No he was there allright, living large. I hadn't heard anyone play or request the snake or interplay at any other soul do in London that year, or before, or since come to think of it.
What's wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong, there can't be two beginnings, we already knew that shite.
And your's Mr 2 posts greenlight?
As previously stated everyone seems to be aware of Ian Levine's impact on the scene and indeed his contribution. Listening to Richard Searling last night another innovator from the same era, but ego compared with Levine? No comparison. Searling far more gracious, a character trait perhaps IL forgot a long time ago.
For me this is a Southern thing. Dazed & Confused April 2002 "Soul, Sweat and Speed: The new home of Northern Soul". This piece I believe was the origin of the statement "Ian Levine declares war on the soul clubs of London". We don't know the chronology of events regarding the Rocket and Crossfire. However this mission statement was not something that was to me usual for the scene, or necessary. But perhaps typical of an over inflated ego has been. He was a guest dj once at the 100 Club. I say once, he's not been back since. That's not my place to say, but I would be interested to hear Ady Croasdell's point of view regarding Mr Levine. Not that he needs to be put on the spot, perhaps it's more gracious to say nothing.
Therefore in conclusion Ian Levine was and still is a northern soul VIP, no question. Is he a nice person? I don't know or care. Does he have a reputation as a trouble making ego maniac handful? Not for me to say. Lastly we were doing fine in the the South for soul before Levine showed up, he needn't have bothered really those Rocket do's were poorly attended, pi$$ed off southern soulies boycotted most of them so only an amount of time before the inevitable closure and a swift exit, tail firmly between the legs.