Danny Rants

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From cheeky YouTube stunts to commanding festival stages, Ben Gerrans’ story reads like something out of a movie. He launched his channel back in 2015 with prank‑heavy videos like “MAN VS WATERMELON,” quickly amassing hundreds of thousands of views and a devoted audience

.But a trip to Europe opened his eyes to the world of rave culture, and soon he was back home running small DJ parties for friends — nights that went viral and set the stage for his explosive pivot into dance music
.
Fast forward a few years and Gerrans is blending trance, techno and dance into his own “signature euphoric” sound, remixing Mac Miller’s “The Spins” into a breakout hit and dropping originals like “I Wanna Be,” “English Lad” and “Not Enough”

His high‑energy sets have sold out clubs across Australia and landed him on festival bills at Ultra Australia, Spilt Milk, Listen Out and Your Paradise

Yet after reaching the top at home, he decided to risk it all by relocating to the UK — swapping sure‑thing headlines for underground gigs and the chance to prove himself all over again.

Hit play to hear Ben talk about why he left a dream run in Australia for a new challenge abroad, the lessons he learned throwing house parties and how he’s chasing the next level of his creative journey. Like, comment and subscribe if you’re into origin stories, rave culture and people who aren’t afraid to start from scratch.

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Mike Toner from Thick as Thieves shares his wild journey from moving across the world to open a record shop, becoming a resident at Revolver, to running festivals and managing international touring DJs. Hear the highs, the disasters, and how he’s raised millions for charity by rallying the nightlife community.

 #ThickAsThieves #MikeToner #RevolverMelbourne #FestivalStories #DJLife #NightlifeStories #MusicIndustry #TouringDJs #FestivalFails #CharityThroughMusic #FredHollows #BehindTheDecks #ClubCulture #PodcastAustralia

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Step inside the legendary Empire Nightclub in Narre Warren — the suburban hotspot that somehow hosted global names like Chingy, Bow Wow, and even Dom Dolla. In this episode, we dive into the untold stories behind the booths, the chaos in the back rooms, and how we built one of the wildest suburban venues from the ground up. From packed-out Fridays to unforgettable drama, this is a raw, hilarious, and nostalgic look at the rise (and madness) of Empire.

Tickets To Reunion Here: https://tickets.oztix.com.au/outlet/event/0b0cb74a-5525-493c-bc26-5e3ed760f26d

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For the 50th episode of Danny Rants, I talk the mic on myself and begin to tell my own story — the real one.

In this EP:

• Growing up with nothing
• Making and losing big money in festivals and clubs 
• Accidentally getting caught up with gangs in NZ
• Wild parties, heavy mistakes, and lessons learned
• What keeps me going after all of it

If you’ve been following the chaos — here’s the full picture.

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Jay Malkoun is a name whispered in Melbourne’s nightlife history — nightclub king, strip club owner, enforcer, and former Comanchero boss. From wild nights in the city’s hottest venues to high-level negotiations with dangerous players, Jay lived it all.

In this explosive interview, he sits down with Danny Rants to share:

His rise through the nightclub scene

What it was really like owning and running nightclubs and strip clubs

The darker side of clubland — violence, bikies, and standovers

How he became a leader in the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle club

And the turning point that made him step away from the life

🔔 Subscribe for raw stories from the people who built, broke, and lived Australia’s nightlife.
📲 Follow @DannyRants on TikTok / Instagram for more clips.
🎙️ Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube.

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🔥 Inside Victoria’s Roughest Pubs & Clubs – Jess Conti Unfiltered

I sit down with Jess Conti to unpack the wild reality of working in some of Victoria’s toughest venues — from full-blown brawls to dealing with bikies, mafia figures, and out-of-control AFL players.

We dive deep into what it’s really like running multiple hospitality businesses — the wins, the losses, and the moments that nearly broke him.
And yes… he tells a jaw-dropping story about someone getting their eye punched out in a club.

This one’s raw, real, and absolutely mental.

🎥 Watch the full episode now.

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In this episode, I sit down with Kiet Diep, the man behind TANG Group and some of the biggest Asian nightclub events in Australia.

We go deep into the chaotic early days — when gang violence, stabbings, and even deaths were part of the underground scene in the late '90s and 2000s. Kiet shares what it was like to navigate real danger, run high-risk venues, and still build a legacy.

But this isn't just a story about survival — it's about the rise.

We explore how the Asian scene flipped the script, becoming the most in-demand nights in the country. Young millionaires and billionaires dropping $10K to $50K on booths, arriving in Lambos and Ferraris, rocking the freshest designer fits — and making these nights legendary.

Kiet also opens up about his evolution — from event promoter to owning Ultra, launching multiple nightclubs, and now running a successful restaurant empire.

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In this unfiltered second interview, legendary Melbourne DJ Hellraiser returns to take us deeper into the madness of the 90s and 2000s rave scene. From being wheeled out of clubs in a coffin, to shredding bibles mid-set, to playing around the globe, Hellraiser shares the raw, outrageous, and iconic moments that defined an era.

We dive into the untold stories behind Melbourne’s most infamous raves, the peak of hard trance culture, and what it was like to be at the centre of the storm during a time when dance music felt dangerous, spiritual, and absolutely alive.

If you were there — this is your nostalgia hit.
 If you weren’t — prepare to find out why you missed something wild.

🎧 Available on all platforms.
 📍 Subscribe for more legendary tales from Australia’s rave underground.

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From running his first illegal rave and getting caught, to blurring the lines between hardcore BDSM and hardstyle mayhem, Brad Drummond has lived through the wildest corners of Australia’s rave culture. In this episode, we dive deep into the 2000s underground — from the infamous Pharmacy events at Kryal Castle to the rise of mega raves legal and illegal to pushing every limit imaginable.

Brad also reveals how the Pharmacy Board came after him over the event name, and how he went from being part of Australia’s most notorious parties to now producing massive YouTube and podcast tours with TEG.

This one’s wild. It’s raw. And it’s straight from the heart of Aussie rave history.

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From Melbourne's Dance Floors to Hollywood's Rooftops: The Grant Smillie Story

In this exclusive interview, we delve into the remarkable journey of Grant Smillie—from his beginnings as a teenage promoter at iconic Melbourne clubs like Redheads and Seven, to becoming a driving force behind Australia's dance music evolution.

Grant's passion for music led him to become a resident DJ at the influential club brand, Onelove, which played a pivotal role in shaping the Australian electronic music scene . His collaboration with Ivan Gough resulted in the formation of TV Rock, a duo that achieved massive success with hits like "Flaunt It," topping charts and earning ARIA Awards .

After conquering the music world, Grant transitioned into the hospitality industry, co-founding venues like Ponyfish Island in Melbourne and the acclaimed E.P. & L.P. in West Hollywood . His ventures have redefined dining experiences, blending his musical roots with innovative culinary concepts.

Join us as Grant shares insights into his dynamic career, the challenges of reinvention, and his vision for the future. Whether you're a fan of electronic music, entrepreneurship, or inspiring life stories, this conversation offers a wealth of inspiration.