Bill Brewster is a pivotal figure in dance music; renowned as a DJ, writer, and music historian whose career spans journalism, performance, and curation. With a career spanning 40 years, he co-authored the seminal book Last Night a DJ Saved My Life with Frank Broughton, a definitive history of DJ culture, and wrote How to DJ (Properly), offering practical guidance for aspiring DJs. Also: The Record Players & How to DJ Right. Brewster also co-founded Djhistory.com, a vital online archive for dance music narratives, he is the host of the Bill Brewster Podcast with over 700 episodes.

In this episode, Robert & Bill discuss Bill's work, DJ history, philosophy around DJing and dance music and more.

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

3:45 - Bill's DJ Origin Story

9:03 - Northern Soul, Soul Boys, Rave Culture

13:13 - DJing, Ego & Vanity

15:54 - The Educational Role of the DJ?

20:43 - How Bill DJs (Spoiler; no preparation)

22:48 - The Lord of the Dance

33:12 - Modern Night Clubs in Decline?

37:33 - What is the Soul of Disco Trying to Accomplish?

44:25 - Is Dance Music Still Counter Cultural?

47:58 - The Dance Floor is the Star

49:25 - The UK Import Obsession

57:22 - "Disco Sucks" Phenomena, How Do DJs Be Less Picky

1:03:19 - The True Power of the DJ & Enthusiasm

1:07:01 - NO REQUESTS

ON REPEAT, GUILTY PLEASURE, UNDER THE RADAR

• On Repeat: Teddy Pendergrass - You Can't Hide From Yourself (Dmitri from Paris Edit)
• Guilty Pleasure: David Essex - Rock On
• Under the Radar:
• Sheena Easton - 101 - David Morales Def Mix
• Austin Ato - Control