30 years of Trade as remembered by Tall Paul, Trevor Rockliffe and more…
Our celebrations of three decades of after partying continue…
In the second part of our celebration of Trade’s 30th birthday – being marked by a massive knees up at EGG LDN in King’s Cross this weekend, we chat to some of the famous names associated with the club and unearth their memories of this most special of club nights.
Tall Paul
How did you get involved as part of the Trade DJs and what kinds of music were you playing? Did this evolve as the club went on?
I got involved in Trade as it was my family’s club I was buying music and had a few gigs here and there…nothing serious. When Trade started it blew me away…I hadn’t come across anything like it on the rave scene. This was the sound I was into. I was buying house music and I was playing it on my radio show and was confident that I could make my mark at Trade.
The club was so popular and people just didn’t want to leave. That opened up some more slots as the closing time was pushed back. I was pestering Laurence with tapes of my style and music and thankfully he gave me a chance to play and finish the night off. At first I came on after Trevor Rockcliffe who could bang it, and then another slot came up as the closing time moved again till 1pm. In came Tony De Vit who was quality from the start. Tony was always at Trade so this was his dream gig as well. It was a serious line up back then.
What are your particular memories of Turnmills as a venue, of the people who went to Trade and of any defining parties or moments?
I have memories of Turnmills in all of its guises. The early days as a local wine bar and then the 24hr licence landed and it became the first club in UK to do all night parties legally. Trade also had its chapters for me. The perfect way it started musically and went although all theses different moods musically throughout the night. The crowd were pretty crazy, which was certainly encouraged, and musically you would hear the best of the best played down there. At the start of Trade I was there enjoying the music, just listening to all these amazing records. Then a few years later I was actually DJ-ing there which was the most important thing in my life at that moment. As my career took off I couldn’t dedicate every week to it because of my travels and especially as I often started at 11am on Sunday morning which was beginning to take its toll.
How would you describe Trade’s legacy, both to wider nightlife culture and to your own life and career?
Trade was such a huge inspiration for me to make music, certainly in a style that I could play there…that was the most important thing. I was lucky that as other venues and international clubs wanted to hear the same sound so my journey began as a DJ because of that club. It’s gone down in clubbing folklore similar to New York’s Studio 54 and Paradise Garage.
Top three personal Trade anthems with a sentence or two on each please.
‘Love Rush’ – Decktition
I have to mention this track as it was one of the first tracks I made with Trade in mind and I see DJs like Eats Everything and Ewan Mcvivar playing it again. It actually came out on the Trade label and it’s so cool to hear it out again.
‘Burnng Up’ – Tony De Vit
Such a Trade anthem…it used to send the place crazy. We shared the same agent for years Tony and I shared lots of time and shows together. It was such a shock when we lost him.
‘Lock Up’ – Zero B
It was the crossover tune of the century. From London Pirate radio to Trade to the mad dance floors of Scotland. This tune just rocked. The brakes, drum sounds, the anthemic moments…it’s only got about 5 parts to it but they’re done to perfection.
Malcolm Duffy
How did you get involved as part of the Trade DJs and what kinds of music were you playing? Did this evolve as the club went on?
I just turned up with a carrier bag of fierce records and told Laurence I wanted to play! I knew I had something different to offer as my US House tastes encapsulated Tribal, House & Garage but with a certain Malcolm tough edge and then when my production career took off it just connected with that Turnmills dancefloor – the music did evolve but I stayed true to my tastes and sounds. Also, to see John Newman (Turnmills’ owner & Dad to Tall Paul) take to the controls of that main floor laser when I played holds a place right there. Special memories.
What are your particular memories of Turnmills as a venue, of the people who went to Trade and of any defining parties or moments?
The early days at Turnmills were very magical as I think we saw something special was brewing and the certain faces turned up every week and you just knew a spark was in the air of the morning! Made some really important friendships with sisters there. I always remember Dj’ing at TWILO in 96 as part of a TRADE US Tour with Danny Tenaglia when TRADE played in NYC – it was a very crazy night of naughty stateside debauchery!
How would you describe Trade’s legacy, both to wider nightlife culture and to your own life and career?We did our thing and others followed. Some came close but not very many!
