The BBC considered personality traits common to successful dictators such as Idi Amin, Saddam Hussein and Caligula this week, interviewing US psychology professor Fred Coolidge, an expert who’s studied leaders including Saddam Hussein and Adolf Hitler.

Singling out sadism and narcissism as common characteristics, the University of Colorado professor said many autocrats also ‘have a tendency for paranoia’ which he said is one of the key requirements for long term success.

“Their traits can help keep them in power,” he suggested, “For example, if you are hypersensitive to threats and plots then you can effectively eliminate your [real or imagined] competition.” (BBC: http://bbc.in/JcDzT7 )

Quite how applicable his findings are for superstar DJs remains unclear, though the BBC report appeared just as Forbes published their annual ‘World’s Most Powerful Celebrities list’, which included for the first time Tiesto and Skrillex as well as proudly paranoid business guru Donald Trump.

While Skrillex made 92 on the list (off the back of reported earnings of US$15million) and Tiesto 84 (US$23million), Trump landed at 16, earning $63million from ventures including his TV show and new aftershave range ‘Success by Trump’. http://onforb.es/Kt5HR0

Success by Trump cologne; click to buy

Chatting about his business principles in his 2004 book ‘How to get Rich’ he admitted ‘I often say it’s good to be paranoid’ and emphasised the same point in a speech made four years later for ThinkBigSeminars.

“While it’s not pleasant to talk about by any means, it is a reality; people can be bad at heart,” he warned.

“Be very careful when you hire or place somebody in any sensitive position of trust. Rose-colored glasses while pretty can have harmful effects on our lives and businesses, be paranoid and careful when it comes to your assets,” he advised. (http://bit.ly/KHfSAj )

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Paris in Ibiza (2010); click for more

Billionaire party girl Paris Hilton announced this week that she’ll soon be joining the ranks of pop-dance superstar DJs David Guetta, Tiesto and Afrojack, kicking off her career with an 1 hour set before 30,000 revellers in Brazil.

Promising that her show at the Pop Festival will be ‘the first of many’, she told reporters she’ll be spinning ‘custom-made remixes of the best tracks’ (presumably made by boyfriend Afrojack or regular collaborators Manufactured Superstars) and told Billboard she’s ‘very excited to share all of my hard work with the world.” (http://bit.ly/KYGR7j )

“Electronic music is a huge passion of mine and I’m finally letting the world experience it with me,” she told reporters.

“I have been working in the studio for a long time and ready to take deejaying to the next level. I chose Brazil for my debut because it is the country of music and dancing.”

Somewhat predictably, deep house legend turned Twitter scourge of Swedish House Mafia, DJ Sneak was unimpressed.

‘PH sucks at everything, she is wealthy she should stay out real DJ business. this is 4 pros,” he advised.

“Like once PH realizes how much work this really is she’ll give up,” he predicted, “she doesn’t belong in this business this is for grown folks.”

https://twitter.com/#!/PARISHILTON

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Gavin; Click for more

“The idea of playing in a city built on mob money, bad boob jobs and excess greed doesn’t attract me so I’m not exactly on my knees begging to play Vegas.”

Admitting bluntly that he’s no fan of Las Vegas, underground tech-house rising star Gavin Herlihy pulls few punches.

“I’d like to visit it to see the spectacle first hand and I’m sure that’s probably just a preconception from some horror stories I’ve been told by friends,” he concedes, “But really if I’d wanted to make big money in life I’d have thrown myself into a career in investment banking.”

He’s equally unimpressed by DJs chasing Vegas big bucks (rumours abound of mid level DJs picking up US$45,000 plus DJ fees from the new casino superclubs).

“I’m watching with horror as some of my artistic heroes crumble with greed into sad shadows of their former selves playing awful records to sustain their careers at the level they’re now on,” he confesses.

“It’s so like the superstar DJ boom of the 90s, I think this current phase of dance music is another time of learning how to NOT be a big DJ,” he laughs.

Though not a ‘superstar DJ’ himself just yet, the former Mixmag music editor is well on the way, popping up on line-ups increasingly alongside the likes of Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones while releasing on uber-hipster tech house labels including Leftroom, Culprit and Crosstown Rebels.

“It’s really helped my career being on these labels,” he admits, “Because I feel like I’m finally releasing music that’s totally me, on labels that I love and that aren’t about to sell out at the drop of a hat.”

