When I was in Adelaide in February I received an email from DeFacto, the Nottingham based creative agency whose accounts include the Fred Perry clothing brand. They’d already approached me to appear at one of the monthly Fred Perry Subculture nights they hold at The Garage in London, presenting Reels Of Steel for the first time in the capital, so we’d been discussing a possible line-up for a date later in the year. However, they’d just learned of Afrika Bambaataa’s availability for their 20th April date and, quite rightly, saw this as a perfect fit with me, given my Electro-Funk background, with Bambaataa very much a key inspiration (not to mention that, as serendipity had it, this was exactly 30 years on from his era-defining single with the Soul Sonic Force, the mighty ‘Planet Rock’).
Sub-Sonic Force
by Greg Wilson on 04. Apr, 2012 in Black Culture, DJ / Club Culture, DJ Appearances, The Eighties
Shoutout
by Greg Wilson on 13. Oct, 2011 in Art & Design, Black Culture, DJ / Club Culture, Documentaries, Fashion, Film, Misc, The Nineties, The Seventies, The Sixties
Just wanted to make you aware of a project my former Invisible Players colleague, Don Letts, has been commissioned to produce, focusing on the clothing brand, Fred Perry, and its cultural relevance in the UK from the Mods in the 60’s to Britpop in the 90’s, and right up to date via their association with Amy Winehouse, whose designs for the brand continue to be released, with the full blessing of her family, following her untimely death last July.
Being a DJ
I’m a DJ from Merseyside. I started out in 1975, but stopped for almost 20 years, between 1984 and the end of 2003, at which point I started again.
One night during the period I wasn’t deejaying, turning off my mind, relaxing, and floating downstream I had what might be termed a moment of clarity. Paradoxically, although I was no longer a DJ in the literal sense I suddenly became aware that I’d never actually stopped being a DJ, for even if I was in a room with just one person I couldn’t help but ask them ‘have you heard this?’, and not only ‘heard’, but ‘have you seen this / read this?’, for it goes beyond music. Already taken somewhat aback by this nugget of self-discovery, I realised, in true eureka style, that this all pre-dates my being a DJ and goes back as far as I can remember – I’ve always had an inherent need to share, it’s absolutely central to my nature. This was quite a revelation.
So it’s no wonder that I became a Disc Jockey, for once I fell in love with those circular pieces of magical plastic during my formative years, it wasn’t a matter of choosing this as a path, the path pretty much chose me.
I don’t intend this to be a DJ blog as such, but more a blog by someone who happens to be a DJ – a place where personal emphasis takes precedence over professional, although, as I’ve already explained, the two aspects are, of course, inescapably entwined.
If you want info about my DJ appearances, email greg@gregwilson.co.uk for regular updates.
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- My First 12″ 08. Jul, 2010
- How Clubbing Changed The World 14. Sep, 2012
- Nina Kraviz – The Mistress Of Her Own Myth 08. Apr, 2013
- Living To Music 27. Jun, 2010
- Living To Music – Pink Floyd ‘The Dark Side Of The Moon’ 31. Aug, 2010
- Celebration Of The Mediocre 21. Dec, 2010
- Living To Music – Marvin Gaye ‘What’s Going On’ 25. Jul, 2010
- My First Record 24. Nov, 2010
- Living To Music – Stevie Wonder ‘Innervisions’ 01. Feb, 2011
- Disco Now Disco Then 01. May, 2013
- Random Access Moroder 20. May, 2013
- Love Saves The Day 09. May, 2013
- Disco Now Disco Then 01. May, 2013
- Just Plain Daft 27. Apr, 2013
- Richie Havens 23. Apr, 2013
- Vincent Montana, Jr. 15. Apr, 2013
- Just Like ’77 14. Apr, 2013
- Danny Krivit – Roller DJ 12. Apr, 2013
- Bubblebathgate 10. Apr, 2013
- Nina Kraviz – The Mistress Of Her Own Myth 08. Apr, 2013
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Tim: Brilliant piece. Disco never left, and it certainl...
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Greg Wilson: Hi Andy: That was then, things are different now. ...
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Will Nicol: If the album stimulates inovation and creativity t...
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TC: Sad to hear that, Ralph...
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Clifford Moss: As soon as I heard the track, the very first time,...
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Ralph Lawson: Well I don't know whether to laugh or cry. I have...
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Sam: This idea of producers not using musicians is pret...
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Website design: This article will help the internet people for set...
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