Simon Full Interview

Click to play

Simon.
Simon,
how
old
were
you
at
the
time?
I
was
17
years
old.
And
where
did
you
live
at
the
time?
Preston.
Okay.
Can
you
tell
us
how
you
got
involved?
I
went
on,
I
went
on
holiday
to
Greece.
Met
a
guy
called
Gareth.
Our
families
obviously,
you
know,
got
friendly
while
we
were
there.
It’s
just
one
of
them
holiday
sort
of
things,
you
know.
We
fortunately
stayed
in
contact
with
them
when
we
came
back
to
England.
He
invited
us
out
with
all
his
mates.
He
was
from
Wigan.
And
he
said…
Come
on,
we’re
all
going
out.
We’re
going
to
Wigan
Pier.
I’d
been
a
follower
of
sort
of,
break
dance,
Hip
Hop,
and
Electro
and
all
the
rest
of
it
before
that,
so
I
had
an idea
of what
I
was
going
to,
but
this
Wigan
Pier
night,
it
was
really
sort
of
kicking
off
at
the
time.
We
went
there.
He
said…
We’re
going
to
do
some
acid,
do you
want
in?
I
said,
yeah,
so
we
went
to
Wigan
Pier,
done
some
acid.
It
was…
it
was
a
mental
night.
I
think,
I
can’t
remember
the
DJs
name,
he was
a young
lad.
Anyhow,
they
had
word
that
there
was
something
going
on…
They
knew
about
the
parties
anyway,
and
they
said,
look
we’re
going
to
go
to
this
big
rave
up,
afterwards.
Well,
actually
they
didn’t
call
it
a
rave,
that
was
like
a
thing
that
came
afterwards.
It were
warehouse
party.
I
said…
Yeah,
let’s
go.
So
we
ended
up
in
some
convoys,
and
I
can
remember
the
first
one
we
went
to,
it
was
up
at
Simonstone,
opposite
an
ambulance
depot
up
there.
And
the
warehouse
is
still
actually
there.
But
the
images
I’ve
got
of
when
we
arrived,
is
steam
coming
out
of
all
the
doors,
there was
doors
open,
windows
open,
there
all
steamed
up.
There
was…
it
was
like
somebody
had
a
smoke
machine
inside,
and
there
was
that
much
smoke
coming
out.
There
was
no
heating
in
there.
So
it
was…
that
was
people’s
bodies
putting
out
that
heat.
We
walked
in,
it
was
just
full
of
people,
music,
lights,
dancing.
Remember
there
was an
old
Astra
van
in
there,
that
was
obviously
being
left
in
there
because
wether
it
was
used
or
not
as
a
warehouse,
I
don’t
know.
People
were
dancing
on
the
bonnet,
on
the
roof
and
everything.
It
was
just
absolutely
unbelievable.
So
yeah,
that
was,
that
was
the
first
one.
I know
exactly
which one
that
is.
Altham
Industrial
Estate.
Yeah.
Yeah,
I
know
exactly
who
had
rented
the
van
that
day,
and
had
to
take
it
back
to…
So,
you
know
the
guy
that
had
that
van,
that
got
trashed.
Yeah, it’s
even
worse
than
that
because
he’d
broken
the
key
inside.
That’s
why
it
was
stuck
in.
Right.
And
it
was
from
a
rental
company.
So
he
didn’t
want
to
leave
it
there.
It
was,
so
somebody
else said…
Don’t
worry,
I’ll
break
the
steering
lock
off,
and
actually
snapped
the
steering
wheel
off.
So
then it
was
really
stuck
in there.
Yeah,
so
that,
that
was,
yeah,
that
was,
that
was
the
first
one
Yeah,
it’s
probably
I
thought
it
was
88
that?
No,
it’s
definitely,
it’s
definitely
89
and
it was
about,
I
would
say…
September
October.
Right.
Yeah,
Yeah.
So
yeah,
that
was
one
that
the
television,
television
actually
came
to
film
it
and
they
wanted
some
shots
for
Granada
or whatever.