“My own personal goal is to keep challenging myself musically,” he continues, “to play the best and most fun parties I can, to people who appreciate forward thinking music and not go broke in the process,” says Gavin.

Get Loose EP it out on Leftroom shortly; click to listen

Growing up in Ireland with teenage rock star dreams, he switched to journalism as a ‘plan B’ after losing faith, landing a prestige media internship for CNN in Atlanta when just 20. Leveraging his CNN email address to blag feature articles for UK and Eire newspapers, he next ended up at Mixmag, where a week long stint morphed into him ending up the British title’s Music Editor.

Taking up DJing and music making soon after, he released his first track Machine Ate My Homework’ in 2006, attracting plaudits from tastemakers including DJ Hell and Laurent Garnier.

Coming out on Sasse’s Berlin label Moodmusic, the track opened doors for further releases on even more credible labels including Cocoon, Cadenza and Get Physical.

Six years on, he’s concentrating in music making and DJing 100% though is the first to admit he’s learned a lot from his Mixmag days.

“I’m aware of what it takes to make it,” he says, “But at the same time I’m not about being something I’m not. I’m me. I present myself and if people want to support me I’m eternally grateful but I’m not about to start wearing a mouse mask to increase my brand recognition.”

So how much attention does he play to marketing and image?

“We live in a really interesting time right now. My job is all about making the best music I can but there’s no point doing that if no one gets to hear it so I’m all for promotion and marketing if it’s done in the right way.

Thanks to Facebook and Twitter we now have indispensable tools for getting our message across as artists but that message must come from the heart and as much as we ask people to listen to our music, check out our page etc we need to give back also.

Whether that’s posting a free track or an inspirational message or a tip for a great film or song by another artist, I think marketing these days is all about establishing a relationship with your audience that’s based on friendship not a continuous and soulless take, take, take.

And as for image? That message rebounds through house music every decade: just be yourself,” he advises.

And what about DJs who punch the air and strike Jesus Christ poses behind the decks?

“I love music and I love sharing my love of music with other people so I don’t hold back from having a craic (party) behind the decks,” he concedes,

“That said, I also firmly advocate throwing bottles of piss at anyone who pulls of the Jesus pose behind the decks.”

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): Starting with where you are right now career-wise; you’re releasing on Crosstown Rebels/ Culprit, Leftroom; how much have you now broken through: how much has your life changed in the last 12 months?

Gavin Herlihy: “My musical life hasn’t really changed. All the music that’s coming out now has been bubbling around in my studio and sets for a couple of years now so it’s kind of business as usual. As yet I haven’t started wearing a cape or a pair of sunglasses worth more than our car but you never know.

Though life has changed considerably in the last year in other ways. I’ve started eating like an Olympic athlete. Some people close to me suffer from some really serious diseases that have proven to me that you really are what you eat. I meditate. I do yoga. I bore a lot of people with stories about how amazing Burning Man is. I’ve started using more hardware in the studio.

I haven’t as yet adopted any questionably daft haircuts or speaking about myself in the third person (and never will, might I add) but like most people I’m becoming very conscious of where our society and environment is going and that we all need to make major changes in our lives and the world in general if we’re to get through the next few decades.  Deep yes, but you did ask.”

Skrufff: How much difference has releasing on these ultra-credible labels made to your career? And your finances?

Gavin Herlihy: “I started producing in 2005 and released my first record six months later, went full time in 2007 and then had to learn on the job in a big way.  I made a lot of tracks that I wish I hadn’t but now I feel I’m hitting my stride in the studio and making the music I want to play out and dance to.

As for finances, let’s not forget this is underground house and techno music – none of us are exactly playing stadiums or getting Snoop to come in the studio to lay down a vocal. Luckily. I think people have a very outdated view of DJs all being minted (rich) and tearing around on private jets. A very small percentage do well, but a lot of people are struggling.”

Crosstown Rebels release: click to listen

Skrufff: DJs such as Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones have become huge in the last 12 months; how much is this American explosion in EDM affecting club culture: and you personally?

Gavin Herlihy: “I think the big effect I’ve noticed in the US is how dubstep has rampaged its way into the mainstream. House music is still niche, it will always bubble up a little then drop off a bit but it’s not like America has become the new land of milk and honey. It always threatens to (remember Sasha and Digweed’s Twilo period in the 90s, same thing different century) but the US doesn’t have the same media infrastructure as the UK, for example.

