Started DJing ;
‘88 bedroom, ‘91 Clubland (sorry Chris to nick your phrases !!!)

Music Style ;
I initially started mixing Italian House music in my bedroom. Once in the clubland arena I turned to US garage and UK house music and have probably around 6000 records from the late ‘80s to around ’97. Outside of DJing, I like a number of different styles of music, from Kaiser Chiefs to Faith Evans !!!

How my journey began ;
In my early teens I used to be into break-dancing (yes I was that man down the Hounds Hill Shopping Centre having ‘battles’ !!!). Obviously, this used to drive my early choice of music, from all the Elektro compilations, including Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel to Afrika Bambatta.

When I was a bit older I started going to Shaboo/Eureka (these were at Jenks bar prior to Zone taking over in the early ‘90s), Just Ji’s and other similar dance nightclubs. This is when I became hooked with the music and the atmosphere.

I then went out a spent some of my hard earn apprenticeship cash on some belt drive turntables and a little “Realistic” mixer from Stewarts Radio. After around 6 months I went out a bought my Technics 1210’s and a Vestax mixer (must have had a pay rise at the time !!!).

I started buying all my vinyl from Debbie and Phil at Melody House and eventually got a job in Zone in ’90, as a lighting jock, alongside Chris. Chris and I then got regular weekly DJ slots as the Happy House DJ’s (including DJ Phil Harmonic). Chris then moved on to later in the night and I became the regular garage/house DJ until I left in ’97.

I remember some great nights working with the likes of Barrie Jay, Chris Baker, Matt Bell,
John J, Andy D, Andy Pendle, Lee Taylor and the MC’s Irie, Breeze and Wizard.
There are more DJ’s I’ve worked with but it is with these DJ’s mentioned that I had the most memorable times. We took Zone across the northwest from club to club, but I would have to say the most magical times were back in the Jenks bar, Blackpool.

In the later years of Zone (‘95/’96) we formed The Maximum Spell and travelled around the northwest doing a variety of gigs. Once again, some proud moments from working in the studio in Huddersfield to actually getting your tracks pressed onto vinyl.

I hung up my headphones in ’97 (other than a few party’s hear and there), my liver and kidney’s couldn’t take anymore !!!


A few clubs and events to mention, from what I can remember ;

Promises, Blackpool
Zone at Jenks Bar, Blackpool
Zone V Jooce at the Palace, Blackpool
All-nighter at the Empire, Morecambe
Hyper-Gogo at Illusions, Blackpool
Zone at Sequins, Blackpool
Zone at the Venue, Blackpool
Zone at Gold, Liverpool
Zone at the Pagoda, Carlisle
Zone at the Shack, Preston
Zone at the Dance Factory, Preston

My best DJ experience ;
Working with some very talented DJ’s (as mentioned earlier) and having a really good laugh.

My worst DJ experience ;
As with Chris, total sound system failures seemed to be a regular occurrence through the early days, drunken MCing at the end of the night when MC Irie was nowhere to be seen and finally when I donned the suit of the Phantom Flan Flinger (all happy days !!!).

My future ;
Until recently, and Phil from Melody House asked me to do a Zone reunion night I haven’t been DJing at all. I’ve still got all my records, my turntables and mixer are set up in my teenage daughter’s bedroom (long may the Dean name stay in the limelight !!!). I would like to take a more active role in DJing again, be it old skool reunions or any new nights. It is about time I picked up my headphones on a more regular basis.

I’m really looking forward to the forthcoming Zone 3rd Birthday Party Reunion at Klub DNA, Blackpool on Friday the 23rd Sep’t.