So
Simon,
that’s
how
you
got
involved.
Yeah.
That
was
your
way
in.
Tell
us,
just
tell
us
your
best
memories
of
it
all.
We
went
everywhere.
We
used
to
go,
we
ended
up
going
the
quad.
We
went
to
Legends
in
Warrington.
We
went
to
Life
at
Ballers
in,
when
it
was
in
Farnborough.
I
didn’t
have
many
episodes
to
Monroe’s
and
Sett
End,
we
mainly
just
met
there
for the
convoys.
You
couldn’t
really
get
in
anyway.
It
was,
it
was
full
by
time
everybody
got
there.
Yeah.
I
mean
what
I’m
going
to
say
as
well.
I
was
in
the
Army
at
the
time.
Which
I
can
see
you
looking
at
me
now…
yeah.
I
was
a
junior
Soldier.
Wow.
I’d
met
Gareth
just
before
I
went
in.
I
think
my
life
was
heading
that
way
anyway,
the
music
and
what not,
but
having
spent
probably
the
first
year
in
the
junior
soldiers.
I
wanted
out,
you
know,
I’d
done,
this
wasn’t
for
me
I
wasn’t
ready
to
die
for
my
country.
So
I
was
starting
to
really
get
into
the
music,
Adamski
was,
was
a
really
big
thing
for
me.
He
was,
he
was
the
main
one
that
I,
I
really
listened
to.
I
was
starting
getting
interested
in
writing
music
as
well.
That
was
building
up.
Got,
ended
up
doing
2
years
Junior
and
then
off to
a
regular
in
Germany,
In
Otsee
I
were.
And
then
I
got,
I
got
thrown
out
for
substances,
which
I
was
glad,
you
know,
I
needed
to
get
out.
I’d
done
me bit
for
Queen
and
Country
as
they
say.
I
am
a
believer
in
National
Service.
So,
I
think
I
did
a
lot
of
people
good.
So
yeah,
that
was,
that’s
how
it
started,
and
I’ve
been
doing
it
ever
since.
I’ve
been
DJing
since
1989
at
certain
illegal
events.
All
around
Lancashire
and
all
over
I’ve
DJ’d
I
wouldn’t
say
a
lot
around
Europe,
but
I
have
done,
you
know,
some,
some
events.
I
am
organising
me
own,
and
I’m
still
doing
them
at
the
moment.
So
I’m
not
going
to
say
I
were,
or
anything
like
that.
But,
the
rules,
the
engagement
rules
of,
of
it.
Are
you
have
to
behave
at
the
party,
everybody’s
vetted,
if
you,
if
you come
my
party
you
have
to
behave.
And
it
works.
Unbelievably.
well.
You
know,
people
come,
they
bring
their
own
beer,
whatever
they
want
to
bring.
It
runs
all
night,
and
we
have
fun.
We
listen
to
it.
It’s
good,
we have
different
DJs
on,
local
DJs,
had
a
few
famous
ones
on.
Been
doing
it,
probably
the
last
10
years.
Got
to
be
careful
who
you
tell,
you
know,
what
they
tell,
that’s
why
everybody’s
vetted.
They
come at
1
They
know
how
it
works,
and
they,
they
can
vouch
f’whoever
they
want
to
bring.
I
tell,
you
come
once,
you
can
bring
somebody
else
and
that’s
it.
So
that’s,
that
what
Tommy
and
Tony
did
give
me
the
foundation,
the
knowledge
of
how
to
do
it.
Obviously
they
put
the
invites
out
everywhere,
I
don’t,
you
know,
but
it
made
me,
you
know,
it
sorta
gave
me
a
skeleton,
certainly
a
basic
knowledge
to
work
from.
Which
obviously
I’m
very
grateful
for
but
I
yeah,
I’ve
had
a
brilliant
time.
I’m
going
to
say
one
thing
though…
The
only
bad
thing
about
the
warehouse
generation
parties,
whatever
you
want
to
call
it.
