Russ Vickers

I think ya might be right Chris, but thought I would pose the question anyway........... Russ

All through the history of our scene there has been the 'behind the scene' guys (mainly) finding the tunes & feeding em out to the Deejays, Soussan, Anderson, Rushton,Shard, Ashabendie etc, etc, etc..........so is there still anyone who is the main source for things these day's.............yes, I know there are loads of dealers, both big & small, but I mean the person who you go to visit or phone cos you know they are gonna have the real 'special' stuff for ya.............I kinow its like its always been & us mere mortals are way down the pecking list when it comes to first dibs, but just interested as so many of the 'big' tunes found there way on to the scene via these people & others like them ????. Russ

Randy Cozens Micky Cruze Skinhead Sean Tony Smith (1) Rob Holmes Fudge Gavin Page Bully Dave Greet Dave Abbott .......................................& one of my longest personal & NS friends Steve Csordas, he's being a twat right now () but I love ya bro' & hope we'll be back on the road together soon.............plus about a 100 others who I keep remembering, Lenny Dopson, Marco Santucci, Lloyd Attrill, Karl Heard, Chris n Marcelle, Dave Thorley, Keb Darge, Guy Hennigan, Dave Moore, Irish Greg, Jet, the Brighton Belles, Shay Richardson, Jason , Molly, Flanny, Toby, John Weston, Ady Croasdell, Trickster, Kev Moore, Andy Dyson, Johnny Beggs, Steve Plum, Johnny Manship, Garry Dennis, Ivor Jones, Johnny Fingers, Dave Ferguson, Des Parker, Ady Pountain, Soul Sam, Shifty, Billy from Burnley (from back in the day) Ray Gillen, Dicky, Soul Frank, Paul & Sonia Stead, Dolly, Dave Rivers, Taffy, Gilly, Adam, Saus, Mo, Back Door Kenny, Little Ben, Ben Summers, Tef, Terry Jones, Shane Cox, Kirsty, ..............phew loads more too, Russ

What about the records Deejays were TOLD to play at WC !. Russ

I would say I spent 80% of my time upstairs at Gloucs, I did venture down stairs to speak to friends who I might not have had a chance to speak to other wise, I also had an odd wiggle down there too..............however, I was the only f*cker on the dance floor many times upstairs, I dont care, if its good I'll dance, I was up for some of your spot Dave, Double O d's etc, every record Mr Abbott played, etc, etc...........& when a few had left & the upstairs closed for the last or or so, I was still dancing to the very last record, Dave A & Seans double decking for the last hour was great down there. But I do get your point. Russ

I really hope so Paul, regardless I look forward to seeing the film. Best Russ

I'm genuinely hoping that this film will be to NS what Quadraphenia was to the Mod Scene. I hope hundreds of kids start buying Spencers, replica soul patches & Addidas sports bags, along with NS CD Comps & head for thier nearest Nighter.................it'll be a f*ckin' nightmare, but ya know what, it'll give the scene the injection of youth it needs & in a year or so when the scene sorts out the men from the boys, then we'll have a nucleus of younger, faster, hipper kids who will drive the scene forward again with the passion only youth can bring, it'll be the best thing to happen to the scene in years if this happens............although I can almost feel the veteran promoters anticipation as they draw up the battle plans...........kerchinnnnnnnnngggg. Looking forward to seeing this & look forward to the aftermath too, should be interesting.............right, who's promoting the Allnighter down the road after the premier, i'll bet my Frank Wilson bootleg that the ground is already being laid as we speak. Looks like there could be a few more quid left in the scene after all............... Russ

