Interview: Pete Tong @ Sankeys
9th Jan 2007
Pete Tong plays Tribal Sessions at Sankeys in Manchester, this Friday 12th January. He took some time out of his day to speak to us...
Pete Tong is a man of my heart. Introducing our weekends for the past as long as I can remember, he's contributed to dance music what microsoft have contributed to computers. Or something like that.
I was lucky enough to speak to Pete less than ten minutes ago, unfortunately for me the recording cut out after 30 seconds and I didn't exactly take notes. Ahh the joys of technology. Admitedly I had about 20 minutes notice that the interview was even going to take place, but then that's the way the world is. Especially my world.
Returning from Brazil after a New Years jaunt there, Pete informs it was more of a holiday than a gig. "The first NYE in 20 years that was booked around what we wanted to do, rather than where the gigs dictate" - 3 gigs in 16 days rather than 3 in 16 hours! "I'm married to a pretty brazilian and it's something we wanted to do, we booked it 9 months ago"
So 2007 is treating you well so far then?
I can't complain for sure!
With an obviously hectic schedule, what would you normally be doing at 10:30am?
Organising, getting ready for the day. I've got 3 radio shows to look after after all, not to mention dates. I'd like to be making more music, it's just find the time to lock yourself in a studio and make something, especially when you have the ball and chain of radio shows. I don't have to do as much for the essential mix, but the Thursday night slot is taking more content than ever, people say you get to see more of my personality through it, as we get to do face to face interviews and talk to people. We always avoided that on Friday nights, to keep the pace going, the warmup for the weekend.
So What can we look forward to in 2007?
I've got a new Ministry Residency, with Wonderland, which is kicking off fast, we hope to do around 6 this year at Ministry of Sound, I don't want to say too much in this interview, you have caught me off guard a bit as it's not all crystal, i'd like to think though that once we get into it, people will be like, this is good, this is exciting. If you take the high street brand away (from Ministry) it's one of the best rooms in the world to play in, its awesome. Pure Pacha kicks off again on 16th June, which will be here before you know it, and yes lots more music. I've written a track called Wonderland, which sort of ties in with the new night, i'll play it on Friday.
Is there anything your really disliking in dance music at the moment? Fedde le Grand for example?
No not really. Dance music took a dip in 2000/2001 and that was quite well catalogued, now its back and that is by no means a bad thing.That record (Put your hands up for detroit) started out as quite a dark tune at the start of the summer and through no fault of it's own became successful, which some might say annoying. Still it got picked up by other genres as well, so it's by no means a bad thing - With electronic music in the charts, and clubs going from strength to strenght its basically, fuck you, we're back!
Finally Pete, as our time is up, you are one of the most influential people in dance music, culturally structuring the weekends as many of us know it, isn't it about time you got a knighthood?
What me? (laughs)
Yeah, you've done more than Bono has!
Ha, thats more up to you to decide than me!
We'll see what we can do Pete.
With his BBC Radio 1 essential selection coming from Manchester this Friday, Pete Tong makes his debut at the newly reworked Sankeys, and boy are we looking forward to it! With a long history in Manchester's clubs, music and acid house scene, Pete is no stranger to Manchester and his appearence is guarenteed to be roadblock for sure.
You can get your tickets online now at www.skiddle.com/tickets - and believe me, they are selling fast!
