originaldetonator's blog: "my story"

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my story!!!!!!!!!!!! Category: Music welcome to the original detonator robbie dees page Current mood: bouncy Category: Parties and Nightlife yo welcome(",)all to my new page im happy that youve all come..... detonation boulevard events are my baby and i run them with my good friend keaty. ive been in the uk rave seen for a very long time and winning "best oldskool mc" was the cherry on the cake.... please feel free to leave your blog.........your all welcome xxx MC Robbie Dee - The Original Detonator Interview 1997 In the early nineties, Robbie D dominated the scene. By May '92, Robbie was flying, literally. At Fantazia Summertime at Matcham Park, Bournemouth, he was put in a harness and hoisted up over the 16,000 strong crowd of stunned ravers below. This was the big time. The rave scene had been detonated. Robbie D started MC'ing at the tender age of 16, before the rave scene as we know it was even established. Robbie was bang into hip hop at the time and was spinning the tunes as well as chatting over them. "I was also DJing, but it was my lyrics I concentrated on. I formulated lyrics that meant something." When the hardcore scene was in its infancy , Robbie kept a fairly low profile until he hooked up with "Upfront", a DJ agency in Kidderminister. "They promoted all types of DJs. They did roadshows - I used to pick someone out of the crowd and MC about them. It was quite embarrassing for them, but it was good experience for me." Robbie got his first real break in Birmingham in 1990 at an event called "Time" at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre. He blagged his way onto the mic, a technique which pisses a lot of promoters of nowadays, but was the only way to get a break them. "In those days, you had to do it like that. If you didn't know anybody, things wouldn't happen for you, so you had to make them happen." Further down the line, as "First Base" in Gloucestershire, he met promoters Gideon Dawson and James Perkins, who went on to become the Fantazia crew. Robbie was offered a spot at the club, where he met Chris Griffin, who asked him to play at Perception, one the largest organisation at the time. He didn't get paid all that much, as he was still a fairly small fish in as fast expanding pond. "I couldn't believe what I was seeing 'cause I'd only been to one outdoor rave before then, where Easygroove got me on the microphone, gave me a go and it started from there. I couldn't believe the amount of people at Perception." Playing in front of around 7,000 people must have been more than a little nerve wracking. "I was quite nervous, yeah, but I'd MC'd in front of a number of people before, so I'd started to overcome that fear anyway. The one embarrassing moment was that I called Easygroove, Grooverider, which was funny!" As an old hand in the raving game, Robbie doesn't make such mistakes nowadays. He has nurtured his own particular style and likes to think that he is unique amongst a growing army of hardcore MCs. "I believe and MC should have a story to tell - not necessarily about himself. I don't mean stuff like what he had for lunch, what he's doing next week or what he did at his Granny's birthday party - people aren't interested in that sort of stuff. You've got to see what the crowd wants, what they're doing and focus on that." It is playing for the crowd that has gained Robbie respect and the increased wage that come when you break into the MC premiership. "Promoters book me, not just as an MC. they're booking the legacy with it. I'm more expensive than a lot of MCs, but I deserve it. The rave scene owes me a living 'cause I've put so much into it. I don't do it just for the money though. I do it 'cause I love it. I wouldn't get up onstage in front of all those people just 'cause I'm getting paid for it. I get paid to do a job people respect." Robbie says that he can pick and choose promoters, but doesn't think that there are many good ones left. He hold great respect for Murray Beeston and was really saddened by his death. "He was leading the way. He was Dreamscape. Nobody else could take Dreamscape to where it should belong in my opinion, but I wish them all the best." He believes Helter Skelter is the next leap to where Dreamscape was, but he's yet to be booked there, for reasons unknown. Other people he respects in the scene include Mad P - "he's unique; he's got his own style and story to tell" - Joe Peng, Jack Horner, MC Pain and Ribbz. Ribbz has Robbie to thank for his initial break. I handed him the mic. He's a great MC." As for bad MCs. Robbie D has strong feelings on the subject. "The thing I'm most pissed off about is the number of wank MCs around at the moment. I don't want to mention any names, but people know." Robbie blames the promoters, who are trying to cut costs by booking smaller name MCs. "They're taking work from old MCs who are good and still have something to prove." He also gets narked about DJ/MC partnerships as some place are no longer booking MCs in their own right, but relying on DJs bringing an MC with them. (This is pretty ironic as