Leeds' boy Sheridan is playing a friday nite gig in Leeds soon...........here's a slightly more frank/bizarre interview from the back to basics' message boards with questions posed by basics' regulars. Very very interesting reading
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Thanks for your questions to Tim you've sent us over the last couple of weeks. The answers are below and I think it's probably one of the best DJ interviews you'll read in a long time.
What music would you advise I play, to impress a lady?
- Good one! That Sir, depends entirely upon the quality of the Lady.
Is it true that you once appeared on Blue Peter, masquerading as an American in a tartan suit and claiming to be able to play a tune on any household appliance that was presented to you?
- Yes indeedy and there is video footage. I was called Sheridan Brown and also had a small ballet of remote controlled hoovers. During my mad inventor phase.
And is it true that is was all a sham and you had a duck-whistle in the roof of your mouth all along?
- I don't understand your street jive sonny. It wasn't a sham no. I've had a pretty amusing life. Still have. Sometimes ace things are unbelievable my son, it's what makes them ace.
Do you still have the video of yourself looking rather dapper on Top of the Pops in your moss bros suit?
- Tuxedo please! I made all 12 of us (yes believe it or not there were 12 performers including strings on our tunes, it's a common misconception that the band was sample based) wear tuxedos. It's ****ing TOTP man! got to make an effort innit. My Mum has the video and gets it out for any random visitor. And the Blue Peter one. Yeah tell you what, ask my Mum and Dad if you don't believe some of the weirder things. You'll find them around the Arndale Centre in Headingley. They have a house! I don't mean they're selling the Big issue.
Do you think you'll ever get bored of Ibiza?
- Good question. Not really! I think if you bored of paradise you'd have to be very very cynical. Perhaps a Nathan Barley Hoxton Media w**ker might get bored of great things but not me squire. It's true though that if you are working flat out and travelling and on one all the time you can miss out. I don't do anything healthy or outdoorsy until the winter. No time.
How did the nastydirtysexmusic night at Space come about?
- It was a continuation of nastydirty really that's all. We did the beach parties and made a lot of noise on the Island. We were doing well in London. I'd spoken to Space about doing different music in the Red Room before they'd even finished building it, long before nastydirty was conceived. I think reputation and being talked about is a more important collateral than money on a small island. It was handy for Space that they had some usually fairly expensive DJs (Jo anyway!) in a really small room for peanuts. It made sure that room kicked off and worked from day one. Then after a year we got sort of promoted for good behaviour. We have a nice following in Ibiza from the free beach parties. A big Italian posse, lots of cool freaks. Space got some of that and we were tired of running from the old bill so it helped us too. Gave us a home.
Which DJ's due you aspire too?
- I don't take it that seriously. I aspire to people like my Dad or Richard Burton or something that really matters. In an ideal world you aspire to your parents or a close role model, the whole 'celebrity' and media obession is very unhealthy for our society. It's only a party and you just play records. Don't get me wrong, I love it and I know it's everything to some people but it's easy to lose sight of the real world innit. I think Richard..Mr C is great. Ralph and Wooly are brill. I enjoyed Ricardo Villalobos this year and Clive Henry always makes me cut a rug but aspire is not a word I think about really. I suppose I've been at it so long I do most of it instinctively. I don't hear other DJs outside of the season in Ibiza much. I hear the records before the Dj know what I mean?
Which are the best and worst nights you ever played at?
