I saw Benni Benassi last year in Vegas and 10 minutes into his set he got a huge nosebleed. For at least 30 min he was dealing with that and the manager yelling at him and no one was djing.
If I wasn't watching the stage, I wouldn't have had a clue anything happened because the music didn't miss a beat. the manager shouldn't have been mad about his coke/bleeding habit, she should have been mad that he was getting paid $$$$$$$ to do nothing.
Seems like DJ's have the same scam going as modern artists.....it's not necessarily what they create, it's more about creating and selling a personality as a tastemaker......who is the Mark Kostabi of DJ's?
Seems like DJ's have the same scam going as modern artists record dealers...it's not necessarily what they create, it's more about creating and selling a personality as a tastemaker
I kid, I kid.
Seriously, though: I'm a firm believer in the old saying (George Bernard Shaw? Montaigne? Vic Tayback? one of them dudes) that "All professions are conspiracies against the laity." The numbers might have more zeroes, and it might sting a little more when there's music involved (because none of these paid dudes could possibly love it as much as we do, right?), but the idea that DJs or modern artists or record dealers or quarterbacks or whoever are scamming anyone any more or less than the dude who cuts your hair (or who would, you damn hippie) is one I tend to file under Protesting Too Much, Methinks.
Let me avail you of a few facts, as opposed to second-hand opinions that are based largely on personal prejudice (not that you're not entitled to those things - just be aware of what they are, that's all).
Carl Cox (#16) started out as a mobile DJ in the 1970s, before getting onto the soul/funk/r&b circuit (in other words, playing "modern" when it was new) and later becoming one of the best house and techno DJs in the south of England, and later Europe. This is a guy who's been doing it probably since before you were born.
Paul Oakenfold (#2) used to run Def Jam's UK office in the early 80s. Before that he ran a record pool/promotions company and did some freelance a&r alongside DJing and running club nights. He was there at ground zero of the whole acid house/Ibiza rave thing, and along with about four or five other guys, has a legitimate claim to having actually invented the thing.
Judge Jules (#7) used to run the Family Funktion/Shake & Fingerpop warehouse parties alongside Norman Jay that were central to the London rare groove scene of the mid-80s. He DJ'ed on the London pirate station Kiss-FM, and stayed with it when it went legal in 1990, by which time he was one of the biggest names on the house circuit in the south of England.
The Chemical Brothers (#15) started out as DJs in Manchester in 1990 where they ran their own Naked Under Leather parties. In 1994, they were residents at The Sunday Social, a shortlived and hugely influential party in the basement of a Central London boozer that was roadblocked every Sunday night for three months. I know this because I went to most of them.
I can tell you similar stories about Pete Tong, Sasha, Jon Digweed and, believe it or not, Fatboy Slim as well (who probably owes his career to the Chemical Brothers, for what that's worth), but I'm sure you get my point. Really, it doesn't matter whether you or I or anyone else thinks those guys play "lowest common denominator" music, because the fact is they've earned the right to do that. I'm sure some of them have reached the level they're at partly as a result of good PR, although for you to turn your nose up at that implies that you think DJs shouldn't promote themselves. But all I know is that when I used to stand in the same Hacienda queue as Sasha back before he got the residency at Shelley's in Stoke-on-Trent that made his name, even then I'd see kids point him out and talk in awed tones about what an amazing DJ he was. So that's one guy I know that made his name on good old-fashioned word of mouth.
Like I said, you're entitled to your opinions and your prejudices, but right now, with your "I've never heard of any of these guys, so they must all be frauds with artificially-inflated reputations" attitude, you just look like a snob with a massive chip on his shoulder who doesn't really know what he's talking about.
finelikewine"ONCE UPON A TIME, I HAD A VINYL." http://www.discogs.com/user/permabulker 1,416 Posts
DocMcCoy said:
Let me avail you of a few facts, as opposed to second-hand opinions that are based largely on personal prejudice (not that you're not entitled to those things - just be aware of what they are, that's all).
