Dexter Jones

Carl Cox closed the historic opening of UNVRS Ibiza with Rue Jay's track, and Rue had absolutely no idea it was going to happen!

This wasn't just another night in Ibiza. It was the very first night of UNVRS, the spectacular new superclub created following the takeover and transformation of the legendary Privilege Ibiza, once the world's largest nightclub.

And as Carl Cox brought his extended opening set to a close, with the sun rising over Ibiza, he chose to finish with a track by Birmingham DJ and producer Rue Jay.

The incredible part? Rue hadn't even sent Carl Cox the track!

In Part 1 of the Dexter Jones Podcast, Rue tells me the extraordinary story of how he discovered what had happened, and why that moment meant so much after years away from the music industry.

We also travel back through Birmingham's legendary clubbing history, from Godskitchen and Sundissential to The Steering Wheel, the Rainbow and RocknRolla.

Rue shares his journey from carrying boxes of vinyl around Birmingham hoping for a DJing opportunity to promoting hugely successful club nights, taking RocknRolla to Ibiza and eventually stepping away from music to build his Vivid Ink tattoo business.

We discuss the changing music industry, working with Premier League footballers, the pressures of running events and the moment Rue rediscovered his love of DJing.

It's a fascinating journey through British dance music history, entrepreneurship, Ibiza and the extraordinary moments that remind us why we fell in love with this music in the first place.

Chapters: 

00:00 Introduction: Carl Cox, UNVRS and Rue Jay's Comeback
00:57 Welcome to the Dexter Jones Podcast
01:14 Carl Cox Closes UNVRS with Rue Jay's Track
03:21 The Phone Call That Changed Everything
04:09 Discovering Carl Cox Really Played His Track
06:40 Rue Jay's Early Musical Influences
07:42 The Prodigy Experience and Electronic Music
08:28 Birmingham's Early Clubbing Scene
09:37 Godskitchen, Trance and The Steering Wheel
11:00 Learning to DJ with Paul Thomas
12:52 What Made Birmingham Clubbing So Special?
13:25 Clubavision and Lost Clubbing Archives
15:43 From DJ to Promoter: Club DNA
17:38 The DJ Opportunity That Changed Everything
18:33 Advice for Aspiring DJs
21:08 The Legendary Steering Wheel Residency
22:40 Hard House and Speed Garage
26:00 Building Birmingham's Club Nights
29:33 Mud Club and the Rise of Afterparties
30:45 Creating RocknRolla at The Rainbow
32:14 Taking RocknRolla to Ibiza
36:04 Life Beyond Music: Building Vivid Ink
38:15 Tattooing Premier League Footballers
39:43 Why Rue Jay Stepped Away from DJing
40:44 The Gig That Reignited His Passion
42:05 Charity Raves and Roller Jam
44:02 The Reality of Owning a Venue
45:00 The Risks and Pressures of Promoting Events
45:53 How COVID Devastated the Events Industry

This is Part 1 of my conversation with Rue Jay. Part 2 is coming next week!

If you enjoy genuine conversations about Ibiza, dance music, clubbing history and the people behind the scene, please subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast.

Question for the comments: Were you at Privilege Ibiza back in the day, or have you experienced the new UNVRS? I'd love to hear your memories!

Thanks for watching!

Dexter 💛

What really happened the day the legendary Space Ibiza terrace came to life? And what made the great clubs of the 1990s and 2000s so extraordinary?

In the third and final part of my conversation with Dave Beer, the legendary founder of Back to Basics, we explore some fascinating stories from the history of British and Ibiza clubbing.

Dave shares an incredible first-hand account of being at Space Ibiza when Brandon, Alex, Mitch and the team decided to carry the club's only set of DJ decks outside, one at a time, and set them up on the terrace bar. A simple decision that helped create one of the most iconic dancefloors in clubbing history.

We also revisit the extraordinary world of Manumission, where music, theatre, lighting and outrageous performances combined to create something completely different from anything else on the island.

But this conversation goes much further than Ibiza.

Dave talks about the evolution of Back to Basics, his initial reluctance to embrace daytime clubbing, and the incredible response when people returned to the dancefloor after 10, 15 or even 20 years away.

We explore his approach to nightclub design, the influence of New York's legendary Sound Factory, the importance of sound and lighting, and why creating the perfect atmosphere involves far more than simply booking a great DJ.