The
only
bad
thing
about
it
was…
it
ruined
me.
Meaning,
if
I
go
out
now,
and
ever
since,
no
night
can
live
up
to
what
that
was.
So
I
feel
disappointed
now,
constantly
when
I
go
out.
If
I
I’ve
walked
out
with
the
best
DJ’s
in
the
world.
You
know,
a
night
none
of
em.
Not
one
ever
since
those
warehouse
parties
has
ever
made
me
feel
like
I
did
at
those,
not
one
ever.
I
mean
the
ones
I
do,
I’m
getting
there,
but
you
know
5000
people
in
a
room,
like
you
could
feel
each
other’s
presence.
Do y’know
what
I
mean?
Yeah.
It’s,
I
can’t,
you
can’t
explain
it
what
it
is.
But
everybody
feels
the
same
and
you’ve
only
got
to
look
at
somebody
and
you
can
see
in
their
eyes
that
their
feeling
exactly
the
same
as
you.
There
was
no
trouble,
nothing,
nothing
at
all.
I
don’t
know
whether
that
was
to
do
with,
no
beer.
Whether
there
was
drugs
involved.
Or
they
were
like
that
anyway.
I
think
drugs
neutralises
everybody.
It
takes
away
your
walls,
it takes
everything
away.
It
makes
you
who
you
are
as
a
real
person.
And
that’s
what’s
left.
And
that’s
what
you
enjoy
that
night.
With
no,
no,
whatever
troubles
you’ve
got…
they’ve
gone,
nothing.
You’re there
as
a
blank
person
and
you’re
enjoying
what’s
going
on
at
that
moment.
You’ve
talked
really
brilliantly
about
it,
and
you’ve
touched
on
you
came
out
of
the
army
but
have
you
got
any
dark
memories
associated
with
those times?
And
were
there
any
incidents
that
you
look back
and think…
That
wasn’t,
that
wasn’t
to
clever?
No.
No,
my
life’s
gone
quite
well
actually
since
everybody
else,
you
know,
up
and
downs.
I’m
now
diabetic
type
1
Which
whether
that
was
to do
with taking
LSD,
I
don’t
know.
I
doubt
it
very
much
because
the
tell-tale
signs
that
I
have…
they
started
when
I
left
school.
So
that
wasn’t
a
time
when
I
was
taking
drugs
so
they
say
you
have
it
10
years
before
they
find
it
and
I
did,
so…
No,
no
bad
points.
We’re
building
an
archive.
I’m
I’m
interested
in
working
class
stories
from
the
North
particularly
that
took
place
in
these
warehouses
and
mills
over
a
few
100
years.
We’re
30
years
on
from
the
parties
now,
that,
from
the
parties,
the
warehouse
parties
that
you’ve
talked
about.
I
like
the
idea
that,
like
our
Mitchell
and
Kenyon
archive,
we
can
see
people
from
Blackburn
100
years
ago.
I
like
the
idea
of
some
kids
in
Blackburn
listening
to
the,
listening
to
you
telling
your
stories
in
another
100
years
time.
What
d’ya
wanna
say
to ’em?
Be
yourself.
If
you
want
to
be
creative,
don’t
let
anybody
else
tell
you
otherwise,
even
your
parents.
You’re
all
individual
people.
Some
things
won’t
become
apparent
when
you’re
young.
But
you’ll
get
little
tell-tale
signs.
You
need
to
stick
with
them
thoughts,
and
go
with
that.
You
know,
even,
even
like
say
your
parents,
if
they
try
to
you
know,
put
you
on
a
different
path.
You
have
to
go
by
what
you
feel.
My
parents
were
not
into
music,
not
into
anything
how
I…
how I’ve
turned
out.
My
Dad
was
a
plumber,
so
I
ended
up
being
a
plumber.
That’s
probably
the
only
thing
that’s,
that’s
carried
through.
Yeah,
just
be
yourself.