Carl Cox (#16) started out as a mobile DJ in the 1970s, before getting onto the soul/funk/r&b circuit (in other words, playing "modern" when it was new) and later becoming one of the best house and techno DJs in the south of England, and later Europe. This is a guy who's been doing it probably since before you were born.
Would love to hear his anounced Soul, Funk & Disco set at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival. I wonder if he can still do it.
Seems like DJ's have the same scam going as modern artists record dealers...it's not necessarily what they create, it's more about creating and selling a personality as a tastemaker
I kid, I kid.
Seriously, though: I'm a firm believer in the old saying (George Bernard Shaw? Montaigne? Vic Tayback? one of them dudes) that "All professions are conspiracies against the laity." The numbers might have more zeroes, and it might sting a little more when there's music involved (because none of these paid dudes could possibly love it as much as we do, right?), but the idea that DJs or modern artists or record dealers or quarterbacks or whoever are scamming anyone any more or less than the dude who cuts your hair (or who would, you damn hippie) is one I tend to file under Protesting Too Much, Methinks.
I'm by no means protesting...I admire the fuck out of Kostabi or anyone else who can sell themselves!
what's aoki doing in that list ? the 40something brits invested their money in non-music ventures methinks
I wouldn't really know about Aoki too much, although the footage of the pie fight during his set at the Ultra festival leads me to think music mightn't be at the heart of what he does. Isn't he from a wealthy family anyway? Not that it matters, you understand, but it's the kind of thing that opens doors.
Obviously the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and, to a lesser extent, Oakenfold have had successful careers as recording artists. Pete Tong's been a radio DJ for decades, as has Judge Jules. Both ran successful dance labels in the UK for quite some time, as did Oakenfold. All of them have been around and at the top of their field for long enough to be able to command top dollar just for DJing, but they're probably into other things as well now.
finelikewine"ONCE UPON A TIME, I HAD A VINYL." http://www.discogs.com/user/permabulker 1,416 Posts
DocMcCoy said:
Lamont said:
finelikewine said:
Would love to hear his anounced Soul, Funk & Disco set at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival. I wonder if he can still do it.
what's aoki doing in that list ? the 40something brits invested their money in non-music ventures methinks
I wouldn't really know about Aoki too much, although the footage of the pie fight during his set at the Ultra festival leads me to think music mightn't be at the heart of what he does. Isn't he from a wealthy family anyway? Not that it matters, you understand, but it's the kind of thing that opens doors.
Obviously the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and, to a lesser extent, Oakenfold have had successful careers as recording artists. Pete Tong's been a radio DJ for decades, as has Judge Jules. Both ran successful dance labels in the UK for quite some time, as did Oakenfold. All of them have been around and at the top of their field for long enough to be able to command top dollar just for DJing, but they're probably into other things as well now.
Doc, you picked the more credible djs from the list and I agree that they worked hard to get there but I don't agree that their credits from the past do excuse the bosh they are doing now. I've got a lot more respect for djs that havn't watered down their music for being succesful, those who are universally liked because they they "kept it real", for example Harvey, Francois K., Mr. Scruff, Theo Parrish.
I have no doubt many of those dudes deserve the money they have made. Personally, if I made 60 mill off DJing, I would quit and just enjoy life.
Cool story bro interlude:
Once got invited to a top traders house for a genteel party. The house cost 40 million quid.
I said to random guy, "if I had this kind of dough I wouldn't be working any more", to which dude replied "that's why you'll never have this kind of dough".
I have no doubt many of those dudes deserve the money they have made. Personally, if I made 60 mill off DJing, I would quit and just enjoy life.
Cool story bro interlude:
Once got invited to a top traders house for a genteel party. The house cost 40 million quid.
I said to random guy, "if I had this kind of dough I wouldn't be working any more", to which dude replied "that's why you'll never have this kind of dough".
And he was right.
Carry on.