There's also a fascinating conversation about Dave's music production, his album released through Steve Mac's label, his connection with Irvine Welsh, and how his experiences with Buddhism, spirituality and travelling in the Amazon have shaped his outlook on life.

From the madness of Manumission to the magic of the Space terrace, this is a conversation about music, creativity, friendship, personal growth and a lifetime spent bringing people together.

Chapters: 

00:00 The Birth of the Legendary Space Ibiza Terrace
01:17 Dave Beer, Banksy and His Love of Art
02:15 Back to Basics: Taking the Leeds Club to Ibiza
04:29 How Back to Basics Changed After Lockdown
05:19 The Rise of Daytime Clubbing and Day Parties
08:02 Dave Beer's Music, Steve Mac and Irvine Welsh
10:41 Robert Owens, For the Beloved and Buddhism
11:53 Serendipity, Synchronicity and Life's Lessons
14:00 DMT, Psychedelics and Consciousness
17:40 Dave Beer's Ayahuasca Experiences in the Amazon
18:43 Owning Nightclubs and the Business of Clubbing
20:20 Creating the Perfect Club: Sound, Lighting and Visuals
23:06 New York's Sound Factory and the Art of Clubbing
23:32 Manumission Ibiza: Theatre, Music and Madness
25:33 Dave Beer as a Space Ibiza and Manumission DJ
26:45 We Love Sundays at Space Ibiza
27:14 How the Space Ibiza Terrace Really Began
29:10 Dave Beer's Philosophy on Music, Life and Clubbing
31:44 One More Tune: Dave Beer's Final Record Choice

In this episode:

- The incredible story behind the beginnings of the Space Ibiza terrace
- Dave's experiences at Manumission and We Love Sundays
- Back to Basics and the rise of daytime clubbing
- Why the best nightclubs were about much more than music
- The influence of New York's Sound Factory
- Working with Steve Mac and the story behind Dave's album
- Buddhism, spirituality and Dave's experiences in the Amazon
- Why Dave still believes in creating unforgettable experiences

A huge thank you to Dave for sharing his stories so openly across this three-part series. It's been an absolute pleasure.

DAVE BEER | BACK TO BASICS | Episode 2

What happens when the party becomes bigger than anyone ever imagined? And what happens when the man behind it all finds himself facing some of life's darkest moments?

In Part 2 of my conversation with legendary Back to Basics founder Dave Beer, we explore the extraordinary highs, devastating lows and unforgettable characters behind one of Britain's most influential club nights.

Dave speaks openly and emotionally about losing his close friend and business partner Ali, the difficult years that followed, and how grief led him down a path of reckless behaviour and self-destruction.

But this is also a story of resilience, friendship and the incredible community that grew around Back to Basics.

From three generations sharing the same dance floor to couples meeting, falling in love and starting families, Dave reflects on how a nightclub became something far greater than just a place to dance.

We also discuss the philosophy that made Back to Basics different, its uncompromising attitude and why Dave still believes they did things better than anybody else.

Chapters:
00:00 Coming Up
02:01 The Back to Basics Community
03:33 Discovering and Developing DJ Talent
04:27 Two Steps Further Than Anybody Else
05:06 Why Dave Beer Is Always Searching for New Music
07:14 Remembering Alli and Andrew Weatherall
08:31 Keeping Back to Basics Alive After Tragedy
10:37 Why Clubbing Communities Matter
11:11 Why Back to Basics Rejected the Superclub Label
11:58 The Music Industry and Major Record Labels
14:49 Has Clubbing Really Changed?
15:57 Remembering the Early Days of DC10 Ibiza
17:44 Dave Beer's Unfinished Podcast and Rare Footage
19:46 Ralph Lawson and the First Back to Basics Record
20:31 The DJs Who Built Back to Basics
22:50 Imposter Syndrome and DJing at Space Ibiza
24:55 The Rise of the Superstar DJ
25:17 Pre-Recorded DJ Sets and Million-Dollar Fees
26:29 Why Superstar DJs Should Support New Talent
28:45 The Truth About Ghost Production
32:40 Is Dance Music Losing Its Soul?
35:17 The Power of Music and Frequencies
36:18 Lisa Lashes and Music for Relaxation
41:10 Dave Beer's Recovery and the Support He Received
42:30 Changing Your Lifestyle After Cancer

Welcome to Part One of my special mini-series with Dave Beer, the legendary co-founder of Back to Basics and one of the most recognisable characters in UK club culture.