Top three personal Trade anthems?
01: Photon Inc feat.Paula Brion “Generate Power” (Strictly Rhythm)
A completely unique ahead of its time moment of genius from DJ Pierre that just had something about it that made it relentless and fierce at Trade!
02: James Christian “Tantra’s Circus” (Nervous)
My type of Tribal house…the mix I played was only 5 minutes long so I bought 2 vinyl copies to play it back to back! Still sounds fresh over 25 years on!
03: George Morel “Morel’s Groove – Part 3 / Down To The Waistline (Honey) (Bitch Mix)”
I absolutely adored this track and it always got a hilarious reaction! Morel rocks and this always did when played!
Trevor Rockliffe
How did you end up becoming a Trade resident?
Daz and I were Resident DJs at Troll, held at the Sound Shaft, Heaven night club. The promoter Tim Stabler sort of started Trade with Laurence Malice and he asked us if we were up for doing an after hour club at Turnmills.
02: What can you remember from the first ever Trade party?
I remember going down the stairs, it was absolutely packed, there didn’t have a DJ box with turntables and the mixer was just on a stand, but the crowd were rocking to the sound of house and techno, really into it. Man atmosphere was sick.
How would you describe the Trade sound and the Trade music policy?
The sound of Trade was House, Hip House, Hard house,Techno, funky Techno, good Trance. Man we played Breakbeat up in there.
Why was Turnmills the ideal venue for Trade?
Turnmills was the perfect venue for Trade as the layout was great, with some nice little private areas, It was underground and dark.
05: What was it about the Trade ethos that resonates with you? What made it so special?
The people, the music, the bad ass sound system and the lasers, it was the first after hours gay party, that clubbers really really appreciated good music and you needed to be able to mix those tunes down!! They knew their music.
06: Tony De Vit is remembered as one of the finest DJs of the era. What made his DJing so special and what are your fondest memories of him – both as a DJ and a human being?
Tony played the big hard house tracks and he could mix it up man and he was a really nice guy.
07: Why was a policy of predominantly residents – as opposed to countless guest DJs – important to the Trade ethos? Which other residents helped make Trade what it is?
I guess Laurence wanted to keep that particular sound that Trade had and having guest DJs would have changed that sound.
08: What is the quintessential Trade track?
E Trax – ‘Lets Rock’
I’m sure you’d agree that the Trade regulars were far more important than any pretentious celeb. Do you have any highlights or memorable moments involving the regular punters?
100% the regular punters were all I cared about. Every week down there was special and we were privileged to have such amazing nights and I really appreciate the great people I DJ-ed for.
11: There have been countless Trade events further afield. Have you been involved in any? Which ones stand out?
The Trade night in Amsterdam was a fantastic stand out night. The Dutch, who know how to rock the house smashing it with our peeps? Wow Brilliant night.
The Blonde Spirit (DJ)
Can you begin by giving a brief rundown of your background and what your life looked like pre-Trade? What was it like to be gay in the UK at that time?
I first went to Trade In 1995 aged 17. I was working the cloakroom in Tintin;s club in Birmingham where Tony De Vit started his career. So Trade was legendary and infamous. I was still living as a boy at that time. Life in Birmingham as a young gay camp boy in the 90’s was rough and clubland gave me a home to be free and feel safe.
Tony De Vit is remembered as one of the finest DJs of the era. What made his DJing so special and what are your fondest memories of him – both as a DJ and a human being?
Tony De Vit’s sound was high energy, sinister and atmospheric. I’ve partied globally and never found anywhere like Trade since. As a person he was kind and funny. I knew him from Birmingham but spent more time with him when I was at Trade London. I would get the night coach down from Dudley which would take me 4 hours to get there and I had to be back for work on Monday totally twitted.
What is the quintessential Trade track?
My favourite Trade track was definitely Fierce Rulin Diva’s Pump.It. When it came on the energy would shift from the light earlier house to the hard house and when that happened you knew the party had begun.
In what ways has Trade shaped your life?
I would not be me of it wasn’t for Trade.I always knew I was trans. Seeing trans women at Trade for the first time in the 90’s made me realise transitioning was a reality.
Why was Turnmills the ideal venue for Trade?
