#dj destroyer

"HANG THE DJ" - #8

AH The very talented and seasoned DJ Destroyer (government: Aaron Paar) I met Aaron thru Dave Fogg I believe...we have several mutual friends that I've discovered over the years. Aaron is one of my favorite DJ's, his taste is impeccable no matter what genre he's playing. I've heard him dj several times and every time there is something that he plays that I have to run up to the booth to find out what it is. I've heard him murder sets from hip hop to house and when we booked him to do SNITCH last year which is mostly electro/future disco etc. he murdered that too. He does his research.

He's a record head, a music junkie, a whiskey cowboy and just an all around good dude.

He has a weekly spot at The Little Temple in LA on Thursdays for those of you who dig that soulful thang.

Allow me to introduce you to "The Quiet Storm", a.k.a. DJ Destroyer.

"Me and one of my heroes. "BreakBeat" Lou Flores of Ultimate Breaks & Beats while digging for records....one of my favorite things to do."

How did you start?

" I wanted to DJ after seeing JMJ in Run DMC's Rock Box video. The Hip Hop movement of the early/mid 80's spurred me to get into making pause tapes for my graff & breaker pals recorded from LA Radio station KDAY broadcasts. I worked two summer jobs to buy turntables, practiced non-stop and never looked back."

What was your first gig and when? Were their any memorable moments that night good or bad?

"First gig outside of doing house parties was in a sideroom at a Rave in the DTLA Warehouse district. I forget which one but I was told to keep it funky and downtempo. I played a bunch of Acid Jazz type stuff. I was 16 years old."

How long have you been djing?

"20+ years"

What genre are you "known" for?

"I'm kind of known for being a multi Genre DJ. But I lean towards Soulful music geared towards the dancefloor. Whether it's Hip Hop, Funk, Disco, Reggae, House, Rock or Techno."

What do you/would you love to play you don't get booked for or that you're not known for?

"I would love to get more Disco/House bookings. Taking it to that Larry Levan/Ron Hardy level for a 1000 people who just want to dance is the ultimate peak for me."

Whats a couple of your new favorite artists or songs in the genre(s) your known for and especially genre(s) that you aren't know for but really dig?

"I Ced's "All in My Mind" LP, J Rocc's "Some Cold Rock Stuf" LP, Dego's new LP, New Hawthorne Headhunters LP, SBTRKT LP, Random Axe LP."

If you weren't djing what would you be doing?

"Probably an Inker at Marvel Comics. (Inking is not tracing by the way)."

What is your hobby or interest when you're not djing that people don't know about? (if its something that you can send a picture of pls do, i.e. art, photography, etc.)

"Records, Dank, Whiskey & Kung Fu."

Whats in your dj bag (aside needles, headphones, vinyl, and slipmats)

"Cables. cords, usb flash drives, usb light, & 5 hour energy shooters."

How do you deal with requests?

"I deal with requests respectfully and try to be cordial as possible. However, you come at me sideways with something lame....it's not happening. Some requests I'll honor if it fits within context of what's going on at the time. Some requests are actually good. But that's a rarity."

Top three re-occuring request situations? (i.e. "can you play something I can dance to"?)

"When playing House it's either "can you play Pitbull" or "some Hip Hop." "When Playing Reggae it's "can you play some Reggae?" "When playing Detroit Techno it's "can you play anything but this?"

Why do you think people think the dj booth is also a coatcheck?

"Some people have no concept of what a DJ is or does. Just ignorance I suppose."

Who's the "character" in the club that annoys you the most? i.e. club promoter, birthday girl, makin' it rain dude, Jamie Foxx on the mic doin his "stump the dj" bit, etc.

"Any dude that asks for a song is quite the most pathetic creature."

Worst gig you ever had?

"Worst gig was doing a college party in the middle of nowhere. I show up and sitting on the floor was two 1200's, a Radio Shack mixer and two bookshelf speakers. What's worse was that the guy who picked me up left early so I was basically stranded. I had to take a 150 dollar cab ride back home to LA."