Robbie D and Easygroove are well known travelling companions.) This is one example of things not being like "the old school days". The main change is obviously the music. "Music has got to slow down. It's got too fast. I preferred the days of Perception and Obsession when I could MC onstage and dance at the same time - I used to be known as the dancing MC. Old school's gonna make a big come back this year. I think happy hardcore's gone as far as it's going to go Jungle's getting bigger by the day, but it won't last much longer. The music needs to take a step back before it goes forward. The rave scene is changing so much. The next generation crew need to experience the old vibe. A lot of house DJs are playing old school records now, which is taking the piss. Where were they in the old days? They were slagging the music off - 'we don't like hardcore, it's rubbish'." Other predictions for 1997 include the explosion of Chris Griffin and "Devotion" back onto the hardcore map. "Devotion's going to do it in a big way. Chris is an old school promoter with old school ideas and he's back now. Gideon. Fantazia.......they've changed. Chris Griffin is back and he's relit my faith in the rave scene.".....which is a prefect high note to end on. Old school MC with an old school promoter, a perfect partnership to re-kindle some explosive times. It is my prediction that Robbie D is going to explode back onto the scene in 1997, so get ready for D explosion, the Robbie D. by Alex Cormack MC Robbie Dee - The Detonator Ian Bland, aged 28, is the man behind Dream Frequency, and writes all the material himself. Along with Debbie Sharp (Vocals) and Joanne and Josephine (Dancers) they provide one of the countries most exhilarating PA's on the circuit. Not forgetting Karen, (Manager), the team are still proving they are one of the best around. Robbie Dee is one of the craziest and full on MC's around having MC'ed from the old day's at events such as Fantazia, Perception, Obsession etc. At Fantazia Summertime he was famous for hanging suspended whilst MCing from the stage during the middle of the night. Our memories of Robbie was as a total party animal. He always wanted to continue the party and neck as many E as possible. He would often sleep on the floor of anyone who would put him up for the night. As an MC Robbie Dee is very versatile, when the rave scene went its separate ways Robbie start MC'ing for Drum and Bass and Happy at the same time. He could often be found MCing for the "Techno dred" Easygroove and DJ Ratty. MC Robbie Dee still does this stuff at at many Old Skool parties today............. Interview with Robbie Dee from 1992: Is Robbie Dee your real name? No, its not but my real name is unimportant, everyone should know me as Robbie Dee. What's you age then and how long have you been DJing? 23 next month. About 7 an a half years roughly, before the rave scene even started. I was into Hip Hop when it came out in the early years of electronica. The hip hop just turned my, it was something different to chart music. So what, you were just playing in clubs? I was working for an agency called Up Buzz in Kidderminster about 7 and a half years ago and that's when I thought Yeah, I would really like to make a career of this. I wanted to be a superstar, as such, but back in the days when you had your dreams. So do you think your a superstar now then? Yes in my own little way. I have worked hard to build a good name. My values have changed over the last to years, I wanted to do this and I wanted to do that, I wanted to make records and basically now I want to stay with this hardcore scene and not cross into the commercialism as such. Have you always been a hardcore MC and are you going to stay with that then? Well back in the early days I was involved in a lot of free parties i.e. Spiral Tribe, DIY, where a lot of DJs got there names like Astek, when the music was totally different, you say it was progressive now but the n2 years ago it was hardcore and the style has changed - its probably changed 5 times in the last 18 months. I do find that although I thought I was good back in those days after listening to tapes I think I was shit. I do admit that a lot of people did like me. What would you say your first real break was? My first real break was at an open air event called Incantation, that was one of the first outdoor raves. The first Rave I ever went to was Strecham at Birmingham in the Hummingbird Centre in May 1990, that was the first time I was introduced into the Rave scene and something really turned in my stomach. But basically it was Perception where I got my first break, I was approached by Chris Griffin, he paid me £30 to go on stage and I thought year, yeah this is good - good exposure. So what's the best event you've ever done? It must be Bournemouth, Fantazia, not because I was part of it but because it was a wicked venue, good setting, the right time of year, the right people were there and basically I'd say there right people were promoting it, Bournemouth will always be in the back of my mind. The next after that, experience wise would be the Third Dimension at Westpoint - The Perception