........I will try & post a playlist later mate. Best Russ

Had a reasonably quiet weekend for me, as Im back to Iraq this weekend, however, went round Disco Daves Friday night with a mit full of records to play him, he had some for my listening pleasure too, so had a great night catching up & listening to tunes. Sunday was the Brighton Beach Nighter & I was spinning a few int Modern Room................Deejaying recently hasnt been that satisfying for me for one reason or another, but fcuk me Sunday restored my faith.............the room had been quiet altho Guy Hennigan had treated us to some superb funky 7ts dancers to die for, Tim Smithers bought on more of the same, many totally unknown to me, but quality all the way............then I was up, as usual I was hoping to play 7ts thru to recent releases & as the room was quiet thought I would almost be playing for Jenny & a couple of mates, first record went on.......wooooooooooooooooooshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, the place went up, people thronged down from the Main Room (???) filled the place right up & they danced like there was no tomorrow WOW what an atmosphere, someone said that after I dropped the first tune, one of the Northampton crowd went round upstairs to spread the word, dunno really, but one of the most satisfying sets of records I've dropped in a long time. The rest of the night was brilliant too, great sets from Tim Smithers, Guy, Steve Mac etc upstairs & again, a strange phenomenam (spelling !), all were determined to play a few of thier tunes which would be unknown to nearly all there & you would think this would have killed the room, did it fcuk, it fuelled it !!!......................so we ended up with a rammed Main Room, dancing to a fantastic balance of lesser known & known tunes, with a full dance floor right to the final record..........bloody hell, what more could you ask for & less than an hours drive for me too,.................................................. still buzzing. Russ

I'll be be back down as soon as my leave coincides thats for sure..........Greety n Karl..........sh*t the bed, now thats gonna be tunes for ya woohooooooooooooo. I'm so jealous I'll miss May its gonna be legendary............. Russ

Pat Johnson & the Moonlighters - Helping Hand................Monstrous !!! Blues Busters - Ohhhh Baby..........Ditto Lovations - I cant forget about you (both versions, but I prefer the grittier funkier mix). Tommie Young - Thats All a Part of Loving Him Bobby Newton - When the Worlds at Peace Wilson Williams - Honey Rock & an underplayed oldie for good measure Little Rose Little - You've Got the Love........wooooooommmmmppphhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!! 100's of em, spent hours with Disco Dave last night playings discs, not one have I ever heard played out anywhere & most were worthy of a spin or two, although we both played a couple of howlers that each 'didnt get', but aint that what its all about ???............. WILSON WILLIAMS - HONEY ROCK - LOVATIONS - I CAN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU - CAP CITY - TOMMIE YOUNG - THAT'S ALL A PART OF LOVING HIM - SOUL POWER - LITTLE ROSE LITTLE - YOU'VE GOT THE LOVE - Russ

I have been after a 'Boingless' copy for years, I appreciate that there now is a waiting list, but if anyone has one after all others are sorted I have money waiting, I much prefer the mix & everything on this issue.......... Thanks Russ

Thats the baby............thanks Russ

Who was the version of 'Ask the Lonely' that Sam played on Saturday at Lifeline by ?. Russ

He probably has better records pass through his hands in a month than I could hope to own in a life time, the reason he does not Deejay now has nothing to do with the records he has or has not got, & most he could get probably get if he really wanted to. I do know what Kirsty means tho', Shifty would rather Deejay at a scooterist do these day's i think, than a nighter (having said that, I dont want to put words in his mouth either, just my thoughts). I f he is reading this, bloody pick up a phone mate. With regards to record dealers at the 100 Club, the more the merrier, it deffo adds something to the night & that back corner gets all interesting when its packed with vinyl........also miss the little box Ady used to have behind the counter upstairs sometimes, used to go & drool over that on occasion. I miss the old cloak room too, some funny goings on round there always . Russ

Hi Warren Thank you for understanding what I was saying there & taking it in the spirit it was intended, I think you are a top notch DJ & wasnt knocking you in any way, anyway you seem to have realised what I meant thank goodness. Best Russ

I actually think this thread will have motivated the faithful into realising you have to support these places are lose them !!!............I'm betting next month will be a record attendence & will be business as usual. I would add though, that if the 100 Club went every other month it might as well be just another dooo, cant break new records every other month, hard enough on a monthly basis for gods sake. Next month will be a lock out I bet.................. Russ

THE IN CROWD BY MIKE RITSON AND STUART RUSSELL IMO The best book ever written about the NS Scene, unbiased, truthful warts n all & informative, no axes to grind, just the facts. Always assumed there would be another volume covering the next couple of decades & bringing us up to date. Any news on a follow up ???. Best Russ