There is no Radio 1 devoting significant portions of their coverage to underground dance music nationwide. Let’s face it, most of our American DJ friends are more concerned with playing in Europe so that says a lot about what’s really going on. I’m personally going to be playing more than ever there this year but that’s more to do with the labels I’m releasing on. The big one I’m really looking forward to is playing the Standard for the Droog guys in September.”

Skrufff: Having worked for Mixmag for some years you’re well aware of the business side of everything: do you have a manager, agent, publicist?

Gavin Herlihy: I have an agent, people do my press on a release by release basis but I don’t have a manager. I’m lucky to have friends to rely on for advice who know what they’re talking about but I think now is an exciting time for artists. With platforms like Facebook, YouTube or Twitter you can bring your music to a wider audience without having to play the corporate dance music PR game.”

Skrufff: Herlihy is an unusual last name and quite tricky to both spell and pronounce: how much did you consider taking on an easier DJ name?

Gavin Herlihy: “Funny question this one. I am genuinely bowled over if anyone can pronounce it first time as generally most people tend to cough their way through the pronunciation. It’s a real tongue twister let’s face it. I should probably have come up with a nerdy sci-fi one worder like the dub step /drum n bass lot tend to do but the truth is, for a former journalist, I’m shit at coming up with names My name is a real issue for people so I may come up with a more pronounceable artist name to make life easier on people. If I can be arsed! Answers on a postcard if you have any suggestions, please.”

Schlesischesstr, Kreuzberg

Skrufff: You lived in Berlin for a few years (between 2007 and 2009),: how much was it like you imagined it to be?

Gavin Herlihy: “It was great from a professional sense. I left London to start producing full-time and not having the noose of a London rent round my neck enabled me to get started. But it was also right around the time the recession kicked in and I struggled big time to make ends meet. Nowhere in the world is very friendly when you’re skint so it was a tough two years but I got work done, I learned my craft and then when the time came I shipped out.”

Skrufff: When did you first start thinking it was time to leave?  And why?

Gavin Herlihy: “There were a few reasons all at once that made leaving a pressing priority so I finally moved to Leeds in 2009. I had never intended to live there for life so I was only ever there for the short term. Like I said I was pretty much constantly broke. Berlin is very barren experience when you’re brassic and I had a girlfriend in the UK who was tied to a job and going through a tough time so it made sense to move back. That said I love to return and hang out with my friends there. The people make the place after all so that’s what’s most important to me when it comes to living in places or traveling.”

Skrufff: Speaking to the Independent recently you said ‘gigs were short in supply and my time in Berlin was spent being ruthlessly skint and literally making music to put food on the table’: why didn’t you return to writing to carry you through the tough period?

Gavin Herlihy: “I used to write a little while there but nothing to the same scale as what I was doing before. There comes a time in your life when if you’re going to do something you need to do it, take the negatives on the chin and get the job done. I was so inexperienced in the studio when I moved to Berlin it took all my time just learning how to produce so I didn’t have time for distractions.

My first record was really well received but I didn’t even know how to use a sampler at the time and was literally just feeling my way around the studio in the dark using soft synths. It seems pretty financially suicidal now. But if I hadn’t done it I’d still be in an office somewhere doing the should-a-could-a-would-a routine.”

Skrufff: How much was it a problem returning: did you experience any s schadenfreude from people back home? (or did you feel any sense of failure?)

Gavin Herlihy: “Not at all. I didn’t see my time in Berlin as a failure at all and I don’t to my knowledge think anyone else saw it as a failure either. In the time I lived there I went from being a total rookie producer to releasing on big house and techno labels and playing Watergate, Panorama Bar, Bar 25 etc. To be honest it felt like graduating from boot camp when I left.

Berlin for the out-of-towners also is a little bit of a cliché now so I haven’t really lost out in life by moving home to be with my girlfriend. Quite the opposite. A lot of people think the streets there are paved with dance music gold and move there only to discover their DJ friends are away all the time and if you haven’t got a concrete income you are going to struggle big time. It can be a pretty gritty place to move to. The smart people already have a base of REAL Berliners and can connect with what the city is really about but a lot of people seem to be returning very disillusioned with their time there.”

Skrufff: When did your career turn around? And how?