Now Playing:
Simon
Full interview. (11:33 mins)
Alan
Getting involved part 1. (29 secs)

Full Transcript:

Simon.
Simon,
how
old
were
you
at
the
time?
I
was
17
years
old.
And
where
did
you
live
at
the
time?
Preston.
Okay.
Can
you
tell
us
how
you
got
involved?
I
went
on,
I
went
on
holiday
to
Greece.
Met
a
guy
called
Gareth.
Our
families
obviously,
you
know,
got
friendly
while
we
were
there.
It’s
just
one
of
them
holiday
sort
of
things,
you
know.
We
fortunately
stayed
in
contact
with
them
when
we
came
back
to
England.
He
invited
us
out
with
all
his
mates.
He
was
from
Wigan.
And
he
said…
Come
on,
we’re
all
going
out.
We’re
going
to
Wigan
Pier.
I’d
been
a
follower
of
sort
of,
break
dance,
Hip
Hop,
and
Electro
and
all
the
rest
of
it
before
that,
so
I
had
an idea
of what
I
was
going
to,
but
this
Wigan
Pier
night,
it
was
really
sort
of
kicking
off
at
the
time.
We
went
there.
He
said…
We’re
going
to
do
some
acid,
do you
want
in?
I
said,
yeah,
so
we
went
to
Wigan
Pier,
done
some
acid.
It
was…
it
was
a
mental
night.
I
think,
I
can’t
remember
the
DJs
name,
he was
a young
lad.
Anyhow,
they
had
word
that
there
was
something
going
on…
They
knew
about
the
parties
anyway,
and
they
said,
look
we’re
going
to
go
to
this
big
rave
up,
afterwards.
Well,
actually
they
didn’t
call
it
a
rave,
that
was
like
a
thing
that
came
afterwards.
It were
warehouse
party.
I
said…
Yeah,
let’s
go.
So
we
ended
up
in
some
convoys,
and
I
can
remember
the
first
one
we
went
to,
it
was
up
at
Simonstone,
opposite
an
ambulance
depot
up
there.
And
the
warehouse
is
still
actually
there.
But
the
images
I’ve
got
of
when
we
arrived,
is
steam
coming
out
of
all
the
doors,
there was
doors
open,
windows
open,
there
all
steamed
up.
There
was…
it
was
like
somebody
had
a
smoke
machine
inside,
and
there
was
that
much
smoke
coming
out.
There
was
no
heating
in
there.
So
it
was…
that
was
people’s
bodies
putting
out
that
heat.
We
walked
in,
it
was
just
full
of
people,
music,
lights,
dancing.
Remember
there
was an
old
Astra
van
in
there,
that
was
obviously
being
left
in
there
because
wether
it
was
used
or
not
as
a
warehouse,
I
don’t
know.
People
were
dancing
on
the
bonnet,
on
the
roof
and
everything.
It
was
just
absolutely
unbelievable.
So
yeah,
that
was,
that
was
the
first
one.
I know
exactly
which one
that
is.
Altham
Industrial
Estate.
Yeah.
Yeah,
I
know
exactly
who
had
rented
the
van
that
day,
and
had
to
take
it
back
to…
So,
you
know
the
guy
that
had
that
van,
that
got
trashed.
Yeah, it’s
even
worse
than
that
because
he’d
broken
the
key
inside.
That’s
why
it
was
stuck
in.
Right.
And
it
was
from
a
rental
company.
So
he
didn’t
want
to
leave
it
there.
It
was,
so
somebody
else said…
Don’t
worry,
I’ll
break
the
steering
lock
off,
and
actually
snapped
the
steering
wheel
off.
So
then it
was
really
stuck
in there.
Yeah,
so
that,
that
was,
yeah,
that
was,
that
was
the
first
one
Yeah,
it’s
probably
I
thought
it
was
88
that?
No,
it’s
definitely,
it’s
definitely
89
and
it was
about,
I
would
say…
September
October.
Right.
Yeah,
Yeah.
