along so it pays for our self-indulgence. But you get random nights. like the other Sunday. when it‘s insanely busy for no fathomable reason. Sometimes you‘re DJ ing and the atmosphere is so great there‘s a lump in your throat.
H I still get a wee bit nervous. You never take it for granted. you always want to make it the best night rather than just playing the hits. You‘ve got to make something of every night.
JW You can develop your night to the point that you can now have a slightly quiet night and feel good about the fact that your set was strong and the music was interesting.
H And the night is almost as special as the busiest nights are because you conjured something up from something that initially didn‘t look like it‘d be a fantastic night.
Do you think the Sub Club has affected Glasgow culture?
H Aye. it‘s produced a generation of mutants [laughs].
DC It‘s part of the fabric of the city. It‘s had an influence on the rest of Scotland — people from Aberdeen. lnverness and Edinburgh come down. For such a small space it‘s had this dramatic effect not just on Glasgow.
How did the fire in 1999 affect the club? MG It was a disaster. I‘d been trying to build tip the club for years and 1999 was the best year we‘d ever had. Subculture was at it‘s peak and ()ptimo had really just started to take off big time. it couldn‘t have happened at a worse time. a month before the millennium celebrations.
JW I remember the firemen saying ‘you‘ll be back in by midnight.‘
MG We were all having a pint watching it. with the firemen saying ‘we‘ve got it all under control‘. About l() minutes later there were llames shooting out of the building. It was the biggest lire I‘d seen in my life. At first it was
going to be a few weeks. then a couple of
months. then six months and it went on like that for three years.
PC What it did. though. was it gave us a chance to make the venue the best it had ever been. the facilities. the soundsystem. everything.
What’s planned for the 20th birthday celebrations? PC The midweek we‘ve decided to run like a
mini-festival for the club with names like Roy Ayers. Karl Bartos and Sugarhill Gang. For the club nights we have Louie Vega. Barbara Tucker 4 and Kerri Chandler.
KM And we‘ve got Blurt playing at Optimo, which is a 60-year-old guy who plays sax and sings. a drummer and guitarist and it works. g They are a band we just love so wanted to put on. even though there are only about ten people in Glasgow who‘ve heard of them. But people will hopefully trust our judgement. lt‘s self-indulgent but it‘ll take their breath away at the same time. ‘ They‘ll wonder why this guy hasn‘t played Glasgow for 20 years.
What’s next for the Sub ' Club?
MG It‘s an entity in its own right. so hopefully when we cannae hack it any more somebody else
Thursday 12"! March
The specialism
SUB CLUB
TWENTY YEARS YOUNG
The cream of the clubbing community deliver their verdict on one of Scotland’s longest running venues
‘ PTIMQ,
l 'I'SQI"
\ nut'r'iiiulnou Illllcll
'
Lg..!..¢"i°
‘Optimo’s the best club in the world. The first time I went, I was completely blown away. I love their dedication, and how seriously they take their responsibility to the crowd. It’s an amazing and beautiful thing they’ve created.’ James Murphy, LCD Sound System and DFA Records mastermind
‘You always look forward to playing there. I look at my diary and it might be full of dates, gigs and parties, but if the Sub is there then it’s “Oh yes, the Sub Club!”.’ Diesel, one third of house producers/DJ squad X - Press 2
‘I’ve had some amazing nights there over the years. Whatever genre of music it hosts it always pulls in a great crowd of party animals. In an era where city centre and inner city clubs are dropping like flies it’s brilliant that this venue has been going for 20 years. Here’s to the next 20.’ Irvine Welsh, author
‘The Sub Club isn’t just a club, it’s an institution. The Holy Grail of house.’ Johnny Fiasco, Chicago house/DJ/producer/remiXer
‘It has the best crowd in the world.’ Dem'ck Carter, Chicago house DJ/producer
‘Our favourite ever gig was at Optimo and it’s the same for a lot of other bands. I love listening to those guys. ’ Joe Goddard, vocals/synths Hot Chip
‘It’s one of the only places I know that I can play some really deep shit and they’ll go bananas.’ Stacey Pu/Ien, Detroit techno DJ/producer
‘The Sub Club is probably the reason I make music today. Love
- . l
V ' I X ' I T“ ‘ ' . will. I don‘t see any reason why {Boots 3:; : doesrfl come close., Funk DVOId the ingredients-oi the Sub Club :‘l'on 09¢. ' techno producer/DJ and some signee won t last indelmitely. l __ ofl_L_o_\r_g___}
KM People will always want to
‘I love the Sub Club, it’s like home
go out and have a good time. and W W‘” to me. Definitely the best joint I’ve I can‘t ever see that changing. “aim, played.’ Carl Craig, Detroit techno OH month. ODJ innovator
And if they do stop wanting to go out and have a good time. well. society‘s fucked.
The Sub Club, Glasgow, celebrates its 20th birthday Sun 1- Sat 7 Apr. See listings for details.
' ',..*."totbe Sub Club's birthday bash. See page 29.
thoV mammal Mfm’ofuymfiom
‘The Sub Club is the truest form of underground party. It’s a well oiled jack-frenzy machine.’
Justin Long, Chicago house producer/DJ
‘From a DJ perspective it’s always an honour to even be asked to play at the Subbie.’
Kenny Hawkes, pirate radio pioneer with Girls FMj/DJ/producer
29 Mar—12 Apr 2007 THE LIST 13