Weirdest moment djing?

"So many but one that stands out was this Private Halloween house party up in the hills of Echo Park. Some old guy in his 60's started going ballistic that he couldn't sleep and was sick of the music blaring. The thing is, it was remote up there and all the neighbors were present or knew about the party. This guy proceeded to tear through the house screaming and yelling. I was outside Deejaying under a canopy in the driveway. I'm still playing and this guy ends up getting carried out by two dudes and as he passed the canopy he clung on to the posts and was bringing the whole thing down over my set up. I managed to shield the turntables and the situation was saved but the old guy escaped the hold and proceeded to go after me. I put him in check by yelling at him but he then grabbed the mic on the table and threw it at a random person on the dancefloor. He bolted and i chased this fucker around an suv. He came back around to my direction and I knocked him down. He was detained momentarily by some other dudes so I could get back to work. The guy ended up being a loony from the mental hospital nearby. Shit was crazy."

Best moment djing?

"Would have to say when you are playing the right music for the right crowd and everyone is in unison rhythmically. That's the best. I've had many of those nights and they are always memorable."

Worst moment djing?

"The worst moments are when no matter what the crowd is just wack. Or you have to chase down your money at the end of the night."

Tips - biggest and smallest or any short story about getting tipped?

"Biggest tip was 200 dollars for Billie Jean. Smallest was a nickel of dirt weed."

The Good, Bad & the Ugly of the current club format/scene right now? (pertaining to whatever scene your in, i.e. big room, underground, lounge, cool kid whatever)

"There will always be top 40 pop rooms and there will always be Underground. There are equal bs politics in both. I say forget about all that and forge your own sound, scene and brand. DIY all the way."

Least favorite thing the dj opening before you or going on after you does?

"If the opener can get bodies moving I'm happy. Setting the table is important. I've opened for cats and for me it's fun to get the energy going without playing all the hits the headliner would likely play. I think it's important to know who you are playing with so you can create a complimentary balance. If I'm sharing the bill w/someone and they go on after me I'm not gonna hold back. I wouldn't expect anyone else to do the same to me."

What would people be surprised to know about you?

"Maybe that I've put out records on my own imprint staring in the mid 90's and have been involved in the LA DJ world longer than the start of my Destroyer moniker which I started in 2003."

Who are some of your favorite DJ's that you think people should know about who people might not know about on a mainstream level (name the DJ and what city they're in)

"C Minus- Los Angeles, Warren Peace - Las Vegas, Cokni O Dire - Dallas, DJ Tomas - SF, Dave Fogg - Las Vegas"

Whats on your ryder?

" Technics 1200's , Rane 57 or Pioneer 800 mixer, loud monitors, and keep the whiskey and h20 coming."

Whats your poison? (drink of choice in the booth)

" Duh!"

What will you be/or want to be doing 5 years from now?

"More production & remixing and traveling to other cities and countries to share my musical story."

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THE LATEST MIX FROM DJ DESTROYER:

http://destroyer.podomatic.com/

OR FIND HIM ELSEWHERE:

"HANG THE DJ" interview #7

Wizards, Barbarians, & Apes ....Oh, My!

I met Dave Fogg lets see, in 1992 I believe,...in LA.  We didn't know each other well but ran in similar circles.  He's become close friend and has also become a DJ mentor of sorts if you will.  He makes me laugh, a lot...definitely one of the funniest people I know. When I first moved to Vegas he was the first person I called which was funny because he had been djing since I met him, and YEARS later I was calling him to say that I started djing and this is what I wanted to pursue.  Although we hadn't seen each other in years, he came through and was the first person to put me on, he actually got me my first residency at a spot called LURE, which later turned into BLUSH at the Wynn.  

