Rob Tissera Interview

"Let us admit that we have attended parties where for one brief night a republic of gratified desires was attained. Shall we not confess that the politics of that night have more reality and force than those of, say, the entire US government?"
 
- Hakim Bey - anarchist philosopher
 
In the UK, meet up with a few friends in the park and slam on a tape and technically speaking, you're breaking a serious law. Luckily your average cop has more on his mind and is unlikely ever to use such broad-reaching legislation against you. The law in question forbids people spontaneously grouping together in public for any purpose. It's not one of these ancient daft rules that say's you can't eat custard on a Thursday; it was passed in 1994. It is the criminal injustice act, one of the most repressive measures ever passed by a modern democratic government. Part of it specifically refers to people coming together to listen to music, taking particular care to define music so that it includes dance music.
  An earlier law, the 1990 Bright Act, which imposed penalties of up to £20,000 and six months' imprisonment for anyone throwing an unlicensed party, was responsible for the biggest mass arrest in British history. Just a week after this law was passed; police violently arrested 836 clubbers dancing in a warehouse near Leeds. Those arrested were driven away in a fleet of specially hired coaches, many were hurt but only 17 were charged. That night, the DJ, Rob Tissera, felt compelled to grab the mic and command the party to barricade the doors and carry on partying, he was jailed for three months.
 
This sacrifice was instrumental in the changing of the UK law, pushing the nightclubs opening hours well into the early hours - legally. Rob Tissera, we salute you.
 
Many of you will be familiar with Rob as one the best known names in the UK hard dance scene. Find him at Slinky, Sundissential, Godskitchen, Gatecrasher or Cream, Rob has been round the block and indeed the world more than twice. Hop in a time machine and we could be lucky enough to party with him in what was the most famous nightclub in the world, The Hacienda.
 
Rob took some time out of his busy schedule of promoting, producing & international DJ dates to chat to me in my kitchen.
 
 
LUKE
 
Belated felicitations, jubilations, celebrations and salutations for your recent birthday.
 
ROB
 
Thanks for that, cheers mate.
 
LUKE
 
You did a guest slot on Radio 1's essential selection that night; didn't you fancy a night in with a few tins and a balti?
 
ROB
 
It was an amazing experience playing to so many people across the world. I had so many supportive emails and txts, the feedback was excellent it was really fun so no, I definitely didn't!!
 
LUKE
 
How does DJing on the radio differ to playing in front of an audience? It must be a very bizarre experience..
 
ROB
 
I used to do Kiss & Galaxy for 2 years so I'm versed in the way it works. It wasn't a new experience, you have to imagine when u play those records that you want people to run from the kitchen to the living room to start jumping on the sofa and people in the cars are going from 80 mph to 120 mph because the music is just making them drive faster!! Or people are getting ready to go out and are shouting at there radio saying 'I love this record!!!' You have to imagine the scenes and where people will be tuned in and how they will react to hearing some classic records. It's fun.
 
LUKE
 
I rang Madders at Godskitchen HQ about a week ago and his answer phone message mentioned Polysexual with 'big knockers Lisa (lashes) Randy Andy (Farley) and Baldy Bobby, was he referring to you?
 
ROB
 
Yes he was hahahaha
 
LUKE
 
I was 8 years old when 'acid' house blew up in the north; you were a clubber then later a DJ, experiencing the illegal rave scene closer than many. What were those parties like?
 
ROB
 
Probably some of the bet times in my life, its 10,000 people who had found a disused airstrip and took it over to create there own party with very little in the light and sound, just a gathering. It was revolutionary!! There was a couple of thousand vehicles in a convey heading down the motorway and the police would be shutting the motorways down, it would chaos. It was very lawless, you would get a call from someone directing you to a motorway junction and then down a country B road and then you'd get out and someone with a torch would guide you down a dirt track and eventually you would find a warehouse that was throbbing and pulsating and it was just, a big party..!
 
LUKE
 
 'Dance music is dying' if it is true, that dance music and the clubbing scene is on the decline, what is killing it?
 
ROB
 
I don't think its heading for a coffin just yet, this weekend I played at lashed at the SE1 club in London.It was a sell out with a 1,000 people locked out.That proves club land isnt dying it's just people are bored of certain styles of music, it's not the music thats dying it's some people who are becoming dinosaurs and have forgotten how to party. 
 
LUKE
 
The word of choice with skiddle.com readers on the message board at the moment is porn, do you raise or frown your eyebrows at that P word..?
 
ROB
 
Never! I'm a fond fan of porn.. 
 
LUKE

What is your favourite place for porn, magazines? DVD's? The Internet?
 
ROB
 
It used to be DVD's but it's a website called Kazaa now, you can get some real muck on there!!
 
LUKE
 
Those boys @ Goodgreef have roped you in to mix their new CD which as if by magic is out this week. Tell me how that brain of yours works on the selection process for a compilation, how may it vary from say a set on the radio or hearing you live at a big party?
 
ROB
 
I've tried to make it as close to a big party as I can - a 100% true representation of what I play out maybe across the styles more than I would live, but I only have 80 minutes so it's a mix of really really hard, nice trance and big moments. It's a big room selection. It's designed purely and simply to get people back in the mood to party when they come in from a club.. It's by no means a chill out CD!!!
 
LUKE
 
What is your 'weapon of choice' in the box at the moment
 
ROB
 
A lot of people are asking me for my collaboration with Vinyl Groover and the Red Head called 'Stay' - The crowd love it. It's great to play out. 
 
