Weirdo returns for the Superfish! 9th birthday reunion
Reported by Superfish!
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Submitted 18-08-06 18:03
Ask any hard trance producer who they rate as their most formative influence, and there’s a good chance that the name Weirdo will crop up. His unique blend of euphoric, uplifting and most definitely banging hard trance helped create and define the genre as we know it today. His artist albums released on Tinrib Recordings — ‘ImInTouchWithYourWorld’ (2000) and ‘Normalisation’ (2002) — are classics, still sounding as fresh today as when they were first released. Indeed, in a time when technological changes have made music production more accessible to the masses than ever before, and, it could be argued, thus leading to a reduction in quality as every wannabe producer and their laptop can churn out a ‘track’, tunes like ‘Photic Zone’ (1998) and ‘I Know a Plaice’ (2001) champion the hard trance sound, reminding us that good hard dance definitely doesn’t have to be formulaic.
Also known as Airhead, Yelmo and, with Micky Vespré, the Disco Outlaws, Dom Harding may not be as prolific as he once was, but he’s certainly just as innovative. But what sort of an artist calls himself ‘Weirdo’? With the man himself back in town for an exclusive live PA at the Superfish! ninth birthday reunion party at The Fridge tonight, it was time to lift the lid on the the weird one.
Why the name? Does it sum up your music, your personality, or do you just think this hard horse music is just plain weird?
It’s supposed to be ironic cos actually I’m quite normal! I think.
For those who don’t know you, how did you get started? Did you always plan on being one of the most innovative hard trance pioneers of all time or was it something that you evolved into?
It evolved from being in grungy rock bands to going to raves to writing stuff with mates and then writing my own stuff. I’ve always been into good riffs and I guess that’s the same for rock or rave or Rachmaninov.
Can you remember your first big gig? Did you start off djing or were you always into live PAs?
My first gig would have been playing congas to a backing tape with a friend singing. I think it would have been a club night at one of the arches in Brixton. Ahh . . . fond memories.
You’ve made many ground-breaking tracks. Do you have a personal favourite? What, in your opinion, makes a good track?
A fave track of mine is probably either ‘Photic Zone’ or ‘I know a Place’. What makes a good track? Hard graft and a bit of, er, dare I say, passion.
What musical influences have inspired you over the years? And now?
Anything from Thin Lizzy to Bacharac, Marley to Zepellin. There’s so much good stuff.
Since you’ve started mixing and producing you must have seen many changes over the years, in terms of the overall software and hardware of production. What did you start producing on? And what do you prefer to use now?
I started with a b&w Atari and an Akai. In fact the first album was made completely with that set up. I’m on a G5 running SX now but I’m not sure it’s better than the old gear. Faster and more colours but it doesn’t sound quite as ‘chunky’ somehow.
Music distribution has made some remarkable changes in the last few years. Are you a vinyl junkie or do you embrace the digital age? Where do you see music production going in 20 years’ time? If I could give you a million quid now to invest in it now, what would you do with it?
A million quid eh?! I’d buy a digital mixer and spend the rest getting the pebbledash taken off my house! Seriously, I’m lucky enough to have most of the musical tools I need but I think it’s also good to limit yourself to a few choice bits of kit and really get the best out of it.
If you were starting out now knowing what you do, would you change anything? What advice do you have for those HF readers hoping to make a career out of the music business?
Do it for the right reasons — because you love the tunes. And be your own worst critic — if you think something could be slightly better, so will someone else and they won’t sign it!
When did you first meet Jon Bell aka Captain Tinrib? Was it a blessing for you or a curse?
Oooh, a terrible piratey curse!! Obviously a blessing. Jon’s an awesome talent.
Why do you think Superfish! parties are considered by some to be the best hard horse parties of all time?
I’d say ‘cos of the people putting them on and the people showing up. None of them take themselves too seriously and that makes for the overall vibe.
Together you and the Captain have made some fantastic tracks. Do you have a personal favourite?
I’m loving the Captain’s recent tunes at the moment like ‘Attack of the 50 ft DJ’, but from the back catalogue ‘Blue Oyster’ is still a fave.
