Reported by Craig Paxton
/
Submitted 06-10-09 09:09
Continuing our two part special celebrating Feersum’s 10th birthday, this time round Craig Paxton puts Ian Betts under the spotlight. Get ready to help blow out the candles.
Some people would say that you started your career in the trance room at Feersum. Tell us about some of your earliest memories of playing at Crash?
I always remember the back room at Crash being a great place to play. It's one of those rooms where the DJ is right in amongst it all, so you can really feed off the crowd's energy - a proper sweatbox! One of my abiding memories of the Feersum crowd is just how much energy they had - they were a really vocal lot who were mad keen on their trance and kept bouncing right through to the end of the night! I met a lot of people at Feersum whom I now regard as some of my closest friends - it felt like you knew everyone who went and you could get lost for hours chatting to people on a simple mission to the bar!
Your priorities have obviously changed as a result of being a happy, family man. How do you still find the time for your music and do you still get the same buzz from it when you play?
The sad truth is that I struggle to find the time for DJing these days (although I have been able to devote time to my production work) - it means I get so much more of a buzz when I do play! I've probably played no more than half a dozen gigs this year, but I've made the most of every single one. If I'm being honest there are lots of aspects about DJing that I don't miss, but I haven't lost any of my passion for the music itself or for the crack of having a big night out!!
From Amnesia in Ibiza to Dance Valley and Main Stage Brixton Academy, you have had some truly amazing highlights during your career. How have you got to where you are now and what advice would you give to anyone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
I've been very lucky in having one or two key individuals who believed in me and were prepared to promote me to some of the big players, although I'd like to think that this wasn't based on blind faith! It's becoming harder and harder for DJs to make a name for themselves - it takes patience, effort, passion, networking, persistence, marketing and not forgetting talent! The best advice I can give to listen to advice but trust your own judgement, believe in yourself and be true to yourself - don't try to be something or someone you're not and play the music you want to play.
During your career you have played alongside some of the greatest DJs ever to have graced the turn-tables. Who was the most awe-inspiring and what is the biggest Diva request you’ve ever encountered? (No need to name names on that one!)
The most awe-inspiring was Paul Van Dyk, simply because he was one of the DJs whom I revered before I started DJing myself (Paul Oakenfold and Steve Lee were the other two) and because he was the number one DJ in the world at the time. The biggest diva request - one very well known DJ who demanded that no-one was on the DJ booth/gantry at any point before he walked on to play his set, and then again after he walked off, just so he would be the sole focus for the crowd!
Music Production has played a massive part in raising your profile, how are things going with the label and who is really exciting you at the moment?
The Friendz Music label is going really well - the first three releases have all been massive tracks supported by the big names and helped raised our profile more quickly than we ever thought possible. We've got about four or five tracks signed up for subsequent release, for which we are putting the remix packages together at the moment. On a personal level I've just had the satisfaction of releasing an EP on Discover ('False Gods'/'Cone Shaker') which Armin made his Tune of the Week! I'm really into the stuff being produced by Akesson, Sly One & Juranne, Peppelino, Rozza, Nucsive and of course Activa who has to be the man of the moment.
Many people seem to think you can tell a lot about a person by their iPod, what are the top 10 most played tracks or albums on yours, and what does that say about you?
Status Quo "Live"
Led Zeppelin "How The West Was Won"
Jimi Hendrix "Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)"
Dodgy "Ace A's and Killer B's"
Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac "First Album"
Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous"
Tall Paul - Gallery 1st Birthday tape
Jet "Get Born"
Screaming Trees "Sweet Oblivion"
AC/DC "Riff Raff"
I think that basically says I'm a wannabe guitar hero!
Let’s say that you could have any five people, past or present, back to your pad for an intimate house-party, who would they be and what items would you ask them to bring with them?
Michael Palin - the original 'Life of Brian' script
Michael Atherton - his blueprint for the future of English cricket
John Bonham (drummer with Led Zepellin) - his drum kit
Anna Friel - a big bag of sex toys
Damian from Heat/Lock'n'Load - Club Damo
Finally, what would you say to convince anyone who is thinking of coming to the Feersum 10th birthday party?
You'll always regret it if you don't come!!!
Share this article
: : : Follow HarderFaster on
Photos courtesy of the HarderFaster archive. Not to be reproduced without permission.
CALL 07770787907
OR 07971889447
EMAIL FEERSUM9909@GOOGLEMAIL.COM
More:
FEERSUM RETURNS FOR A NIGHT OF NOSTALGIC BEATS FROM SOME OF ITS ORIGIONAL CAST WHEN IT ALL STARTED BACK IN 1999. THIS EVENT WILL NOT BE ONE YOU WILL WANT TO MISS, IF YOU LIK YOUR CLASSICS THEN THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT!!
Flyer:
-
Region:
London
Music:
Trance. Hard Trance. Tech Trance. Nu NRG. Hi NRG. House. Bouncy House. Deep House. Funky House. Hard House. Prog House. Tribal House. Electro House. Tech House. Minimal Techno. Techno. Electro.
DJ's:
FEERSUM HARDHOUSE NOSALGIA
Ian M (TRADE WILL BE DOING A LEGENDRY CLOSING SET)
STEVE THOMAS (FEERSUM RESIDENT CLASSIC TRADE SET)
Superfast Oz (KAKTAI SHOWCASE OF THE LAST DECADE)
Dan Madams (ORIGIONAL FEERSUM RESIDENT)
Danny Gilligan (TWIST)
SIMON THE FIREMAN (XLR8 AND REGULAR FEERSUM DJ)
MAD PAUL B2B Craig Paxton (MADE PAULS LEAVING SET)
UPLIFTING ROOM
Adam White (PERFECTO)
Ian Betts (HEAT RESIDENT AND FEERSUM REGULAR)
Raymondo (FEVAH RESIDENT AND FEERSUM REGULAR)
Paul Allen (FEERSUM)
SLEEPLESS ANDY
PAUL B (GUEST HOUSE DJ)
From: Danny Gilliganon 6th Oct 2009 10:35.21 Question is which room is going to be going off the most? The trance room line up is looking really solid!!
From: Timmy Whizon 6th Oct 2009 11:27.33 I was always torn between the 2 rooms.....but could never miss Mr Betts
![[HarderFaster] - Work Hard, Play Harder!](/images/mainbanner_top1.gif)
