Page 30 - Zone Magazine Issue 006

You perform the legendary final set at 'Nature One' for the 19th time. Which set was the most outstanding for you?
Every year was great! Regarded separately all my performances at the mega event Nature One were something special and a highlight. Even after 30 years of experience as a DJ I get stage frights two hours before I start my set and my heart beats faster.
In retrospect Nature One 2011, for me, was disapointing, because I didn’t participate in it. I took a musical time out during this time. After that Nature One the promoters were pounded with E-mails of fans, who had missed my final set, also reached me.
This positive feedback has made me proud and brought me to continue the tradition of Nature One.
What was there before your DJ career? How would you bring home the bacon without music?
Before my career as a DJ I was a regular guest at Dorian Gray and every weekend I was involved in the nightlife of Frankfurt as a dancer on the dance floor. Among other things I worked at the airport of Frankfurt, at a forwarding company and also served in the
German army. I also occasionally took jobs as lightjockey in the Music Hall.
Since my youth I am an enthusiastic gearhead, biker and Harley Davidson fan. Without music I’d likely construct mean machines with gusto as a mechanic in a Harley workshop.
How did you proceed to get new bookings at the beginning of your career?
As an unknown DJ or newcomer it was hardly impossible to finish up in a club and prove yourself. The club owners justifiably say, that it’s quite different to record a cassette at home than to play in front of a large audience in the club. But how can you gain experience in front of the public without getting an chance to prove your competence.
I have always trained hard at home and tried to make my mix and record a demo cassette.
In the mid-eighties I planned to apply play a real tiny club in Frankfurt. The club Uno was an eighty-man-trendy club and the manager told me with the argument I wouldn’t have any club experience, haha!
So I pocketed my demo cassette. During the night a friend who recently worked in the Music Hall, crossed my path, gave me the hot tip that the Music hall
was looking for a new DJ on Mondays. At that time the Music Hall was open
every day and Monday was the day with only a few people. I gave my friend the cassette to take to the Music Hall and surprisingly was invited for a conversation the following week. On the next Monday I finally made my debut in front of 150 guests.
What do you think about presenting with CDs or computer- aided DJ'ing?
I’m truly glad having started with presenting vinyl because vinyl and MK2 is just my thing. Pieces of music, which I don’t have on a record I present from CD and also my own music from the studio which is not yet available on records.
Concerning computer-aided Djing ... just let me say: Not my style!
If I go to a club for presenting music it can’t be done halfway. Then I smoke and drink and dance and have party with the people. It also might happen that I’m a little hammered and simply can’t read the labelling of my CDs; no matter what condition I am, I can always run my records.
" It also might happen that I’m a little hammered and simply can’t read the labelling of my CDs; no matter what condition I am, I can always run my records! "
30 ZONE-MAGAZINE.IE