- I always say Leeds Love Parade so I'll try another...er . Millenium doing the main room midnight set at Home was ace. New Years eve at Basics a while ago was memorable. Worst...not sure. There are some very big places and nights that can be flat as a pancake. Oh wait..I tell you one. We were due to play live at Homelands with Dope Smugglaz. We'd paid a fortune for our singer Angela who was from Tricky's band and the Stereo MCs, AND Boots who was a rapper from L.A who was brilliant. Dead political lyrics. Anyway...it was the full show. I'd been practising like **** I was so site and rusty on the bass. The biggest gig for us so far as a live act anyway. So we're on after Public Enemy and there is like 4 or 5 thousand people and the place is jumping and it's been ****ing it down so it's rammed and there is a stream flowing down the middle. Anyway Public Enemy are amazing and we are all psyched right up and nervous and we walked out on stage and there were like a few hundred left. I mean to put it in context that's like having 50 people in Ministry. Empty. I know what you're thinking! it's funny because people just ****ed off after Public Enemy and weren't interested in us but it's not that. I mean the weather was so sh*t the place would have stayed full if Chaz and Dave were due on next. No, unbeknowst to us in the half hour or whatever between us and them...****ing Jeremy Healy was on... and totally drove every ****er out into a downpour it was that bad. He came up after and was like "alright lads" and our manager Jon who is a very aggressive glaswegian goes "**** OFF sh*tE DJ!" really loud and Jeremy's bird goes.."You can't talk to him like that he's Jeremy Healy!" and our manager shouts "**** OFF! GIRLFRIEND OF sh*tE DJ!". It lightened an otherwise disasterous moment. Bad enough for you?
What do you think of Tiesto?
- As Midge Ure once sang...it means nothing to me. He's a nice enough chap.
Who are your top 3 producers of 2005?
- It's tricky as all my favourite stuff is one off things, so I need to find some consistent types.... Tom Mangan is brilliant AKA Cass and Mangan. I think Mike Monday has a unique sound and is consistent. I love 'Simple Kid' and 'Cornelius' but neither of them are 'dance'. George..actually SIR George Martin is my fave producer. Always.
What are your favourite crisps?
- I've gone dead organic so I'm off the crisps. Weaning myself off them with Methadone.
What do you think were the key decisions and moments in your life that made you as successful as you are now?
- Successful!? might appear so but it's a very relative term. I'm 'relevant' again but struggling for cash like everyone. It's a common myth that we are all different from each other. I don't know anyone big or small who isn't neck deep in debts or responsibilities. Our society is very poorly.
Key decisions? not a bad question. I think it's a combination of timing and effort. Opportunities happen all the time to everyone and I think small fears hold people back from jumping into new things. I've never been afraid of upping sticks and looking for life. I move around constantly and I think that's part of it. It's good to learn stuff. I watch people like a hawk to learn things and I think also it's good to be nice and get on with people which has a lot more to do with 'success' than it's given credit for. Moments in life? I dunno...I believe we all have momentous ocassions but sometimes you don't realise it till you look back. I think the unifying thing is a lack of fear. I'm lucky my Mum and Dad really gave me a great start and I never ever thought I couldn't do something. It's not 'confidence' it's more a kind of not thinking you are excluded. I never thought "oh I play classical music so I can't be in a rock band " kind of thing. I just have a go. Having as go is a good way to make opportunities into new successes. It's what the Punks taught us. That and spitting.
How much money have you got in your pocket right now?
- Someone just paid back a loan and I went out immediately and bought a daft great big DVD box set of every Laurel and Hardy ever made. Spunked the lot. So nowt now! This lad came up to me in Basics years ago and goes "buy us a drink Sheridan you must be loaded" and I was like, well apart from it being tremendously rude it was tremendously wrong. So I got him to empty his pockets and he had like 80 quid or something and I had about 20 pence. At that time if a mate like Beero didn't get me a freebie I went thirsty. But everyone thinks you are minted. Doesn't anyone realise it isn't like that at all. You can be a number one and still owe a record company thousands. I'm a financial retard too which doesn't help. Head in the clouds.
What was your role in the Utah Saints?