LUKE

You're a Londoner, with eclectic cultural roots which for the ease of interview we will trace to London. You came clubbing in the north at the dawn of the illegal rave scene and felt so inspired to come and be part of the scene as a clubber and indeed a DJ.
Why make the move? This is when Paul Oakenfold's Spectrum & Danny Ramplings Shoom, were kick starting in the capital and it must have been a exciting time to be in the 'big smoke'
 
ROB
 
It was an exciting time to be in the big smoke but I had friends in Manchester who I visited one Friday night they took me to the hacienda and it blew my mind! I wanted to be part of it. I moved up to Manchester within a week! The party really was that good.
 
LUKE
 
You were a major factor in changing one law in the UK club scene, could you do it again?!
 
ROB
 
Probably not, I didn't mean to do it  first time around! I was unlucky with going to Jail, it was unfortunate.
 
LUKE
 
What is your biggest complaint with venue's in the UK?
 
ROB
 
Not enough toilets!!
 
LUKE
 
If you were to wave a wand and open your own nightclub, what would make it worth travelling for?
 
ROB
 
The toilets!!  I don't have a club but at my own club night (Kissdafunk) We try to make it as much fun as you can have. We make it like a party used to be, people not afraid to sweat and dance and being too cool, we just throw a party; try to throw the best night of people's lives.
 
LUKE
  
How did you feel when Camden Palace closed?
 
ROB 

It was a very sad day, so many memories for so many people, one of my first clubs I partied at so it has fond memories for me. I have history with it, I can remember parties there before it was a rave venue, but there are new venues now that will give people new memories, the SE1 club on Sunday was an amazing experience with Lashed!

LUKE

How about a tip, I'm looking for a name of a DJ to back for the future, who has the desire, determination and musical creativity to climb the ladder and etch their names into the clubland history books
 
ROB
 
On the funky tip Sonny Wharton and the harder stuff Alex Kidd who is a Good Greef resident, he's just very very talented. He can scratch, play on 3 decks, he produces, this coming year will be very special for him.
 
LUKE 
 
Under the handle Quake, you landed 3 tracks on the Human Traffic soundtrack. Did you feel Human traffic was a movie to shake people and say 'this is us, it's our culture, we do it because it works for us.' Or was it just a laugh, a gimmick if you will.
 
ROB
 
I thought it was fairly represent, tongue in cheek bit of fun that documented the culture and the music that was around at of the moment, A good job and great to be involved with. 
  
LUKE
 
You have a border collie called Harry, I grew up on farms and my old man says that collies are 'working dogs' and are naturally not suited to any other way. How does Harry like life in the fast lane?
 
ROB
 
He loves it, he has no complaints! He probably has more enthusiasm for life than me!
 
LUKE
 
Does he eat pedigree chum?
 
ROB
 
Yeah he does!!
 
LUKE
 
You have started a new monthly club night in Leeds on a 'funky chunky' tip - KissDaFunk, why would you choose to make the move form DJing to promoting, and why choose Leeds?
 
ROB
 
Leeds is where I live and no most people, the promoting was never something that never really appealed to me but I have worked with a lot of promoters over the years and learnt a lot from them. I can have total control of the party. Its new to me to play funky music and I absolutely love it. The night has been a massive success, in Ibiza this season we are teaming up with Garlands on the 3rd of August, Kanya who are probably the legends of Ibiza, We will be doing the party at Eden, in the UK we're collaborating with Garlands in September/October. A joint venture with Passions Red Room sessions on the 5th June and that will be wicked down in Coleville as well as joint ventures with Goodgreef in August! Lots of exciting parties lined up for later on in the year. 
 
LUKE
 
I asked round some friends for questions for you, I got inundated with requests so I drew one out of the hat, tombola style, and it was 'Will you come round to put my shelves up?' That's from my mate Jazzeh in Wolverhampton..
 
ROB
 
I can't I have a girlfriend!!
 
LUKE
 
Last time I saw you was down in Norwich, it was about half 8 in the morning and you were concerned as we had managed to lose your driver Ian, I left the hotel a few hours later on foot in search of Llama's but I still wonder, where did you find him!?!
 
ROB
 
He was in the car waiting, he had fallen asleep!
 
LUKE
 
Very quickly some Q's from Skiddle.com users
 
How long have you been shaving your head - 6-7 years
How tall are you - 5'11"
How long have you been this good looking? - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Why did one guy get your new tune promo'd on CD-R recently? - I haven't got a clue what you're on about!! I didn't promo him; I have no involvement with the promo distribution side of things, that's down to the label.
 
LUKE
 
I was chatting with Garlands Miss A-J last night and she said to pass the message on that you have to call her; she's lost your number and needs to speak to you urgently. 
 
ROB
 
Right o.k. no problem

LUKE
 
What are you going to do now..?
 
ROB
 
Going to the studio, I'm working on the next track. I'm working with Guyver from Tidy Trax, getting everything prepared and then I have to go the bank to get my house keys off my girlfriend.
 
Nice one Rob it's been a pleasure, I'll see you towards the end of the month at Pam's House.
 
Thanks Luke, take it easy on your self.
 
For more information on the new Goodgreef CD mixed by Rob Tissera check www.goodgreef.com
Want to catch Rob live? Check his diary section of the website www.robtissera.com
Fancy a night out at Kissdafunk? Check www.kissdafunk.com