Turnmills was a religion. Like a temple. We went weekly to give praise for life and forget out worries. It was a spiritual experience, inter dimensional space. Anyone could manifest into their life from there. Sex, drugs and techno.
What was it about the Trade ethos that resonates with you? What made it so special?
Trade was super friendly, super fashion and super extreme. It was just super in every way and exclusive. Like a secret community that people would travel from other continent sto experience for the night. You might see familiar faces in the week on the tube and have a secret knowing look. Almost like a secret society.
There have been countless celebrities in attendance at Trade over the years – some of them not actually making it into the club. Which of these instances stand out and are there any amusing anecdotes to share?
I know that I would often meet under cover stars in the club and my favourite head fuck was meeting Bianca, Ricky and another guy from Eastenders all in the toilets. It was camp
I’m sure you’d agree that the Trade regulars were far more important than any pretentious celeb. Do you have any highlights or memorable moments involving the regular punters?
My favourite regular was a glamorous tall black trans woman. A famous trans trailblazer. She had extreme huge breasts like Lola Ferrari and would always be back against a wall fanning herself.
I’m so grateful and proud to be headlining as a DJ at the Trade 30th Birthday…it only took me 25 years to get the gig! Follow me for more accolades @djblondespirit
Tony De Vit, (1957-1998) By Laurence Malice, Trade creator
Tony was not just a fundamental and much loved member of the Trade family who certainly inspired a magical era for the club from his debut set, which broke so much ground with his musical take on what we were establishing. He was also a very close friend. We simply clicked when we met, on word of mouth, he used to travel from Birmingham with friends to experience Trade.
From our first introduction his enthusiastic charm won me over, and then I listened to his mix tape! He felt inspired to push a new style of the tougher end of House & Techno, which completely fitted our ethos and went on (before social media) to establish Trade globally. His style is still held in high respect all these years on. Pete Tong once commented that Tony’s mixing was so flawless it was very hard as a DJ to follow him!
Before anyone else he brokered his tuff edged sound in Ibiza which raised so many eyebrows including a comment from the legendary DJ Alfredo who was concerned that Tony’s set at Manumission was too fast – Tony had over 7,000 people on the floor at Privilege going crazy and finished his set with new TDV Remix. As he pulled his headphones out, he commented to Alfredo; “Too fast? Mix out of that!” The power of his reputation speaks for itself after all these years, a completely unique tour de force, a pioneer who will never be forgotten – and most importantly; a much missed friend.
‘The whole place being filled with smoke from the smoke machine, Tony de Vit playing a fire alarm on the decks and three men running onto the dance floor in yellow hi-visibility jackets and then just cracking into a dance as TdV added a bassline to the “tune”!
Paul Roach
Trade Lite Lounge Launched August 31st 1997
I approached The Sharp Boys with the idea of opening a second room with a lighter edge which would compliment what was going on in the Main Room. Musically at this time this was just ahead of the return of funky beats in House music and the Lite Lounge started in a room that used to be used as a coat check above the cafe at the top of the venue. It kicked off massively and you couldn’t move in the room and clubbers were dancing on the staircase leading up to the room to the sounds of Alan Thompson, The Sharp Boys and Fat Tony. So popular it became that in 6 months the Lite Lounge moved into a much larger back room, which was used in the week as a gym , running there for almost a year. A new room T2 was being built at the front of the club, which opened in 1999 and was home to Trade Lite thereafter. Residents include the late Chris McKoy (RIP) and Peter Ward, and its where vocalist Tonnic first got on the mic singing over the tracks and was awarded the title “The First Lady of Trade Lite”. It remains a popular room at every Trade event.
Final Trade at Turnmills March 16th 2008
‘Trade”:The Last Dance’ was held on March 16th 2008 and within a few weeks of the event being announced, the event sold out. Many of the original Trade DJs returned for the final event, including Steve Thomas, Ian M, Daz Saund, Malcolm Duffy and Pete Wardman. The club opened its doors at 5am and during the night i made a speech to the main room dance floor, thanking the clubbers and my associates, and asking everyone ‘to really go for it!’. The party continued until the final record, ‘Schoneberg’ by Marmion, was played by Pete Wardman, finishing at 5.45pm.