Gavin Herlihy: “Sadly I’ve not yet had a ‘Eureka, let’s buy a Lear Jet’ moment just yet (Maybe next year. eh?). Like anything in life as soon as you climb one mountain there’s always another one even bigger to climb right behind it and my career has gone up very  steadily so far. IF there was a turning point it was jacking in my job, suddenly feeling the fear of how the fuck I’m going to pull this off and getting my shit together to make it happen.

This part of the process is all in your head. It’s essential to remain positive, strong willed and confident in your abilities. That doesn’t mean turning into an egotistical dick. It means believing in yourself enough to change your life and transition from one phase to the next while at the same time remaining thankful for what you’ve got.”

Skrufff: Jooking back, what was your biggest mistake?  And your greatest stroke of fortune?

Gavin Herlihy: “My biggest mistake was not taking up production A LOT sooner. The best way to start out in this game is to learn your trade until you’re making exactly what it is you feel is you and then start sending it to labels. I did it the other way around so I released a lot of music early on that didn’t always represent what I was about.

MY greatest stroke of fortune; sick buckets at the ready please; was meeting my girlfriend Laura. She is an amazingly inspirational person in the face of adversity. A constant source of fun and good times together, the only person I can trust to give me a true opinion of my music, and we’re very lucky to be in a relationship where we both do the same thing because our lifestyles can be killers for most other couples. If I fail in my every endeavour from here on in, when I’m about to breathe my last breathe, I will still consider my life a success thanks to meeting her.”

Get Loose EP; click to listen

Click here for Witching Hour & Inner Place?~ Gavin Herlihy / Laura Jones: http://bit.ly/HdlCyP

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Kevin Saunderson in the 80s (click for more)

Detroit techno founder Kevin Saunderson, hinted that he’s considering retiring from full time DJing when he’s 55, this week, revealing that he’s already started building a thriving hair care empire.

“Outside of music I’m kind of an entrepreneur, I like doing other things,” the 47 year old grandfather and father of four kids told the Independent.

“I have a chain of hair salons,” he revealed, “there are about 23 stores in America and that’s growing.”

Chicago School of Shoe-making- click for more

42 year old Chicago legend Derrick Carter also hinted that he’d been thinking about life after DJing via his Facebook Band page last month, proudly posting a photograph of a custom made pair of blue and brown loafers.

“I know it’s meant to be a music page but I’ve been going to shoemaking school and just finished my first pair,” the Classic Recordings legend declared.

“I’m proud of them so I’m sharing! — at Chicago School of Shoemaking,” he added.

The School itself offers two day courses including Basic Tie shoe to So You Wanna be a Cobbler.

“We are dedicated to teaching the art of hand-making shoes to promote self-sufficiency and sustainability. Our goal is to empower all people to enjoy a satisfying and liberating experience around the art of footwear construction,” the School says on their own Facebook page.

“Now people who’ve always dreamed of making their own shoes can learn this valuable skill and craft. Please spread the word!” they add. (http://on.fb.me/txLtM5 )

Whether either DJ ever actually stops performing remains to be seen, a point legendary New York manager Judy Weinstein recognized in an interview with (ironically long defunct) British Magazine One Week to Live in 2007.

Chatting about her Def Mix stable of 40 and 50 something stars including Frankie Knuckles, David Morales and Satoshi Tommie she said none were even close to stepping aside.

“We laugh because a lot of the younger DJs, they were always like: ‘When are the old ones gonna’ retire so we can get a break, back in the 70s and 80s . . . and 90s,’ she told One Week To Live.

“And the older ones, they’re not going anywhere. This is what they do. And until their last breathe, they’ll still be doing it, because the real ones- they last forever,” she laughed.

http://bit.ly/ykMLEq  (the future of DJing?)

http://www.mohawksrock.com/ (Happy customers?)

http://bit.ly/14dmd8 (Kevin Saunderson documentary)

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Producers for an upcoming European DJ talent show ‘Superstar DJ’ reacted angrily to the news that Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment is planning a rival DJ talent show, suggesting this week that the karaoke king’s version will be inauthentic.

Show creator Gilly Da Silva said she’d been working on her series’ concept for over 11 months and said her winner will need to have ‘proved he/she has the stamina and is prepared to fight tooth and nail to be come one of the world’s most in demand DJs.’

