Tony De Vit, architect of the hard house/trance sound that permeated the UK club scene in the late 90s and 2000s, died 20 years ago today, 2 July 1998, at the age of just 40. It was De Vit, having established himself as an accomplished DJ at gay clubs Heaven and Trade that helped take…
![THROWBACK THURSDAY: Carl Craig - At Les [1997]](https://i0.wp.com/909originals.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/79579_300-2.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 "THROWBACK THURSDAY: Carl Craig – At Les [1997]")
Given that this week marked techno legend Carl Craig’s 49th birthday – happy belated tidings Carl! – this week’s Throwback Thursday highlights one of the jewels in the maestro’s back catalogue. Nestled midway through his 1997 album, More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art, released on Planet E, At Les is classic Detroit: mellow, melodic…
While the European dance scene of the early 90s can be said to have influenced popular culture as we know it today, the same cannot be said in the US, where the rave scene remained largely underground right up until the end of the decade… barring the occasional appearance of the ‘Club Kids’ on daytime…
Former Trade and Heaven resident Tony De Vit, who passed away 20 years this year, was one of the ‘breakthrough’ names of 1996, as he followed a memorable Essential Mix with the first compilation for Boxed’s Global Underground series (Live in Tel Aviv). In January 1997, Mixmag caught up with the hardworking Kidderminster native, as…
Legendary dancer, vibesman, part-time politician, maracas enthusiast, reality TV star and professional caner Bez, from the Happy Mondays, turns 54 years old today, 18 April. And like many longtime ravers, these days you couldn’t wash the smile off his face with a Brillo pad. But as the Freaky Dancin‘ author, known to his mum as…
Long considered one of electronic music’s pioneering forces, Detroit techno legend Jeff Mills believes that some day, we’re going to be able to experience live gigs first-hand, from anywhere in the world. Mills made the prognosis in a fascinating interview with Fabric London last week, during which he discussed everything from space exploration to the…
![Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty... Dub Be Good To Me tops the charts [March 1990]](https://i0.wp.com/909originals.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/118136669.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 "‘Tank fly boss walk jam nitty gritty…’ Dub Be Good To Me tops the charts [March 1990]")
Beats International‘s Dub Be Good To Me, which topped the UK charts in March 1990, marked a turning point in the career of former Housemartin (and soon-to-be Fatboy Slim) Norman Cook. The track, originally called The Invasion of the Estate Agents, first appeared as a B-side instrumental on another, lesser-known Norman Cook single, For Spacious…
![Norman Cook lays it all bare… [October 1995]](https://i0.wp.com/909originals.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/muzik-oct-1995-4.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1 "Norman Cook lays it all bare… [October 1995]")
Just months before the launch of his first record as Fatboy Slim, Better Living Through Chemistry, Norman Cook spoke to MUZIK magazine about his Pizzaman side project alongside Tim Jeffrey and JC Reid. While much of the discussion revolved around the forthcoming Pizzamania album, which spawned singles such as Happiness and Trippin on Sunshine, the…
In 1996, seven years on from Pacific State going massive, 808 State released their fifth album, Don Solaris. Featuring a giant cock (really) on the front, and released on ZTT, the album blended acid house, trip hop, electro and jungle, an indication of how far the band came since the heady rave days of Newbuild…
It’s been 29 years since producer Satoshi Tomiie recorded one of THE standout house anthems, alongside the late Frankie Knuckles: Tears. But I’ve always wondered how the Tokyo-born Tomiie ended up working with Knuckles in the first place, and indeed join the Def Mix stable alongside heavyweights such as David Morales and Hector Romero. As…
