I like.
5.Guilty pleasure not in the box!?
See above.
6.Give us one of your favourite and hard to find records in your collection?
Although I’m a big vinyl collector, I really don’t hold rare records in any higher regard than things that cost me 50p. It’s what’s in the grooves that counts not how much you spent on it. However, I value my Ray Munnings 12-inches very highly because they’re really bloody good – and pricey.
7.Favourite acid track?
Paul Rutherford – Get Happy
8.Favourite labels?
JBO, Strictly Rhythm, Tribal America, Sub-Urban, Zedd, Running Back, No 19 Music.
9. Favourite producer / producers?
Jesus there are loads! House music only then: Charles Webster, Marshall Jefferson, Farley & Heller, Chez Damier, Jimpster, Ray Mang, Mood II Swing, Joey Negro (and various aliases), Tiga.
10.Who to watch from the new school?
Dusky, Roberto Rodriguez, Robot 84, Golden Teacher, Asadinho, Damon Jee,Tornado Wallace.
11. Current favourite track?
Tee Mango – Into The Wild.
12.Can u dance?
Of course I fucking can. I don’t respect any DJ who doesn’t or can’t.
Bill has recently put together some choice records for the Late Night tales presents After Dark - Nightshift compilation.
One of our favourite compilations of the year so far.
Listen to his weekly DJHistory podcast here
and Bill Brewster's Soundcloud page.