All I wanted to do was DJ, I finally had found my calling...I had managed DJ's for years and was so excited to just focus on me...funny enough not to long after that Dave called me and asked if I was interested in managing him and Warren Peace.  If I were going to manage DJ's again...those two would be FIRST ON MY LIST...two of the most talented DJ's I've ever heard, period.  I politely declined, flattered for sure, but instead I wanted his help.  I was tryin' to sit up underneath his wing and learn all that I could.  Off and on I would call him for advice.  4 years and a couple of residencies gained later, we did a few parties together downtown just as a side-bar to be able to play joints we loved and invite other dj's to come and get their rocks off.  Around the time I was a resident DJ at The Palms and had started "SNITCH", Dave acquired his fourth Music Director title ironically enough, at The Palms (His previous include: Whiskey Sky, RA, & XS/Tryst).  We, along with Palms Marketing Director Rachel Wenman, and DJ Mike Attack, made that party the hottest Wed night spot in Vegas at the time.  Many, many funny moments in that DJ booth we had and many incredible guest performances from DJs & artists, we were breaking non top-40 artists in a major casino in Vegas and it was awesome, one of my best Vegas memories.  Tonight for interview #7 in the "HANG THE DJ" series...He's the DJ, and I'm the rapper....

Dave is an interesting fellow, a 6' 4" self-titled Alpha-nerd, a talented producer who, as most probably don't know, was one of the producers responsible for the Mash-up phenomenon, and is quite the dancer when Whiskey takes over.  He is most def one of the people responsible for me being the DJ I am today.  Allow me to introduce you to the DJ otherwise known as Dave Fogg...and one of the greatest early 90's pictures of any DJ you'll ever see!

How did you start? "

"Really started in college, doing radio and parties. UNR was not conducive to learning so I stayed in the dorm all day mixing records.."

What was your first gig and when? Were their any memorable moments that night good or bad?

"The first proper, paying gig? At a gay nightclub amazingly called "Steppin' Out". Even better, is that it was close to my house so I rode a scooter there every week. It was, like... the first, big room gig, from previously doing house parties and sports bars. I remember there was a big dyke named Butch that was telling the customers I was off limits. Probably the closest I came to being a prison bitch."

*pause* (Dave circa late 90's)

  How long have you been djing?

"Long time, since the late '80s. I'm in the "I've been DJing since you were a twitch in your daddy's loins" club..." 

What genre are you "known" for?

"I guess it kinda depends on the time frame and your interpretation of "known". Raves, rare groove/acid jazz, mashups, deep house. Might be better defined with production work, whether it was with DIY releases with Teflon Dons, Inhumanz, or major label work with RBX. I think recently it's just been more for being a big-room Vegas DJ, which isn't such a bad look until Puffy unlocks the studio..."

What do you/would you love to play you don't get booked for or that you're not known for?

"Something like a Do Over situation would be ideal. Being able to play reggae, disco, funk, yacht rock, etc. for an open crowd. It doesn't happen as much as I'd like it to."

Whats a couple of your new favorite artists or songs in the genre(s) your known for and especially genre(s) that you aren't know for but really dig?

"SBTRKT, Modeselektor, Siriusmo, Dillon Francis, Jamie Woon..."

If you weren't djing what would you be doing?

"Probably still performing in some capacity, maybe hosting a karaoke night, get things warmed up with some Lou Rawls.." 

What is your hobby or interest when you're not djing that people don't know about? 

"This sums up my hobbies."

Whats in your dj bag (aside from laptop, needles, headphones, vinyl, and slipmats)?

"Denon HC-1000S Midi Controller, Novation Launchpad, Leatherman, assorted cables, energy supplements, assorted cables, mints...Now that I think it about it, it's a purse..."   How do you deal with requests?

"I'll take requests if they're done with respect, within reason, and gratuity, of course. I'm pissed because I put aside some hateful napkin requests and can't find them, but these one is a classic."