So
yeah,
that
was
one
that
the
television,
television
actually
came
to
film
it
and
they
wanted
some
shots
for
Granada
or whatever.
So
Simon,
that’s
how
you
got
involved.
Yeah.
That
was
your
way
in.
Tell
us,
just
tell
us
your
best
memories
of
it
all.
We
went
everywhere.
We
used
to
go,
we
ended
up
going
the
quad.
We
went
to
Legends
in
Warrington.
We
went
to
Life
at
Ballers
in,
when
it
was
in
Farnborough.
I
didn’t
have
many
episodes
to
Monroe’s
and
Sett
End,
we
mainly
just
met
there
for the
convoys.
You
couldn’t
really
get
in
anyway.
It
was,
it
was
full
by
time
everybody
got
there.
Yeah.
I
mean
what
I’m
going
to
say
as
well.
I
was
in
the
Army
at
the
time.
Which
I
can
see
you
looking
at
me
now…
yeah.
I
was
a
junior
Soldier.
Wow.
I’d
met
Gareth
just
before
I
went
in.
I
think
my
life
was
heading
that
way
anyway,
the
music
and
what not,
but
having
spent
probably
the
first
year
in
the
junior
soldiers.
I
wanted
out,
you
know,
I’d
done,
this
wasn’t
for
me
I
wasn’t
ready
to
die
for
my
country.
So
I
was
starting
to
really
get
into
the
music,
Adamski
was,
was
a
really
big
thing
for
me.
He
was,
he
was
the
main
one
that
I,
I
really
listened
to.
I
was
starting
getting
interested
in
writing
music
as
well.
That
was
building
up.
Got,
ended
up
doing
2
years
Junior
and
then
off to
a
regular
in
Germany,
In
Otsee
I
were.
And
then
I
got,
I
got
thrown
out
for
substances,
which
I
was
glad,
you
know,
I
needed
to
get
out.
I’d
done
me bit
for
Queen
and
Country
as
they
say.
I
am
a
believer
in
National
Service.
So,
I
think
I
did
a
lot
of
people
good.
So
yeah,
that
was,
that’s
how
it
started,
and
I’ve
been
doing
it
ever
since.
I’ve
been
DJing
since
1989
at
certain
illegal
events.
All
around
Lancashire
and
all
over
I’ve
DJ’d
I
wouldn’t
say
a
lot
around
Europe,
but
I
have
done,
you
know,
some,
some
events.
I
am
organising
me
own,
and
I’m
still
doing
them
at
the
moment.
So
I’m
not
going
to
say
I
were,
or
anything
like
that.
But,
the
rules,
the
engagement
rules
of,
of
it.
Are
you
have
to
behave
at
the
party,
everybody’s
vetted,
if
you,
if
you come
my
party
you
have
to
behave.
And
it
works.
Unbelievably.
well.
You
know,
people
come,
they
bring
their
own
beer,
whatever
they
want
to
bring.
It
runs
all
night,
and
we
have
fun.
We
listen
to
it.
It’s
good,
we have
different
DJs
on,
local
DJs,
had
a
few
famous
ones
on.
Been
doing
it,
probably
the
last
10
years.
Got
to
be
careful
who
you
tell,
you
know,
what
they
tell,
that’s
why
everybody’s
vetted.
They
come at
1
They
know
how
it
works,
and
they,
they
can
vouch
f’whoever
they
want
to
bring.
I
tell,
you
come
once,
you
can
bring
somebody
else
and
that’s
it.
So
that’s,
that
what
Tommy
and
Tony
did
give
me
the
foundation,
the
knowledge
of
how
to
do
it.
Obviously
they
put
the
invites
out
everywhere,
I
don’t,
you
know,
but
it
made
me,
you
know,
it
sorta
gave
me
a
skeleton,
certainly
a
basic
knowledge
to
work
from.
Which
obviously
I’m
very
grateful
for
but
I
yeah,
I’ve
had
a
brilliant
time.