‘It takes a lot of commitment and hard-work to become a Superstar DJ, its all about branding yourself, building a strong following and obviously keeping the audience engaged,” she told Televisual News, “It’s not something that can be judged on a stage like X Factor.” http://bit.ly/xrOloh

Chatting to Skrufff, Gilly (who as well as being the wife of chart topping club crossover star Rui Da Silva) has worked in the nightlife business for two decades, revealed she felt ‘sick to my stomach’when she first heard of Cowell’s plans.

Gilly Da Silva

“His announcement has made us resolute that we are better placed to deliver something that is a genuine opportunity and one that can reflect authentically the real experiences of our participants and partners,” she continued.

 “He needs to stick to his freak shows, because that’s where his expertise lies,’ she stormed.

Speaking about their shows advantages, Gilly’s co-producer Barry Ryan (boss of London production company Free @ Last TV) singled out the ‘credibility of our expert DJs and advisors who have worked for years in what is essentially a closed industry’, a point Gilly also emphasised.

“Our partners are insiders,” she explained.

“We all know that there are some insiders who shouldn’t be on the stage but are there because of nepotism . . . and if we can encourage a few people to step up and grasp an opportunity why should we not – especially in these bleak times.”

So why should the dance industry open its doors to some outsider winner of a competition?

“It’s all in the wording, isn’t it,” Gilly responded.

“If they are labelled ‘some outsider winner of a competition’ then they will have no chance but it’s about who has judged them worthy and brought them forward and with our partners we hope to create a more positive and empowering energy than the usual downbeat and dismissive UK mentality,” she said.

“It’s also about the grammar of how it is filmed – anything can be shown on TV but it’s about the filming style and how the audience is allowed a window to that world – and how you allow your contestants to connect with the audience in the venues and at home. Cowell is planning arena scale and this is misleading,” she suggested.

Gilly also stressed they are currently still in talks about who is giving away the prize away, in contradiction to details posted on the earlier Televisual News report.

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Leading Ibiza club promoter Danny Whittle was ‘sick in his own mouth’ when he heard of TV impresario Simon Cowell’s plans for a ‘superstar DJ’ X Factor style talent show, he revealed this week, and vowed that Pacha will have nothing to do with the concept.

“How likely is it Pacha would get involved? We wouldn’t, it has nothing we would want,” said Danny.

“What impact will the show have on club culture generally? None at all,” he predicted,“Certainly not the side of club culture that actually matters.”

Handling Pacha’s bookings since the late 90s, Danny helped David Guetta and more recently the likes of Swedish House Mafia and Luciano become bona fide international stars off the back on weekly residencies at Pacha though predicted established DJs will have little to fear from Cowell’s contestants.

“They will just create some shit DJ who will probably make a fortune playing in shit clubs,” he suggested.

Danny Whittle on Ibiza-voice (2004 interview): WHAT IS IT DANNY WHITTLE DOES EXACTLY? - Brand Director? Musical Director? Content Director?”) click for more

Details of the show emerged via a press release Simon Cowell released in which he promised it will ‘capture the incredible rise of the DJ phenomena’ and discover ‘the world’s greatest DJs’

“DJs are the new rock stars,” the multi-millionaire TV presenter declared, “It feels like the right time to make this show“.

Underground tech-house type Danny Howells was as unimpressed as Danny Whittle about the show, telling Skrufff he was ‘pretty repulsed’ when he heard about it.

“Hasn’t he done enough damage to music as it is? I can’t see how this would be entertaining either – I don’t think the X-Factor fans are gonna’ be flocking to this and I won’t be giving up Corrie (Coronation Street) to watch it,” he said.

“He’s obviously seen the rise of the pop DJs, and as a result this will be nothing at all to do with music. It will be about pretty boys who have marketability and play lowest common denominator shite, like the pop DJs who are already polluting the world. If it would throw up a new DJ Shadow or Grandmaster Flash, it would be interesting. But you know that isn’t going to happen,” said Danny.

Danny Howells; click for more

Unlike Danny Whittle, however, Howells predicted the program will have a wider impact on wider club culture.

“I dread to think what it will do actually, but I think we already live in an age where the word “apprenticeship” doesn’t seem to exist,” he pointed out.

“This show will just reinforce that and we will see more pop DJs come out of nowhere with a great “light show” and gimmick and who, hopefully, disappear just as quickly.”