My mate retired at 38 with a good nine figures in the bank - his pet theory is that anyone working past a certain level of wealth is a sociopath whose need to dominate their environment overrides any work ethic or lust for money. Of course, he would say that.
Can your mate come out of retirement to make me some more?
In 25 years of being good friends he's never offered me any wealth advice let alone wealth. I keep telling him it really wouldn't spoil our friendship if he did but he's pretty close to his potatoes. He did take me and my wife out for a ridiculously expensive meal once but other than that we always split any tab. Yeah...
HarveyCanal"a distraction from my main thesis." 13,234 Posts
DocMcCoy said:
Let me avail you of a few facts, as opposed to second-hand opinions that are based largely on personal prejudice (not that you're not entitled to those things - just be aware of what they are, that's all).
Carl Cox (#16) started out as a mobile DJ in the 1970s, before getting onto the soul/funk/r&b circuit (in other words, playing "modern" when it was new) and later becoming one of the best house and techno DJs in the south of England, and later Europe. This is a guy who's been doing it probably since before you were born.
Paul Oakenfold (#2) used to run Def Jam's UK office in the early 80s. Before that he ran a record pool/promotions company and did some freelance a&r alongside DJing and running club nights. He was there at ground zero of the whole acid house/Ibiza rave thing, and along with about four or five other guys, has a legitimate claim to having actually invented the thing.
Judge Jules (#7) used to run the Family Funktion/Shake & Fingerpop warehouse parties alongside Norman Jay that were central to the London rare groove scene of the mid-80s. He DJ'ed on the London pirate station Kiss-FM, and stayed with it when it went legal in 1990, by which time he was one of the biggest names on the house circuit in the south of England.
The Chemical Brothers (#15) started out as DJs in Manchester in 1990 where they ran their own Naked Under Leather parties. In 1994, they were residents at The Sunday Social, a shortlived and hugely influential party in the basement of a Central London boozer that was roadblocked every Sunday night for three months. I know this because I went to most of them.
I can tell you similar stories about Pete Tong, Sasha, Jon Digweed and, believe it or not, Fatboy Slim as well (who probably owes his career to the Chemical Brothers, for what that's worth), but I'm sure you get my point. Really, it doesn't matter whether you or I or anyone else thinks those guys play "lowest common denominator" music, because the fact is they've earned the right to do that. I'm sure some of them have reached the level they're at partly as a result of good PR, although for you to turn your nose up at that implies that you think DJs shouldn't promote themselves. But all I know is that when I used to stand in the same Hacienda queue as Sasha back before he got the residency at Shelley's in Stoke-on-Trent that made his name, even then I'd see kids point him out and talk in awed tones about what an amazing DJ he was. So that's one guy I know that made his name on good old-fashioned word of mouth.
Like I said, you're entitled to your opinions and your prejudices, but right now, with your "I've never heard of any of these guys, so they must all be frauds with artificially-inflated reputations" attitude, you just look like a snob with a massive chip on his shoulder who doesn't really know what he's talking about.
I've reviewed all the resumes and pertinent information and my conclusion is that all of these dudes still suck.
I have no doubt many of those dudes deserve the money they have made. Personally, if I made 60 mill off DJing, I would quit and just enjoy life.
Cool story bro interlude:
Once got invited to a top traders house for a genteel party. The house cost 40 million quid.
I said to random guy, "if I had this kind of dough I wouldn't be working any more", to which dude replied "that's why you'll never have this kind of dough".
And he was right.
Carry on.
Naw, that's some bullshit rich people say to fool themselves into believing they are happy and make the people around them feel like they aren't.
But in all seriousness. I was saying for me personally (hypothetically speaking) were to make 60 mill off DJing. I'd know that probably came at the expense of some important things in my life (relationships, family, friends, etc). I'd get out and start to focus on other things while I still could. But I guess having another 60 million in the bank would make me twice as happy...
Comments
this list makes me want to yak my breakfast
We are measuring wealth in terms of Simpsons quotes, right?