I’m
going
to
say
one
thing
though…
The
only
bad
thing
about
the
warehouse
generation
parties,
whatever
you
want
to
call
it.
The
only
bad
thing
about
it
was…
it
ruined
me.
Meaning,
if
I
go
out
now,
and
ever
since,
no
night
can
live
up
to
what
that
was.
So
I
feel
disappointed
now,
constantly
when
I
go
out.
If
I
I’ve
walked
out
with
the
best
DJ’s
in
the
world.
You
know,
a
night
none
of
em.
Not
one
ever
since
those
warehouse
parties
has
ever
made
me
feel
like
I
did
at
those,
not
one
ever.
I
mean
the
ones
I
do,
I’m
getting
there,
but
you
know
5000
people
in
a
room,
like
you
could
feel
each
other’s
presence.
Do y’know
what
I
mean?
Yeah.
It’s,
I
can’t,
you
can’t
explain
it
what
it
is.
But
everybody
feels
the
same
and
you’ve
only
got
to
look
at
somebody
and
you
can
see
in
their
eyes
that
their
feeling
exactly
the
same
as
you.
There
was
no
trouble,
nothing,
nothing
at
all.
I
don’t
know
whether
that
was
to
do
with,
no
beer.
Whether
there
was
drugs
involved.
Or
they
were
like
that
anyway.
I
think
drugs
neutralises
everybody.
It
takes
away
your
walls,
it takes
everything
away.
It
makes
you
who
you
are
as
a
real
person.
And
that’s
what’s
left.
And
that’s
what
you
enjoy
that
night.
With
no,
no,
whatever
troubles
you’ve
got…
they’ve
gone,
nothing.
You’re there
as
a
blank
person
and
you’re
enjoying
what’s
going
on
at
that
moment.
You’ve
talked
really
brilliantly
about
it,
and
you’ve
touched
on
you
came
out
of
the
army
but
have
you
got
any
dark
memories
associated
with
those times?
And
were
there
any
incidents
that
you
look back
and think…
That
wasn’t,
that
wasn’t
to
clever?
No.
No,
my
life’s
gone
quite
well
actually
since
everybody
else,
you
know,
up
and
downs.
I’m
now
diabetic
type
1
Which
whether
that
was
to do
with taking
LSD,
I
don’t
know.
I
doubt
it
very
much
because
the
tell-tale
signs
that
I
have…
they
started
when
I
left
school.
So
that
wasn’t
a
time
when
I
was
taking
drugs
so
they
say
you
have
it
10
years
before
they
find
it
and
I
did,
so…
No,
no
bad
points.
We’re
building
an
archive.
I’m
I’m
interested
in
working
class
stories
from
the
North
particularly
that
took
place
in
these
warehouses
and
mills
over
a
few
100
years.
We’re
30
years
on
from
the
parties
now,
that,
from
the
parties,
the
warehouse
parties
that
you’ve
talked
about.
I
like
the
idea
that,
like
our
Mitchell
and
Kenyon
archive,
we
can
see
people
from
Blackburn
100
years
ago.
I
like
the
idea
of
some
kids
in
Blackburn
listening
to
the,
listening
to
you
telling
your
stories
in
another
100
years
time.
What
d’ya
wanna
say
to ’em?
Be
yourself.
If
you
want
to
be
creative,
don’t
let
anybody
else
tell
you
otherwise,
even
your
parents.
You’re
all
individual
people.
Some
things
won’t
become
apparent
when
you’re
young.
But
you’ll
get
little
tell-tale
signs.
You
need
to
stick
with
them
thoughts,
and
go
with
that.
You
know,
even,
even
like
say
your
parents,
if
they
try
to
you
know,
put
you
on
a
different
path.
You
have
to
go
by
what
you
feel.
My
parents
were
not
into
music,
not
into
anything
how
I…
how I’ve
turned
out.
My
Dad
was
a
plumber,
so
I
ended
up
being
a
plumber.
That’s
probably
the
only
thing
that’s,
that’s
carried
through.
Yeah,
just
be
yourself.