In this opening episode, Dave takes us right back to the beginning.

We talk about discovering house music in America, walking through those famous plastic sheets at The Haçienda, and the inspiration that eventually led to the birth of Back to Basics.

What started with around 80 people grew week after week, becoming one of Europe’s longest-running weekly club nights, with Dave at the helm every Saturday for 20 years.

Dave also tells the brilliant story of how, before business cards and booking agents, he would write his phone number on a $50 bill, pass it across the DJ booth and tell the DJ: 

“That’s your deposit.”

But this conversation goes much deeper than clubbing.

Dave opens up about the four-and-a-half centimetre tumour that came frighteningly close to his spine, as well as the horrific road accident in which he says he died before being brought back.

This is the story of Dave Beer and Back to Basics, but it’s also the story of an extraordinary life lived well outside the ordinary.

And this is only Part One.

Part Two coming soon.

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast, drop a comment below and let me know your memories of Back to Basics.

Chapters: 

00:00 Coming Up
01:53 Dave Beer on Surviving Cancer
04:00 From Roadie to Club Culture
05:14 Discovering House Music in America
06:38 The Hacienda Changed Everything
08:32 The UK Rave Explosion
11:17 Charlie Chester & the Early Days
13:15 The Birth of Back to Basics
15:30 Building a Legendary Club
18:01 The Music of Back to Basics
20:39 Two Steps Further Than Any Other Fucker
21:42 The Iconic Back to Basics Artwork
24:46 Bringing American DJs to the UK
26:01 The $50 DJ Booking Trick
27:02 Dave Beer’s Unfinished Book
30:28 Finding Buddhism
34:28 How Buddhism Helped Dave Through Cancer
36:27 Given a 5% Chance of Survival
40:15 Finding Strength in Other People
42:11 “This Isn’t the First Time I’ve Died”
42:53 The Car Crash That Changed Everything
44:24 Two Weeks in a Coma
46:00 The Strange World Inside a Coma
48:08 Dyslexia, Knowledge & Altered States
50:12 20 Years of Back to Basics
52:25 What Made Back to Basics So Special?
55:36 How Club Culture Has Changed
57:48 Synchronicity, Spirituality & Life

DJ Rap is synonymous with jungle and drum & bass, but that’s only part of her story.

In Part 2 of our conversation, we go beyond jungle and uncover the other side of DJ Rap’s extraordinary career.

She talks openly about signing to a major label, the backlash she received for stepping outside the boundaries of jungle, and how her career suddenly exploded in America. From Coachella and performing alongside David Bowie and Green Day, to New York Fashion Week and landing a huge Calvin Klein campaign, this was a completely different world.
But behind the success were some difficult lessons. DJ Rap explains why she believes she had the wrong management around her, why Sony wanted to turn her into a pop artist, and how an electronic album she wanted to release was rejected.

We also dive deep into something many UK clubbers may not realise:

DJ RAP PLAYS HOUSE.

She spent years playing house across America, held a residency at Crowbar Miami, played marathon sets including eight hours at Burning Man, and has been producing and releasing house music for decades.

DJ Rap explains why she’d love to return to the house circuit, her passion for classic house and the Toolroom era, and why being booked for the right crowd in the right room makes all the difference.

Plus, we talk about her 22 years in America, returning to the UK, rebuilding her career, creating her online community, the story behind the name DJ Rap, promoters, social media and the records she’d choose to close the perfect night.

This is DJ Rap: Beyond Jungle.

00:00 They Wanted Me to Go Pop
03:20 Major Label Backlash & Leaving Jungle Behind
06:45 Coachella, David Bowie & Green Day
10:15 Sony, America & the Calvin Klein Campaign
14:30 22 Years in America
18:10 Coming Back to the UK
21:15 Where the Name DJ Rap Came From
24:00 Beyond Jungle: DJ Rap Plays House
28:00 Crowbar Miami & Burning Man
32:15 DJs, Promoters & Playing to the Right Crowd
35:10 The Last Record of the Night