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This week, we had the absolute pleasure of diving into the fascinating journey of the legendary Greg Wilson! He took us way back to his childhood in Merseyside, where the magic of the 60s and the ever-present soundtrack of The Beatles became deeply ingrained. It wasn't a distraction from anything, but more of an exploration of that incredible era's creativity and optimistic spirit. