DJ Tim Biggs

What were your musical influences when growing up and what did you get into/ up to?

The Clash/Georgie Moroder/Larry Levan/The Salsoul label. Caister Soul weekenders to Heaven, Sofa and Co. Shelford (do your homework)…

How long have you been DJ’ing and how did you get into it?
I Started a long time ago within a galaxy far far away (I’d just finished with Star Wars and steam trains, when I was16). Really, though, I started with a mobile disco called Galaxy roadshow!

Who are your favourite DJ’s and why?
Andrew Weatherall for being innovative, mysterious, obsessively compulsive mixing and for having gravitas. Larry Levan for changing the face of disco and establishing a viable public space for gay acceptability.

What was your first break into the rave scene?
Just after Splash at King’s Head started to break the soul/funk mode; just before The Globe, Newmarket rd, Cambridge, started serving curries.


What’s the best event you have played at?
Outdoor Eclipse: my birthday. What a way to spend your birthday a tent full of all my friends and lots of very happy dancers! And 5,000 more outside the front door…

How did you get involved with DJ’ing at Eclipse?
I guess I was part of team of rota DJs at Tracey’s – Napier St – where I met Stuart and David Banks. I was so cheap and good looking I was booked to play for the cleaners before the doors opened.


What’s your views on MC’s?
Not my cup of tea – I’m into music and don’t really like my beats and melodies disturbed.

What’s your favourite choon of all time?
Toughie really, so I’ll offer 3: Altered States, Ron Trent; The Clash, Train in Vain; and The Undertones, Teenage kicks and I really like Jump, Funkatarium.

Which other events did you regularly play at and attend back in the day?
I was involved in the earlier madness at Tudor Oaks, a little before Brilliant took off.

Do you recall any good memories or stories from Eclipse or the Cambridge rave scene?
I decided, in an egotistic state-of-mind, to drop – like a lead-balloon – Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit at the end of an Eclipse set. Poor, young – in those days - Lee Coombes had to follow this moment of narcissism – well he had to cut his teeth somewhere, didn’t he? And look where he is now!

Funniest/strangest thing that ever happened at an event?
Bumping into a much loved and lost friend in the most unusual place.

If you had a time machine which year would you go back to and why?
1976: to be fully participative in the punk, then NY disco, scene and be a head-strong activist for equality and human rights, whilst dancing my nuts off.

Have you ever played abroad?
Does Wales count?

Do you still DJ today and what are your plans for the future? If so, where and what style? Do you still play vinyl?
I play for friends at parties and the odd gig now and again. My playlist would be an eclectic mix of digital and a little vinyl – the back’s not up to it these days – and I don’t have so many willing groupies (blaggers).

How would you describe your current DJ style and what was your favourite genre spanning over the House music scene?
I don’t subscribe to the idea of style – too many DJs thought they’d found a niche then had to change to be the next big thing. That’s too high maintenance for me, and a lot of hard work. A lot of young Turks have that tenacity for it that I once had. I guess this is one reason why this ol’ dog’s had its day. … I loved the transition 80s from punk/disco/funk to acid house and still cry when I hear Jamie Principle’s Your Love. Maybe I was always eclectic, but was never labelled so …

What kind of music do you listen to most in your own time?
I love Nick Cave, Radiohead, Kings of Leon, Johnny Cash, The Clash (still), Nina Simone, Joy division, The Raconteurs, Bonnie Prince Billie. So there’s jazz, rock, punk, country and western in there: I’d say that I’m truly eclectic – at last!

What do you do outside of the dance music scene?
I’m a primary school teacher now, so the little time I have I put my energy into activism for Greenpeace, CND and Amnesty International.

If you could stage any rave anywhere, where would it be?
The original Paradise Garage, NY; failing this, my back garden to save the hassle of getting home.

How big is your vinyl collection?
Too big: it’s resting in my mother’s loft and my nan’s garage – I won’t divulge where they live.

What do you think of CDJ's?
Good luck to them. As long as they’re creative and innovative, it wouldn’t matter if they’d not paid a penny for their tunes, if that’s the issue? Good luck to them.

Are there any shout outs you would like to make? Pay your respects?
I think there was enough shouting and screaming done to last forever.