Not many DJs can claim to have been around at the origins of dance music and actually mean it. Forget pre-house… Paul Taylor is pre-disco. And that's no PR spin -Paul Taylor will forget more about music before breakfast than most folk will know in their lifetime. The mastermind of the massive Retro nights, Paul eats, sleeps and breaths music and after 28 years in club land, he knows what makes a dance floor tick. If there's one man who knows how to whip a crowd into a disco frenzy, it's our Paul. Just ask any one of the 14,000 people who head for the dance floors of Retro at various venues every month.
But take my hand as the screen goes wobbly and we go back, way back, to the northern town of Burnley in the 70s. "I was into the Northern Soul scene before I started DJ'ing," says Paul, a smile erupting with the memory, "So that's how I got my love of music really -I was a punter at Northern Soul gigs and in 1974 I got offered a job as a DJ in a club that had just opened in Burnley called Angels." Small time? Northern nonsense? Think again. "We used to get people from London coming up for this event", he continues. "The Twisted Wheel in Manchester was the only club I knew apart from the Wigan Casino that served the underground, so I knew there was a market for it. We ended up getting a thousand people every Wednesday at one point, and it ran for three or four years until disco arrived in 1978."The house music tidal wave that crossed the Atlantic in the mid 80s and crashed over the UK swept up Paul in its wake. In 1989, he took ownership of Angels, and throughout the early nineties began booking DJs who have since rocketed into the club land supernova. Carl Cox was a monthly resident, Paul Oakenfold, Pete Tong , Sasha, Tall Paul and Boy George all played Saturday nights for Paul.
In 1991 Paul decided that too much music was too being quickly discarded, and dedicated the final hour on Friday nights to tunes released in the previous three to four years. And lo…Retro was born, emerging from a music policy to become a party in its own right, with gigs all over the country and hundreds locked out every week. Since then, Retro has single-handedly given credibility to the club classics concept. The club took Ibiza by storm, becoming the success story of 2000 and the focal point of many a clubber's time on the island, earning the best newcomer award from Mixmag. The same mag has since asked the nation "Is Retro the UK's busiest club?" As if Paul's diary wasn't already straining at the hinges, he continues to gig around the UK and Europe.
Aside from DJing, promoting and actually owning nightclubs, Paul has also been instrumental in the development of dance music. He has always produced music, notably as part of the Loveland team who scored several top 40 hits throughout the 90s and scores of big dance anthem remixes. He established the label Eastern Bloc with Pete Waterman and when Ministry Of Sound needed a good A&R with their finger on the pulse, they turned to Paul. After a break he put out three Retro albums through Neo records and he's now back in the studio because, as well as enjoying the history of dance culture, he's equally interested in creating the classics of the future. See, the original acid face had a smile. Somewhere along the way it was wiped off but Paul has made it his disco mission to put the smile back on the face of club land. "After 28 years, I'm still here doing it because I love it,"he smiles. "I don't know what the hell I'm going to do when I finally hang up my headphones. But I enjoy myself, I smile at people, I always have time to talk to punters - I always greet them when they're coming into a club and I always say goodnight, because they're the people that make this industry what it is. It's not the magazines or the media, it's not the big name DJs, it's the paying punters". Count yourself lucky to be one of them.
The weeks are flying by again and I’ve just had a top weekend. Retro at Space was very busy with Retro heads a plenty from all parts of the North of England spreading love on the dancefloor and there is ALWAYS an intimate atmosphere in this great club. I have to say though that I’m glad I made the decision to not play THIS next weekend, I’m overly busy in the office over the next couple of weeks making sure that our birthday month in November goes off as smoothly as possible, especially at the flagship event at Trees. So this weekend it’s a no club zone for moi.
Tickets for Retro @ Trees are now available through the normal outlets and via Skiddle.com, my advice is to purchase a ticket because numbers are limited on the night due to the fact that the Alexander Suite is a no go area due to a private function. Please remember that we are restricting ALL the outlets to a maximum £1 booking fee. Early bird tickets have now sold out. Please may I also remind you that when you purchase a ticket from an outlet you will automatically be handed your FREE ticket for the big Retro celebrates the New Year event on Saturday the 2nd of January 2010. If you buy a ticket online OR pay on the door on the night you will also be handed a free ticket at the clubs reception desk, this way everyone will receive their golden ticket for this event.
As you enter the club on the 20th birthday celebrations you will receive a voucher which entitles you to a another freebie, a double pack CD live recording featuring myself and Ben Taylor recorded from our Ibiza/Majorca reunion party earlier this month, you can hand this into the Retro Shop based in the reception area on your way out, this alongside INNER CITY playing a full live set makes this event a must for every Retro lover out there!
New Years Eve 2009/2010
We are proud to announce that this year Retro will hold for the first time its NYE bash at the SYNDICATE in Blackpool with myself, Ricky Isted and Ben Taylor. Making this event a bumper package will include Godskitchen featuring Judge Jules, Matt Hardwick, John Askew, Activa, Richard Turner and Jason Fubar. Early bird tickets are now on sale via blackpool.thesyndicate.com at ONLY £10 sqids, sounds like bargain of the year to me, obviously the ticket price will increase after the early birds sellout (500 I think) but only up to £15/20, more on the door. My advice is to grab them at this stage while you can. Should be a blast though!
Ok I’m off into the studio to work on the new Loveland single.
YEP!
P X
http://www.clubtalltrees.co.uk / http://www.retroevents.com
http://www.clubtalltrees.co.uk / http://www.retroevents.com
VIDEO >>>
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France Dance - Jorge Jaramillo & Sue Cho (Lectro Chik Records)
Sue's "Punked out L.A Vocals" compliment Jorge Jaramillo's signature "Who Da Funk" style electro indie nu disco production! Climbing the charts at Beatport. Click the picture above to download.
New Releases Exclu Beatport TRIBAL MEMORIES PART 4 Included all the best electronic tribal sound with artist like Rick Pier O'neil - Ajai - Simon & Shaker... And MINIMAL TEKNO SOUND Included Rpo - David Weed - Adf - Joy Marquez - Omar Labastida .... best sounds and releases from 2008
Thanks for your support for our music and artist all this year 2008 Bye RPO Records Team
Last saturday mate, wot can a say, absolutely unbelievable. a was there from start to finish loved every minute of it n gonna miss it. n e way av a good xmas n new year n c u down at the empire for lovefunky. LAST DANCE MY ARSE!!! x
hi paul i cant wait for saturday night. i cant remember my password on the retroevents web page any way can you please play duke - so in love. chowsen few - nobodys business and stabs - joy and happiness at the last dance thanks cya there.
Just wanna say cheers for making my night in pacha the best iv ever had there....PAUL TAYLOR you rocked big time!!!!!! Were gonna come to chorley when you play there in oct, wish i could see u play again sooner cos you are amazing!!! xx
oi oi paul class set last night at funky , how long got the place bouncing as usual!! cant wait for the next one , cya in 2 weeks for birthday bash , adioss
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