You’ve been very quiet on both the production and performance fronts lately. Do you have any new material on the horizon, or are you taking a well earned sabbatical?
Yep. Hopefully a new release before crimble with a track called ‘Beyond’. It’s not signed off yet so I won’t say the label at this stage, but let’s just say they’re one of the best!! I’ve plenty of other new material on the go which should be on my imminent website as downloadables soon.
You’re playing your first live PA in London in a long time tonight night at the Fridge for the Superfish! 9th birthday reunion. What can us fans expect? We’re all hoping you’re going to bring out those Superfish! classics from back in the day, and the Captain himself has requested just that . . . are you well up for performing those classics? Is 45 mins enough time to fit them all in?
They’ll be some oldies and some newies and some reworking of some oldies. 45 minutes is better than 40!
Classics aside, do you have any new material to showcase tonight?
‘Beyond’ will be getting an airing. [plug plug]
Finally, why should HF readers come to the Fridge tonight night to relive a plaice of hard horse history?
Because it won’t be the same without them!
Superfish!
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On:
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Friday 18th August 2006
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At:
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The Fridge [map]
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From:
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10:00 - 06:00
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Cost:
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£10 members & early bird/£12 limited advance/£15 before midnight & with flyer/MOTD after midnight
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Website:
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www.captaintinrib.com/NextSuperfish.html
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Ticket Info:
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Email superfish@captaintinrib.com for limited early bird tickets (£10) and advanced tickets (£12)
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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The Skipper is back on the UK tour and it's time to reunite at the UK's No.1 friendly party.
The pioneers of the hard dance scene, Tinrib, give you the very best of 11 years in hard NRG.
Come celebrate our 9th birthday party with another night of madness to remember . . .
Back in 1996 Captain Tinrib, D.F.Q, Steve Thomas, Dave Randall, RR Fierce & Karim decided they needed a place to party, at an event with music that they produce, and came up with their own club nite, ‘Fish!’ All these DJs and recording artists played different intensities of Hard NRG back then, they wanted a night that built up and up all the way through. DJ lineup placement was the secret of this success. Mellower, funky grooves while everyone meets on arrival, through a more trancey affair into the depths of Hard NRG, slightly grooved, Techno to a huge build of hard NRG anthem tracks at the core of the night, leaving Karim the honours of sewing it all up with his relentless ‘X Rated’ pounding hard NRG.
It all began at the Soundshaft, London, and the FISH!, known as Elfish! on the flyers, embarked on a story of his own and learnt to swim, surf, and then fly.... He flew threw Crash on his way to the mighty Fridge Club London. Superfish was born!
Through the club nite’s fishy voyage, the likes of Simon Eve, Max Alien Trax, JP (Amsterdam), Scott Alert (Australia), Pete Wardman, Lady Bianca, Lab 4, Superfast Oz of OD404, Sol Ray, Rubec, Les Oberon, Steve Hill, Max & Amino Live and the legendary Weirdo, joined up on deck and finished off the complete Superfish! resident DJ lineup. Through the course of the Superfish! history these DJs have become some of the world’s best mainline DJs on the scene.
The hugely successful UK club nite Superfish! has sailed to the shores of Christchurch, New Zealand & back to its home at the Fridge. The Pioneers of the hard dance scene, Captain Tinrib & Karim with their labels, the mighty, Tinrib Recordings, Dirty House Grooves, Tuff Trax, Unfknblvbl & the notorious, Do Not Bend Recordings, give you the very best of 11 years in swashbuckling Hard NRG. Come celebrate our 9th year of Superfish! with another nite of madness to remember.
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Flyer:
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 - 
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Region:
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London
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Music:
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Hard Trance. HardStyle. Hard House. Tribal House.
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DJ's:
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DFQ
Sol Ray
Dave Randall
Max Alien Trax
Captain Tinrib Live (NZ!?) (Performing His Live Show With 6 New Unreleased Tracks)
Weirdo Live (UK) (The Legend Is Back Performing His Groundbreaking Classic Tinrib Anthems)
Superfast Oz
Karim
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