“Looking at it positively “ABBA rose to prominence after being in a talent show (Eurovision Song Contest), so you can’t dismiss the possibility of someone talented coming out of this. But I really don’t think they’ll be looking to find a new David Mancuso or Larry Levan.

They’ll be looking for someone who looks good being papped (photographed) on a jet-ski, who can tell an engineer which Electro Sample pack to use, and who knows how to raise his arms into a Jesus Christ pose. I rarely get booked alongside those guys, sadly,” he sighed.

“Anything to add? Where do I apply?” he laughed.

Danny Whittle concurred.

“Can I enter?” he chuckled, “I have some records and I could be called “Danny Double Dex”.

click for more on Dave

British techno legend Dave Clarke was similarly unimpressed.

“What’s my reaction to this story? Disbelief followed by resignation,” said Dave.

“The fact is, the art of the ‘DJ’ has been denigrated in the commercial light to such lows that this was inevitable. Too many commercial DJ’s worry about image and many feign “performances” so that it either enables their light jockeys to have a strict programme at best or it’s feigned because of a lack of real time talent (a lot of ‘producers” don’t even make their own music; this has been true for 10 years or more). “

“Smoke and mirrors have always been around . .  .BUT . . . does X-Factor or any of the other shite have any effect on cool music?….Not at all. So aside from the pride in being in an industry that for all intents and purpose didn’t really exist when I started except as a dream, an aspiration this DJ TV thing it is just a direction that was inevitable for the marketing people to follow.”

Dave’s expectation of the show’s impact on wider club culture fell somewhere in between the two Dannys.

“The commercial clubs will fall over themselves to feature this shite, but then they never followed the underground anyway,” Dave predicted.

“Certain magazines will no doubt push hard to be part of this to validate their “polls” but mostly I have always found the term “Club Culture” an oxymoron in 90% of cases in the commercial world. Go to Ibiza and show me the “Culture”, it’s more about “Vulture”.

“What impact on superstar DJs?” he sighed.

“There are two types of DJs ; those that care and represent a belief, an integrity and those that care only about money and fame, the term ‘superstar DJ’ is a lazy term by lazy journalists,” he grumbled.

“I can’t wait to see all the fragile ego past-it DJ’s trying to line up to be a “judge“,” Dave concluded.

“I also bet there will be some shite intellectually challenged hacks phoning up now to see if they can be involved.”

http://bit.ly/cu0uiL  (Simon Cowell in action on X Factor)

http://daveclarke.com

http://bit.ly/AkbTuu (Danny Whittle on Ibiza-voice (2004 interview): WHAT IS IT DANNY WHITTLE DOES EXACTLY? – Brand Director? Musical Director? Content Director?”)

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

Paul Arnold

London club promoter Paul Arnold chatted to Skrufff this week about moving his Chew The Fat parties to East London’s Xoyo and also revealed that he’d been particularly inspired by a recent Skrufff interview with Tim Deluxe in which Tim chatted candidly about the reality of life as an international DJ and club star.

“I really enjoyed the Tim Deluxe feature because it was fascinating and very truthful,” he said.

“I forwarded it to a few artists I manage who are in very similar situations. It’s so frustrating managing an artist who has such good opportunities but goes through those similar issues. This article has been a great help for them knowing it’s not just them,” said Paul.

Tim Deluxe (click on the picture to read the interview in full)

Chatting to Skrufff last December, Tim, who in his 16 year career has had massive worldwide hits including speed garage smash RIP Groove and house anthem ‘It Just Won’t Do’, outlined the common breakthrough DJ formula he encountered.

“The irony is when you gain commercial success it drags you away from were you should be at. You see it time and time again in this industry,” said Tim.

“New producer/s makes hot tunes > blows up = gigs everywhere > remixes instead of original productions > tours too heavily > physically and mentally tired = no new records.

“Also add copious amounts of free alcohol and drugs and you’ve pretty much got the picture. Burn Out, Divorce, Addiction, take your pick! This cycle is so common.”

Similarly travelling the world as an in demand DJ for over ten years, Paul’s globetrotting adventures came to an abrupt end when he discovered he was suffering from leukaemia in 2007.

Now fully recovered Paul has now taken up long-distance swimming (while Tim does marathon running), though admitted one of his frustrations about his illness was discovering it was partially self-inflicted.

“A big frustration was the lack of knowledge I had, and that people still have about the risk of cancer and how it is caused, especially amongst people leading those party lifestyles,” he reflected.

