Clint Boon Talks to Large!

Clint Boon, originally the keyboard player in the Inspiral Carpets, talks to large about the 10^th anniversary of his notorious DJ set at South, Manchester.

Clint, this Saturday is the 10th birthday of your Disco Rescue gig at South, how are you feeling about it?

I’m really excited; it’s a big milestone. For any club night to last ten years is phenomenal really. For me, if it had lasted only a year it would have been an amazing experience for me, but for it to last ten is incredible. That’s a big chunk of my life there; it’s always a really amazing experience.

Are you as passionate about Disco Rescue as you were when you started?

More so now actually, I appreciate the longevity of it, it's phenomenal, it’s stayed alive through the recession. The club itself has been quite open to change, there is everything from drum and base to hip hop. You can’t survive on just one good night a week, so now it’s really diverse and beautifully kitted out.

It’s the best place in the world to DJ. It’s the best place I’ve ever worked and I’ll happily work there till the day I die.

What can we expect from your set this Saturday?

It’s not going to be too dissimilar from normal. I play what I want and take it all over the place; it’s the most diverse music in Manchester. I love having a crack with the audience on the mic, make sure everyone is having a good time.

How did you start out?

I started DJing when I was 15/16. Some friends and I bought a mobile disco setup; we used to do private parties. So I’ve always been a bit of a DJ, even before Inspiral Carpets. I love it cause I play everything want and like, I don’t play anything begrudging. I get an instant kick out of it, over the years I’ve started to make money out of it as well which is a bit of a bonus.

How did you land the slot at South?

South started for me because the owner at the time left a message on my phone, even though I’d never worked with him. He left a message asking to call him back urgently. So I called him back and he said he needed a DJ for that Saturday night, so I said yeah I’d do it. But what I found out recently was that he meant to leave that message for a completely different DJ. He’d got my number mixed up with his and I got the gig.

It was a turning point in my life actually; it came at a point where I needed a regular source of income. Times were hard; I had two little kids at the time, so it gave me a lot of stability. It was a life changing opportunity when it came along.

Have you ever though of branching out of Manchester?

Not really, I enjoy what I do at South. I don’t want to leave. I never try to do anything that competes with South.

Clint Boon will be celebrating his 10^th birthday at South this Saturday 28^th May.

South King Street, Manchester.

south club website

By Kelly Greene