Top three re-occuring request situations? (i.e. "can you play something I can dance to"?)

"Birthday, Bachelor, Bachelorette."

Why do you think people think the dj booth is also a coatcheck?

"Mainly because they think that the area underneath the turntables is some theft-free zone that the DJ guards with his life. I will go through your shit..."

Who's the "character" in the club that annoys you the most? i.e. club promoter, birthday girl, makin' it rain dude, Jamie Foxx on the mic doin his "stump the dj" bit, etc.?

"All grown men that stand by the booth to request a song."

Your story about people asking you to play "hip hop"...when you're playing hip hop?

"For some reason, happens whenever I play A Tribe Called Quest. I swear a whole generation missed the era of boom-bap. What's even funnier is their requesting Lil Wayne or Waka...sweet."

Worst gig you ever had?

"The weekday 5am-1pm shift at the Crazy Horse Too. I used to doze off in between girls and when I would announce I sounded like I was on heroin."

Weirdest moment djing?

"Not so much weird, but memorable. All-Star Weekend. Grand Opening, Grand Closing! Yelling match with Young Jeezy, riot police in da club, Rick Ross freestylin, big fun...and, the best quote ever from a patron..."Hey white boy, this is a black club"...while playing a short house set"

Best moment djing?

"For alot of DJs i guess it would be playing for large crowds or connecting with someone who had a major influence on you. Definitely has happened for me, but I don't think THE moment has come yet. Like, if I got to be the guy that played the five tones, that would be a moment."

Worst moment djing?

"I was in Macau working for a few weeks. If you haven't been, it's about the closest thing to the Wild West. A heavyweight Triad member came into the club with about a dozen soldiers and just took over the bar. They got pretty aggro with the staff, including myself, demanding and then threatening. I didn't wanna end up at the bottom of Macau Bay, so I bounced. Not cool, especially being a stranger in a strange land..."

Tips - biggest and smallest or any short story about getting tipped?

"I've gotten a dollar for playing Mac Dre and over $1,000 for playing Bon Jovi."

The Good, Bad & the Ugly of the current club format/scene right now?

 "As pertaining to the Las Vegas scene:

The Good- Vegas is easily the premier destination for nightlife, especially now with the trend in EDM spiking growth in the clubs. It's a good time to be a professional DJ, regardless of how easy it is to actually become one now.  (There's actually a big difference in those two.)

The Bad- Talent agencies. Period.

The Ugly- Just like anything that fosters high-stakes competition, the politics, ego, and greed that happen behind the scenes."

Least favorite thing the dj opening before you or going on after you does?

"Hey man, I'm just gonna loop out on this when we switch...". No. No, you will not. Give me  a CDJ or an input, I will mix in from my phone if i have to...

What would people be surprised to know about you?

"The last 5 movies I cried in were... Rise of The Planet Of The Apes, 300, Fellowship Of The Rings, Conan, The Barbarian, Excalibur"   

 Who are some of your favorite DJ's that you think people should know about who people might not know about on a mainstream level (name the DJ and what city they're in)?

"Warren Peace- Las Vegas, DJ Spryte- Los Angeles, DJ Destroyer- Los Angeles

DJ Jayceeoh- Pittsburgh, Jaguar Skills- UK"

Whats on your rider?

"3 CDJ 2000s, Pioneer 800/900 mixer, Serato SL3, bottle of Jack Daniels, Red Bulls, water, and sour gummi worms."

Whats your poison? (drink of choice in the booth)

"Bourbon"

What will you be/or want to be doing 5 years from now?

"Hopefully getting paid exorbitant sums of money to travel around the world because I made the next "Barbara Streisand". Either that or I'll be serving you a chicken at Medieval Times..."

YOU CAN DOWNLOAD DAVE'S NEW PODCAST HERE:

For other podcasts jump to:

http://davefogg.podomatic.com/

OR FIND HIME ELSEWHERE:

@davefogg