“Most people thought I just got leukaemia by chance but it was definitely a disease brought on by lifestyle. People don’t understand that,” he said.

Chew the Fat returns to London at their new home of Xoyo on Friday February 10, headlined by garage legend MJ Cole, Foamo, Hot City, French Fries and a Donga presents Well Rounded Records Showcase (room 2).

(Read the Tim Deluxe Interview in full here)

http://www.thefatclub.com

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

International party girl Paris Hilton talked up her superstar DJ ambitions this week, telling FHM magazine she’ll be devoting her full attention to promoting her soon to be released second album.

“I have a huge passion for house music. It always has been my passion. I just haven’t been able to focus on it, because I have been doing reality TV for so long now,” the billionaire heiress claimed.

“I’ve been working on the album with lots of other top DJs for a while now and I think people will be really surprised. It’s very modern and very catchy; perfect party music.” (Digital Spy: http://bit.ly/AuNriq )

News of her imminent arrival amongst the ranks of fellow celeb DJs Manufactured Superstars, Steve Aoki, David Guetta and (rumoured new flame) Afrojack came as the Daily Mail identified another soon to be massive superstar DJ;16 year old DJ C Squared.

The precocious teenager is reportedly already earning $10,000 DJ fees at gigs around LA including most recently the Big Bang 2012 party in Hollywood, the Mail said.

DJ Squared, who’s real name is Conor Cruise, played for 1 hour in the VIP room at the gig, though despite his age was un-chaperoned by his adoptive parents, Hollywood actors Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise.

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

click for me

Click below to see Skruff favourite (and regular contributor) Laurent Garnier’s latest visual opus. C’est fantastique? (mais ouu!)

Click below for one of the best dance videos ever:

Bad Company (click for more)

“I have played at a gig in Detroit where a guy got shot dead outside the party. After that we all had to lie on the floor for 10 minutes waiting for the police to come while a gang was outside shooting bullets thru the windows.”

“Once I drove from Paris to Plymouth for a gig. It took me 13 or 14 hours to get there by car. And when I finally arrived at the gig, the promoter said to me ‘you are 10 minutes late . . . fuck off!’ Then he had the security guy throw me out. That was 18 years ago. I’ve never ever been back to fucking Plymouth since . . .”

Flashback (recorded immediately after a particularly gruelling overseas trip)

This week, Skrufff are launching a new series of DJ travel stories focusing on the highs and lows every international DJ experiences. Notoriously French definitive dance legend Laurent Garnier kicks off proceedings . . . .

(For more on Laurent; click here: http://www.laurentgarnier.com/ )

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The Best

Skrufff (Jonty Skrufff): What’s the most opulent travel trip you’ve experienced?

Laurent Garnier: “Nothing incredibly big, I’m afraid, I’ve never even been in First Class. I guess the most flash one I’ve experienced was when we- i.e. myself plus the band, traveled to Ibiza few years ago in a private jet.”

Skrufff: What’s been the best hotel?

Laurent Garnier: “For me the best hotels are definitely not the super big luxurious ones. I like the smaller hotels with a bit of character and super friendly staff.”

Skrufff: What do you need to make a trip perfect?

Laurent Garnier: “for holidays, to travel with people you love being with, a glass of champagne and a comfortable seat on the plane. For gigs, I need plenty of movies to watch and work to do.”

Skrufff: What do you always travel with?

Laurent Garnier: “My computer, tons of music, headphones and small speakers.”

Skrufff: What are your top three travel tips?

Laurent Garnier: “Relax, be patient and avoid low cost airlines.”

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The Worst:

Skrufff: What’s been your worst travel nightmare?

Laurent Garnier: “I’ve had more than a few having been traveling for 20 years but I guess the one that stands out the most was a flight I took from Paris to Figari (Corsica) about 10/12 years ago. There was so much wind and turbulence buffeting the plane that loads of passengers started screaming and crying.

Then when the plane was on its final approach to the airport, everybody fell completely silent because everyone believed we were going to crash. It was so frightening. Once the plane landed- safely- they actualy closed the airport for the rest of the day. Since that day I have always hated flying, even though I continue to do it every single weekend.”

Skrufff: What’s the worst hotel you’ve stayed in?