My comments were made slightly tongue in cheek Ian, but the sentiment was I still like my NS rough n dirty to some extent, If I'm going to a Nighter........soul Nights & Modern Nights, I would stop at a Hotel afterwards, but if I've travelled to a Nighter I dont wanna miss one minuit of the action......... Ken. I tried being normal for a bit after leaving the military & it didnt work out too well........I now work under contract in Baghdad mate. Russ

I wasnt being critical of Warren, think he's a great DJ, would just be nice to see some different faces as guests though. Last time I was at the 100 Club was October 2009, I would be there every month, but the Night Bus from Baghdad isnt running at the moment . Next time my rotation falls on a 100 Club Night I will come & pick you no problem mate. Russ

Personally I find taking loads of drugs & dancing All Night, then sitting in McDonalds for hours talking bollox to anyone who will listen preferable to the 'Latte' Soulies, who need their arses wiped if they travel further down the road than an hour..........people will find a way of getting there & paying for the weekend if the venue is where they wanna go regardless.........the place is brilliant, but it needs a new injection of promotion to spread the word to a wider audience & to let others know what they're missing........... I would also suggest that the guest DJ's whilst brilliant, need to be picked with a little more care, whilst I think Warren (sorry Warren, first name that came to me) for example is a great DJ, but he can be heard in London any time, people want to hear & see the unexpected & unusual DJ's who they may not get to see too regularly. 100 Club is a kick ass All Nighter, people have just become complacent & Ady needs to take more time to promote the venue properly & not just let it rest on its laurels, theres another 30 years in the gaff methinks............. Russ

Lets not piss arse about, the 100 Club is legendary, you change a thing before I can get back down dem stairs I'm gonna be mighty pissed off, nothing wrong with anything about the place, dont change f*ck all, its a blip & if you can stand it financially it'll pick up, start messing with it & that will really mess thingd up..........the 100 Club is the 100 Club, those that know, know..........they'll all claim to have been when its closed, lazy f*ckers should get off thier arses, pool financial resources if requied & support the best Rare Soul venue in the world bar none..............if neccessary, if it makes a difference I'll set up a standing order to keep the place open & the same policy & I'm not joking...............Please, Please. Please keep at it mate, its the best music ever...........the contribution of the 100 Club to NS can never be replicated....................... Get Richard Searling back down again & get Clarkie to make an odd guest appearance as special treats.............Like we had Scotland V England 100 Clubs, do the continental version London versus the rest of the world............... If the scene allows the place to die, they should be ashamed & things really wont ever be the same again.............. Good luck Ady, working away right now, but as soon as I'm back. I'll be down them stairs again for sure, till then please dont change a thing. Best Russ

I think that is a pretty fair description Barney its been the way since the scene began.......nice to keep things fresh & exciting, but I also appreciate that 'newies' are not everyones cup o char either, but just the exceptance that the scene did, does & will continue to evolve is a breath of fresh air to read actually, as sometimes there seems to be an intolerence, almost denial that this is the case by some who refuse to understand that this is what the NS scene is actually all about. Russ

Absolutely agree with this, a Nighter sound system, atmosphere, artificial stimulants etc, etc.......... Another thing too........how many times have you got home from a Nighter having bought an'unknown' to you monster........only to find that in the cold light of dawn ya had ya 'gear ears' on when listening on the Burger ........its even worst when you have told all & sundry how great ya next big thing is, only to find that in the morning, back at your gaff, when ya give ya mates the first official airing, it turns out to be a pile of shite hahahahahahah.......this happened last year, with a close friend & all assembled were rolling around with laughter, 'B' sides were checked, pitch changed everything, until it was eventually decided that the soul troll had switched the discs at some time in the night before getting home lol !!!. Good thread Vince. Russ

I think I made a pretty good investment in the tunes I bought from you recently Vince , had a very enjoyable day, listening to pretty much unknowns & shooting the Sh*t.........it was nice to get back to doing it the old fashioned way for a change, you were a great host & I have a mit full o vinyl that I love & generally did not know previously..........the disc I have covered up as Judy Freeman & Black Rock is particularly tasty & everyone who has heard it so far agrees...........pity I cant DJ more these days to get it out there & heard, difficult tho, what with working in Baghdad & all that, still, home next week so hopefully ooot n abooot & finding more of them gems............ I also think that some times people have never heard a tune before it goes big & thats why demand increases....... Russ