- Ah! the masters! My role? village idiot. The Utahs were a lot more than a band. Like the above question about big events I wouldn't be the person I am now without Jez Willis, Tim Garbutt and Keith Langley. They taught me how to DJ and about the biz a lot. I first met them when I won a dancing contest at one of their nights. Millions of years ago upstairs in the Merrion Centre. I'm no John Travolta I think I won as biggest idiot. Over the years we chatted and plotted and had a beezer wheeze. Not a drug in sight! honestly. I was a DJ for the spin off club nights they started, in Leeds and London. The Dope Smugglaz was originally The Utahs and Keith Binner with myself, a 4 man production team. To much work so we divided the work and Binner and me became the Dope Smugglaz branch. Basically there's a lot of people prominent in the UK industry and especially Leeds who would not be where they are today without the kindness and success of them Utah Saints lads. Salute them! also their Sugabeat Breaks nights are massive now. They are still right at it proper. At the Elbow rooms Leeds and in Edinburgh I believe. I owe the Utahs big time.
How did you & Roger (from the Peephouse) become best mates?
- We're not. I can't get rid of him.
No, joking obviously. I can't remember it's clouded in the jurassic mist..... Roger (Lord Faversham, famous local Lord and nitwit) used to be a really miserable git so I used to go to the Fav and make him hug me and take gear and have a laugh. After some years of persistance he started having a good time and doesn't seem to able to stop! he'll explode in cloud of pleasure next year. He's simply the best person, I know he'd take a bullet for me and it's fully mutual. I dunno, you just get on with some people so much because they are as odd as you are and it makes you feel like you're not the only freak in the village I suppose. Also in our separate lives we've had some pretty major dramas and upheavals and we were there to help the other one through them and after you've been in the wars a bit you bond stronger afterwards. We've seen each other at our lowest ebb and worst behaved.... and if you still get on with someone after that it can only get better I s'pose. I'm chuffed to be playing at Stinky's on Friday back in Leeds. It's nice to work with your mates. I've not played in Leeds for years which is weird. I have a following in Leeds and play all over the world but never get asked from Leeds. That's going to be good to be back. See you on friday I hope!
What's your biggest regret?
- right now it's several Smokin Jo related disasters on my part but I honestly can't think of too many really big ones.
Rampling or Woolford?
- equally charming gentlemen.
Angelina Jolie or Jessica Alba?
- I've enjoyed the latter's economy domestic electrical appliances in the past...something of an Albadross round my neck (ho ho)
CDs or records?
- Music mate. It's just a medium to carry music.
Space or DC10?
- DC10 is the standard for clubs everywhere. Personally I don't think it would kill them to vary the music a bit but it's my one sole observation. Space rocks but DC10 never fails. It's all about continuity. People want to know something will be specifically ace at a certain time. No risk, guaranteed quality.
Sausages or bacon?
- As refreshment or weapon? Bacon's sharper than a blunt cumberland when thrown. Tricky one...mmmmm
Sasha or Digweed?
- Can't tell.
Gin or vodka?
- Both with Jamaican Ginger beer, half a crushed lime and fully loaded pipe.
Leeds or Ibiza?
- Woooo good one. What do you think?
Trance or Hard House?
- Both are sh*t, my child.
Football or rugby?
- I find all competitive activities completely beyond my grasp. I played both but the interest ends when the game does. I'm not much of a spectator, I'm a do-er, of sorts.
Fast cars or fast women?
- Do I want to get away from a bank or win the women's 400 metres?
Love or money?
- If you have to ask you'll never know.
Miami or Barcelona?
- I truly hate America. I dearly love Barcelona. You know... just putting the word 'hate' and 'america' together will probably have some bells ring and a sinister nerd in Langley Virginia flag this interview up and a trace programme put on you all. I'm not joking.
Sunset or sunrise?
- I've seen paintings but never experienced either in the flesh.
What do you plan to do after DJing?
- Have a nice sit down.
Who would you most like to work with?
- Women. Just doesn't seem to work so far.
Sven would like to know if you will be singing the star wars song?
(apparently you will understand this....??!)
- It's Star Trek actually. I'll sing for tuppence like the cheap performing monkey-whore I am and it's no secret. I'm from a VERY Irish background so it doesn't take much to get me up singing if I'm well ****ed. It's most embarassing but beyond my control you see. Sorry and all that.
Tim is doing his performing whore monkey thing at Stinky's Peephouse on Friday.