Laurent Garnier: “As with nightmare trips I’ve stayed in more than a few nightmare hotels. From super dirty/grotty hotels in eastern Europe when we went straight after the war in Serbia to some super dodgy ones in the deep south in the United States. Once I was chased by the owner with a riffle. Don’t worry, I  have a list of bad hotels.”

Skrufff: What’s the worst experience you’ve had at customs/ Immigration?

Laurent Garnier: “The big winners for rudeness are still United States customs and Immigration, they definitely win the gold medal. The better your visa will be on your passport, the more they will screw with your head.”

The Russian customs can also be real ‘dodgy dudes’. Every time we take our band equipment, they hold us for hours because we refuse to pass them money under the table. They win the silver medal. And I would say that the Brazilian embassy in Paris wins the Bronze medal for being so unfriendly, difficult and rude when you try to get a visa to go and play in Brazil. It’s been like that for years, believe it, it’s not a one-off experience. It’s particularly strange because Brazil is so great and Brazilians are such lovely people.”

Skrufff: Have you had any bad encounters after clearing customs, with dodgy taxi driver or not being picked up?

Laurent Garnier: “No I haven’t really had big problems, unlike the famous DJ I know of who was kidnapped in Russia by a different club organiser from the one they were supposed to work for, then forced to play in the kidnapper’s club before they were dropped back at the airport after the gig.”

Skrufff: What do you avoid on DJ trips?

Laurent Garnier: “I am very careful who I go and work for nowadays, I have had some really bad experienceds with dodgy promoters. If I receive a booking request from someone I don’t know, we always ask our DJ friends and agents if the guy is cool or not. A lot of bad promoters have being blacklisted now  and most agents have access to that list.”

I also always make sure that the reservation is really booked at the hotel I am supposed to stay at. We book our own flights these days too so I always know that I can come back easily (in the past I had bad experiences with return flights not being booked for my way home). I don’t travel with too much things, I keep as light and “normal” as I can. I now also work through an agent for all my gigs: that way things are easier and safer.”

Skrufff: What do you hate about travelling?

Laurent Garnier: “Everything, I hate it. It’s the only aspect of my DJ life I don’t like. So I always work when I’m travelling, it makes the whole process go faster.”

Skrufff: What’s been the most frightening experience you’ve had on your DJ trips; ever been robbed/ followed/ threatened?

Laurent Garnier: “I have being left alone in the streets of New York without any money, luggage, hotel or a plane ticket to get home by a real fuckwit of a promoter.

I have played at a gig in Detroit where a guy was shot dead outside the party. After that we all had to lie on the floor for 10 minutes waiting for the police to come whiles a gang was outside shouting bullets thru the windows.

I’ve had a few bad ones in the US where the police came and raided the parties with CS gas, guns and very heavy-duty behaviour.

There was a crazy one in Mexico where the police stopped me DJing pointing a gun at me, then the whole crowd went completely nuts and try to crush the five armed coppers against the wall. The cops ran away and never came back. I really thought that someone was gonna get shot …it was mad .”

“I have had to deal with proper mafia promoters, some bastards that told me to fuck off and threw me out of the club without any money after playing all night at gigs (that happened few times in France).”

“Once in Austria, while I was sleeping after a gig Scan X, who I’d worked with that night, was staying in the room next door.He brought the promoter and kept him locked in his room for a couple of hours until the guy finally decided to pay us. There was a massive argument and fighting going on in the next room while I was asleep. Those guys were super heavy motherfuckers but Scan X still got them to finally pay us . . .

So the answer is YESSS , I have been robbed, followed and threatened and much more besides.”

Skrufff: Last not least, please let us know the best websites to plug for you, plus details of upcoming releases?

Laurent Garnier: “For everything go to  www.laurentgarnier.com where you can listen to PBB my 24/7 online radio:  you can listen to all my weekly radio shows called IT IS WHAT IT IS:  you can see all the coming dates for all future gigs.

And you can also buy my new live DVD (only 2000 copies available) of the concert we did at the Salle Pleyel in Paris last year. This is a very VERY special one (perhaps my best concert ever). You can only buy this DVD on my website.

Otherwise, I am currently touring with the LBS project (half live/ half DJ)

We are in the studio (with the LBS crew) recording for a new album. Due next year. And for facebook, questions and stuff go to Facebook, Laurent Garnier (official page). I am the only person looking after that page.”

Jonty Skrufff: http://listn.to/JontySkrufff

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