Steve Proctor
Steve ProctorMy involvement with music began about 1972 when I bought my first record. It was "Son of my Father" by Chicory Tip (you may know it better as a famous 70's football chant) and was in fact the start of my fascination with synthesisers and all things electronica.
My professional involvement with music began in 1980, when I took a job as the resident DJ at a "Roxy/Bowie" night in Liverpool . This was after spending the previous four years as a regular at Erics, Brady's and various other alternative music clubs. Over the next five years, I established myself on the New Romantic/Futurist scene, as one of the most successful and high profile DJs in the country, with a reputation for breaking a number of bands that went on to huge pop stardom including Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Ultravox, The Human League, Heaven 17 and ABC. During that time I branched out into management and live gig promotion. It was during this time that I auditioned to be a presenter of "The Tube" and brought Frankie Goes To Hollywood to the attention of the programme. In actual fact I was one of the last four people to audition at Tyne Tees TV which consisted of me interviewing Jules Holland and reviewing ET to camera. I facilitated the filming of Frankie at the State ballroom where I was the resident DJ for a number of years on the hugely successful Thursday night.
I was known to play everything from The Cramps to early House. It was a true forerunner to what became the Balearic/House music scene. It was during this time I turned down the residency at Amnesia before Alfredo got the gig (Just ask Sid). The State was also where I promoted such acts as New Order (supported by James â€" That cost me 50 quid!), Big Audio Dynamite, Sigue Sigue Sputnik, Howard Devoto and Divine and also had PA's from a young Jeremy Healy (aka Hayzee Fantayzee) and Dead or Alive.
In January 1987, I moved to London to work for Polydor Records. Responding to the rare groove movement in London at the time I set up a label called "Urban" and had immediate success with the re-release of a number of Rare Groove classics such as Maceo and the Macks "Cross The Tracks", The Jackson Sisters "I Believe in Miracles", Bobby Byrd "I Know You Got Soul" and Roy Ayres "Can't you see me". I also compiled Urban Classics Vol 1 & 2 and managed British Rap artist, Derek B, and the original Soul to Soul vocalist, Rose Windross (negotiating the deal for Fair Play).
I left Polydor in the summer of 1987 to return to my first love - DJing. I remember clearly driving Paul Oakenfold to Liverpool from the Prestatyn Soul Weekender on Saturday morning when he told me how he wanted to start a night full of alternative and Balaeric music just like Ibiza. I told him that it was nothing different than alternative DJ's across the country had been doing for ages but I would support him if he tried it in London (a brave move).
I was one of the small number of DJs who started the Balearic/ Acid House Scene, the effects and influence of which are still felt twenty years on. I worked at Shoom with Danny Rampling (my first night being to rescue the spirit of the night after Cold Cut). Having played at the early Boys Own parties with Andy Wetherall and Terry Farley, The Hacienda with Mike Pickering and numerous parties with Paul Oakenfold and Love at the Wag where I was resident DJ with Dave Dorrell as my warm up, I headlined the first two legendary Sunrise parties. I have been a guest DJ right across the UK , playing at Most Excellent, Back to Basics, Luvdup, Slam, Golden and Quadrant Park amongst numerous others, as well as running two very successful clubs in London , Promised Land and Better Days. The guests who played at Better Days reads like a who's who of DJs and Includes most of the DJs mentioned above as well as John Kelly, Justin Robertson, John Digweed, Jon Dasilva and Kelvin Andrews
I very quickly started to make records to feed the scene and released music under the names, Technodelia, Precinct 13, Better Days and The Better Days Project.
I have more than 50 remixes to my credit, including The Mock Turtles "Can You Dig It ?" (eat your heart out Norman), Soho "Hippychick", China Crisis "African and White", Pete Wylie, The Railway Children, JBC, BoysWonder, C-Force, Neutron 9000, YBU, Candyland and many more. I also had a label called Better Days, which released tracks by myself and other artists including C-Force, Museka, The Disco Universe Orchestra, Marshall Hain, Mahalia, and 2 Fabiola. Most of the releases included mixes I did.
I eventually retired from the music business in 2000, when my son, Tom, was diagnosed with Autism, in order to concentrate on looking after him. I have, however, continued to DJ, and have been resident at a bar in Shoreditch (The Drunken Monkey) in London for the past 3 years, as well as playing at Faith, The Egg, and other club nights and old school house nights in Liverpool and London . I still has a genuine love and excitement for playing music to move people.
My passion for, and experience in music spans three and a half decades and a number of significant musical movements.