Can you think of a few legendary sets you witnessed or special evenings that stood out? Any special tunes that seem to have become Trade anthems?
‘Age of Love’ Jam and Spoon Remix – Age of Love (React)
‘Flotation’ – Vincent De Moor
‘Energy 52’ – Café del Mar
‘Insomnia’ by Faithless
‘Passion’ by Gat Decor
‘Don’t You Want Me’ – Felix (Hooj Choons)
‘He Never Lost His Hardcore’ NRG (Chill)
‘Make You Whole’ – Andronicus (Hooj Choons)
‘Let’s Rock’ Daz Saund Remix – E-Trax
‘Welcome ‘ Committee
Are there plans to honour the late Tony De Vit at the party?
We are dedicating this party to honour the memory of Tim Stabler, who died recently, and who was one of the early key people at the beginning, He was running Troll at the Sound Shaft, behind Heaven, and he bought all his amazing production to Trade and was also an early partner.
How will you top the last 25th Anniversary event?
Buy a ticket and come down and see for yourself!
Andy Farley
Yeah, the first time I played was in 2002. I did a four hour set for the Tony de Vit memorial, and I played back-to-back with Emma Doubell. It was a real honour – for someone who had been such a big influence on me, it was very special to play at his memorial.
Turnmills, as a club, was one of the best clubs in the UK. It was designed for the dj – the dj booth was enclosed, the sound was fantastic, and when you were in that dj booth and you would look out across the dancefloor and you would see the lazers going, the smoke, the strobes – it was just amazing.
The atmosphere in there was just, well…It’s hard to describe it, really. I used to call it ‘the Trade roar’ – when the bassline kicks in, or a breakdown’s building up to kick back in – the noise from the dancefloor was just amazing.
‘the rolling Trade beats, the exposed brick work, the laser, ‘to the limmmmmit’ – there is no other place on earth”
Kelly Nichols
I can genuinely say I have had the most sublime happiest moments of my life on the Turnmills dancefloor. Most bizarre memory is of a group of 3 or 4 guys walking onto the dance floor with one of those moveable bus stop signs and then proceeding to dance round it (I know what you’re thinking, but others witnessed it too!)
Steve Saunders
Tony de Vit`s 12 hour set 95, sublime and unforgettable
Pete Wardman`s finishing set 24/11/97 recorded for Kiss FM with Lab 4 ‘Reformation’ mixed into ‘All You All Ready’, which was doubled, phased and 160bpm dropping at the end, mindblowing!!] – still got all the tapes !
Everybody clapping along over an early version of ‘Playing with Knives’, then Trade creator Laurence Malice announcing it was the last ever weekly Trade. As sad as it was, it was nice to be there.
All of the DJs signing my Tony de Vit No 1 t-shirt
Making it to the top of the stairs and back into the ordinary world after a 12 hour Trade marathon
The cheer that goes up every time ‘Hooked’ is played. Fair dues to you Laurence, you`ve created something very special.
The Trade 30th Birthday takes place on Saturday 12 February 2022 at Egg London, from 6pm till 6pm on Sunday February 13th. The marathon welcomes sets from
DJs: Trade Modern: Boris – Cassie Raptor – Fidelity Kastrow – Frankel & Harper – Kyle E – Pagano – Remco Beekwilder – Tafkanik – VCL – Warboy – Wax Wings
Trade Lite: Fat Tony – Guy Williams – Hilit Kolet – Jeffrey Hinton – Maze & Masters – Sugarbear –Smokin Jo – The Sharp Boys
Trade Classic: Andy Farley – BK – Daz Saund & Trevor Rockcliffe – Knuckleheadz – Lisa German – Paul Heron – Paul King – Tall Paul – The Blonde Spirit – Blu Peter – Carl Nicholson
++ ADONIS will be joining us taking over the Middle Floor from 10am Sunday February 13th
ADONIS DJs Grace Sands, Marie Malarie, Michelle Manetti & Shay Malt. Plus Hosts & Club Kids galore..
Tickets: https://store.ticketing.cm.com/120222
+ 1 Very Special Guest DJ TBA on the day of the event
Admission: Tickets: https://ra.co/events/1482357