Warehouse Concept was brilliant, from a Ravers point of view it turned on the Raver to make things like the M25 party which was a large illegal party and the same quality of entertainment and kept it underground and hardcore. So what do you think is happening to hardcore now? I think it will survive. I can't say its going to die like some MC's have said - the rave scene is never going to die just develop into something else, at the end of the day as long as there is music people will want to party. You still get Jungle and Techno but I think the music is changing more from Jungle / Techno to Techno / Jungle. You'll still have the Jungle element there, I can't see it dying in the next 6 months or a year but there is definitely different elements pushing against it all the time. Who do you like MCing with most? My number one preference is Ratty, I remember Ratty when he was introduced at Perception as a surprise DJ and even though his style was a lot different to how is is now he basically wiped the floor with every names DJ that was there and everybody commented how he was the DJ that made their night. I remember at a party about a year and a half ago I was playing a set, I turned round to Ratty and said this is personally how I like to hear music played - total madness - I didn't see him for about 3 months, when I saw him he came back with a similar style to how I had played that set but it was totally original with all of his scratching and mixing techniques cut into it - amazing. His madness is organised madness, cutting about to the best of his ability, fucking peoples heads up, I've never heard Ratty mess up a mix. My other favourite DJ's are Pilgrim, a new boy on the block with his own style, all the Fibre Optic Crew, Tango, Fallout on the other hand has got an element on the same basis as Tango and Ratty putting the Fibre Optic DJ's in a different category - all very entertaining and playing a good selection of music. Also a friend of mine DJ Ragga Paz from Worcester, we play similar styles, he MC's for me and I MC fro him. We like to joke about and put a bit of fun into it, that's why we make a good double act. Have you thought about going full time with Ratty? I like MCing with a lot of different DJ's but Ratty will always be my No. 1 choice, I originate my bookings so they coincide with Ratty's but I will continue to MC with all the other DJ's I like, Ellis Dee, Carl Cox, Grooverider, and Easy Groove is another one of my favourites, we did fall out for a while but he played at Quest last month, one of the best sets I've been involved in for a long time. What's the best club you MC at? Its got to be Quest, I can't take anything away from it, I'm not being biased because I've just been made resident, it has gone up and down but it depends on the people in there, its packed and kicking every week, always a good night. The other club I enjoyed was the Obsession Club at Wormelow, it was a wicked club. So what are your plans as a MC? My plan is to make some music, I've been planning on cutting some records with Ratty for quite a while, we are going into the studio on the 9th as well as Tango. What MC whilst they play? Well basically they are going to sample my voice and put it down on vinyl. I'm currently working with the PA called MC6 on the Absolute 2 Label, the stuff he has been doing is excellent and I'd like to do a couple of tunes with him. What do you think makes a good MC? I like an MC that can blend in with the music, get into your head and not come on with the big 'I am MC Goodlaugh' people are not into it, they are into the DJs and the MCs should be promoting the DJs not themselves. An MC should be aware of what is going, a lot of things are taking place at one time and you've got be alert - on form. Quite a few MC's are taking the piss really, well to be honest there is a lot of shit MC's. What MC's do you rate then? I rate Ribbs, an excellent MC not on top, flows with the music and will flow with any DJ that is playing. I like Bassman cause he gets right into your head, he is there for the bad boy crew. Lenny, he's got his own style, a lot calmer. MC Scratchmaster Techno is new on the scene and I see him in the same position as I was in 2 or 3 years a ago. He's a bit over the top, he has talent but need to structure his MC'ing. Wreckless Radio are pleased to announce the original detonator MC ROBBIE DEE is now an official resident Dj/MC here on Wreckless Radio. Catch him here every wed night 10pm till the death playing a selection of drum & bass and classics tracks from past and present! Robbie Dee is one of the craziest and full on MC's around having MC'ed from the old day's at events such as Fantazia, Perception, Obsession etc. At Fantazia Summertime he was famous for hanging suspended whilst MCing from the stage during the middle of the night. In the early nineties, Robbie D dominated the scene. By May '92, Robbie was flying, literally. At Fantazia Summertime at Matcham Park, Bournemouth, he was put in a harness and hosted up over the 16,000 strong crowd of stunned ravers below. This was the big time. The rave scene had been detonated. Nice set Ratty was the