First's Exclusive Interview: Superstar DJ, Pete Tong

26-12-2005 00:00

Do you miss the old days?

Pete: It was an exciting time, and it was certainly as much luck as it was judgement of being around and in a position of influence at that time. I was on Capital Radio already doing their dance show on a Saturday night during the big warehouse raves and acid party scene. Just at the peak of the whole explosion Radio1 offered me a gig, so I really did arrive when nobody was doing anything like that on Radio1. But I am not that sentimental really. I tent to forget more than I remember. The reason I'm still doing what I am doing is because I am very excited by tomorrow, almost to an unhealthy point, preoccupied by what's next.

You've got your first Pete Tong Essential Classics out now, what made you decide to release a classics album?

Pete: I have never really stopped to check and celebrate what has passed and that's one of the reasons why I have done this classics album. It's never really crossed my mind to do it before. Over the last couple of years, Cream, Gatecrasher and Renaissance have all had very successful classic compilations and I looked at the tracklist and I just through there is an awful lot more to remind people of. I am excited by the new stuff and the change but it's nice to just stock check and take a look back at how we got here and why.

With so many classic dance tunes to choose from -how did you pick the tracklist?

Pete: I think if you ask any big DJ what his favourite tracks are, they are kind of written on the sleeve notes because you are faced with infinite choice, you can't make your mind up. I took a long hard look at what is on some of the big classic albums of the last few years and I knew I couldn't put Alison Limerick on there again; I can't put The Brand New Heavies, Back to Love.

There are a number of tracks that have appeared on all those albums and I didn't want to do that. As great as those records were, the world doesn't need another one with the same tracks on. So when I really started to think about it and all the shows, there is a lot of history there and there is so much more that could be done. What intrigued me was when Cream did their classic album a few years ago, they complied an album that broke all the rules of TV marketing -they didn't have any hits on there, they were records that were considered to be flops as the time. But they were great records that stood the test of time and records that became classics because they were good tracks that never went away.

Many of the tracks on my label FFRR were the, none hit tracks, but they were deemed to be classics fifteen years later. It just feels like, god we were right.

It didn't happen at the time but now people really appreciate those tracks.

I know it's a tough choice but what's your all time favourite track to get the party started?

Pete: You could probably drop the needle on anyone of the tracks on the album. (Thinking really hard) um probably Royal House (Todd Terry) 'Can You Party' and Adonis 'No Way Back' but there are loads of them.

What was the first record you ever bought?

Pete: The first record I ever bought, not with my own money, was the Thunderbirds theme tune (laughing). The first record that I consciously bought and though was really cool was, T-Rex's 'The Children of The Revolution' but that was just me being a teenager and wanting to buy a cool record.

You've also helped loads of acts to break into the mainstream, like Goldie, Brand New Heavies and Orbital, who are you most proud of?

Pete: I think, from a historic point of view, even though I didn't actually discover them, we licensed the record even though it was already made, Run DMC; They were one of the first really big acts that I signed to my label. Anything that Orbital have done. I also helped Bananarama with their early career at London Records. When they split up, I got signed to Shakespears Sister. I know you don't really look back and think, Shakespears Sister was one of those all time seminal bands, but they did have a UK no1 and an American no1 which was a pretty big moment.

Well I never knew that! You have DJ'ed all over the world - where is your favourite place to play?

Pete: I would say Ibiza; you can't ignore it. That's the best place to play, no question. I really like going to South America at the moment, that gives me a lot of inspiration. Also the old Eastern Block countries, the old communist set that are opening up to the wider world and the war torn countries like Yugoslavia, they are beautiful places to play. The people have been though so much misery and it's great to see them having a good time.

Speaking of Ibiza, a load of indie acts went over there to play this year...

Pete: Yeah, Manumission tried something different and it just proves that Ibiza can be a good space to do that. I really hope they continue to do it because I think it's the shot in the arm that the island needed, and a different story for the press. They went up against me one night so I should be dissing them, but I think it's just a different way of being positive about the island.

So you're not worried the beautiful island will be taken over by smelly indie kids then?

Pete: No I don't think there is any chance of that. But I hope they keep doing it. It will be interesting to see how that night evolves. I hope it's used as a place to inspire a lot of bands to come out and play because there are loads that fit between the two worlds. Even the theatrics of the Kaiser Chiefs would appeal to the dance crowd, if not the music. And there are people like Goldfrapp who are very much live artists but have a relationship with the dance scene.

Is there anywhere you would love to play but haven't had the chance yet?

Pete: China, I really want to play China. I think Shanghai is a real destination at the moment. That would be amazing. I would like to play somewhere mad, like Iceland or Greenland. People used to go over there a lot but you don't hear about it as much anymore. India I have been to, but I haven't played there either. So there are two huge countries, particular China, they seem to be getting the electronic bug. So hopefully I will get there next year.

Where are you headlining this New Years Eve?

Pete: Sydney. That's always been a good place to play. It's so far away and with me being on the radio, I never get there as much as I would like. I played at Bondi Beach in 2001 which was awesome. Then about 18 months ago, I did Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne which was pretty hot. It's a great country to go to, especially this time of year. So this time I am doing Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne on New Years Day, which is actually a bigger party than New Years Eve. I am doing Brisbane New Years Eve in a club.

Lucky you - who should we be looking out for in the world of dance next year?

Pete: I think we are going to see a lot more new bands and acts coming up next year. It's been a while since there was dance music royalty on the scene, like Orbital, Chemical Brothers, Prodigy and Basement Jaxx who ruled the world. I think now we are seeing a clutch of new artists coming up that are really interesting.

They are not quite at that level yet, but I think Milo is going some way towards it.

Also Cadgebaby, I have been listening to their album. They have been around a while but I think its going to be one of those albums. Milo's album was around for a year before it really, really kicked in. I know the guy behind it but, it just didn't register with me until a couple of weeks ago. I was listening to it and I think it just sounds so right for now.

And Crazy P, I have said a lot about them in interviews, they might not have their defining break through single yet but I think it's only a matter of time. And Phillipe Zdar from Cassius, has made a genius solo record, he's been looking for a deal so keep an eye out for him next year.

Pete Tong's new collection, 'Essential Classics' is Out Now -

For more info check out www.petetong.com

First's Sarah Williams

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