I have no doubt many of those dudes deserve the money they have made. Personally, if I made 60 mill off DJing, I would quit and just enjoy life.
bake him away toys
If I wasn't watching the stage, I wouldn't have had a clue anything happened because the music didn't miss a beat. the manager shouldn't have been mad about his coke/bleeding habit, she should have been mad that he was getting paid $$$$$$$ to do nothing.
Now I'm going to Emmett's Fix-It Shop. To fix Emmett.
I kid, I kid.
Seriously, though: I'm a firm believer in the old saying (George Bernard Shaw? Montaigne? Vic Tayback? one of them dudes) that "All professions are conspiracies against the laity." The numbers might have more zeroes, and it might sting a little more when there's music involved (because none of these paid dudes could possibly love it as much as we do, right?), but the idea that DJs or modern artists or record dealers or quarterbacks or whoever are scamming anyone any more or less than the dude who cuts your hair (or who would, you damn hippie) is one I tend to file under Protesting Too Much, Methinks.
That's adorable
Would love to hear his anounced Soul, Funk & Disco set at Gilles Peterson's Worldwide Festival. I wonder if he can still do it.
I'm by no means protesting...I admire the fuck out of Kostabi or anyone else who can sell themselves!
http://www.mixcloud.com/CarlCox/carl-cox-global-soul-funk-jazz-and-classic-house-xmas-special
what's aoki doing in that list ? the 40something brits invested their money in non-music ventures methinks
I wouldn't really know about Aoki too much, although the footage of the pie fight during his set at the Ultra festival leads me to think music mightn't be at the heart of what he does. Isn't he from a wealthy family anyway? Not that it matters, you understand, but it's the kind of thing that opens doors.
Obviously the Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim and, to a lesser extent, Oakenfold have had successful careers as recording artists. Pete Tong's been a radio DJ for decades, as has Judge Jules. Both ran successful dance labels in the UK for quite some time, as did Oakenfold. All of them have been around and at the top of their field for long enough to be able to command top dollar just for DJing, but they're probably into other things as well now.
Doc, you picked the more credible djs from the list and I agree that they worked hard to get there but I don't agree that their credits from the past do excuse the bosh they are doing now. I've got a lot more respect for djs that havn't watered down their music for being succesful, those who are universally liked because they they "kept it real", for example Harvey, Francois K., Mr. Scruff, Theo Parrish.
Cool story bro interlude:
Once got invited to a top traders house for a genteel party. The house cost 40 million quid.
I said to random guy, "if I had this kind of dough I wouldn't be working any more", to which dude replied "that's why you'll never have this kind of dough".
And he was right.
Carry on.
My mate retired at 38 with a good nine figures in the bank - his pet theory is that anyone working past a certain level of wealth is a sociopath whose need to dominate their environment overrides any work ethic or lust for money. Of course, he would say that.
"They made more money just playing records by other people than the actual creative people who wrote and made the records" card?
Not that I am about to, I'll counter it with my...
...card.
As I sit at work in a warm office, surfing on the payroll, whilst my dad slugged it out in a chemical yard man-and-boy.
In 25 years of being good friends he's never offered me any wealth advice let alone wealth. I keep telling him it really wouldn't spoil our friendship if he did but he's pretty close to his potatoes. He did take me and my wife out for a ridiculously expensive meal once but other than that we always split any tab. Yeah...
I've reviewed all the resumes and pertinent information and my conclusion is that all of these dudes still suck.
Plaese to include sheep to keep the spark.
Naw, that's some bullshit rich people say to fool themselves into believing they are happy and make the people around them feel like they aren't.
But in all seriousness. I was saying for me personally (hypothetically speaking) were to make 60 mill off DJing. I'd know that probably came at the expense of some important things in my life (relationships, family, friends, etc). I'd get out and start to focus on other things while I still could. But I guess having another 60 million in the bank would make me twice as happy...