don ... Gotta be my fav DJ of all time ... The MC is Robbie Dee who is also a ledgend and always B2B with Ratty ... The reason he disses Fantazia is because he had a big part in running it and after working his balls off to get Summertime '92 to be the most successful rave of all time the other partners would not stump up the same amount of $$$ for Castle Donnington as they saw it as too much of a financial risk and they would not go with Robbie D's and others ideas and had disagreements and hence Castle Donnington was not as good as everyone thought it would be 'cos it didn't live up to Summertime. Robbie and others did not like this and left either before or just after Donnington and set-up Obsession .... dunno if you were interested in that, but I thought I say anyway ... BTW that other MC that comes on is Lenni ... Back to the Oldskool - The Official Oldskool Awards @ KOKO in London Sun 28 May Comments ..> function QuoteNow() { try { QuoteGeneric(document.getElementById('Content_AddCommentCommentTextBox')); } catch(ex){} } function FocusNow() { try { FocusGeneric(document.getElementById('Content_AddCommentCommentTextBox')); } catch(ex){} } ..> Vinyl-Vera-OOPs Robbie D...Voted Best Old Skool Mc This guy lives in fecking Torquay! Big respects to all the miles you and keats put in! Was nice to finally meet u all in the flesh Posted Tue 30 May Agent-Bunnykins-TB He is fantastic, xxxxx Posted Tue 30 May keaty Good to see you guys too. Wicked bloke although a f**king nightmare to wake up after a night out!!! My car went passed 100,000 on the way back! Posted Wed 31 May Agent-Bunnykins- He is lovely though Posted Wed 31 May davetheraver-MM he is a legend absolutely wickied mc and unique voice ;) Posted Wed 31 May keaty Hes told me to say a big thankyou to every one that voted. He told me not to say that he left his award at some Birds House in the East End. He was rather worse for wear though. still he's looking foward to the forth coming year. Posted Wed 31 May Agent-Bunnykins-TB Oh, i still havent seen the raindance one Posted Wed 31 May keaty Not sure if it was just Robbies, but it was printed back to front. e Posted Wed 31 May Agent-Bunnykins-TB really?? I am going on an award hunt in asec, you sure he wasnt holdingit back to front Posted Wed 31 May keaty N0. The oldskool award and stuff is printed on the front. then you have to turn it round to see his name? Quite unique. Hes using it as an excuse to get a revolving plinth in his house to display it on. when he gets it back. Posted Wed 31 May Agent-Bunnykins- what he like Posted Wed 31 May sevenstarsister oi Keaty.....what you mean SOME birds house? i aint just some bird I am a superstarsister anyway the award is now back in the land of clotted cream i sent it back down saturday & aint heard nothing from his Highness as to the whereabouts of the sacred glass...... Wish i could get down saturday but i already booked have a good 1 have a great 1 come on England!!!!!!!!!! oi oi Posted Tue 06 Jun Agent-Bunnykins-TB Robbie would loose his head if it werent screwed on Posted Wed 07 Jun keaty Sorry mate...... ,its safe and well and gets polished everyday. Posted Wed 07 Jun Agent-Bunnykins-TB that doesnt surprise me Posted Wed 07 Jun Vinyl-Vera-OOPs haha nice one for the story keats....and 7star sister...your a darling for sending it back to him...you deserve another star! * big up the one they call MC Robbie Dee Posted Fri 09 Jun Edited by author Fri 09 Jun sevenstarsister Another star, Why thank you vera..... heres 1 for you too * Ok keaty, i accept your apologie. so how was the cheese & grain, have u got a page of photos yet? Posted Wed 14 Jun Agent-Bunnykins-TB robbie is at the next raindance FANTAZIA, BACK WITH A BANG! Fantazia have recently announced that after the spectacular success of their January show at Braehead, Glasgow that they will be returning for another mind blowing event on Saturday 30th September at the same venue. The show will take the same three room format, and will follow the same musical styles of big anthems old skool in the main arena, an outdoor marquee for Arena 2, and Fantazia Funky Club Classics in Arena 3. Here is the line up as far as confirmed so far for the night. Saturday 30th September 2006, 6pm-4am Braehead Arena and Waterfront, Glasgow Live Main Room: Baby D : SL 2 : Neophyte : Public Domain : Ramirez : QFX : Digital Boy Djs: Main Room Ellis Dee : Easygroove : Paul Elstak : Dye Witness (Exclusive DJ Set) : Scott Brown : Bass Generator : Slipmatt : Mallorca Lee MC Robbie Dee Arena 2: Live: Digital Commandos : Ultimate Buzz Easygroove (set 2) : Mark Smith : Hixxy : Dj Brisk : Mark Sherry : Dj Smurf : Dj Tizer : Airtight Upstairs: Funky Club Classics Jeremy Healy : Alistair Whitehead : John Kelly : Robbo : Jon Mancini : Huggy : Michael Paterson --> / message --> -->google_ad_client = "pub-5969754906432938";google_ad_width = 120;google_ad_height = 90;google_ad_format = "120x90_0ads_al_s";google_ad_channel ="2470759181";google_color_border = "FFFFFF";google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";google_color_link = "0000FF";google_color_url = "0000FF";google_color_text = "000000";//--> ..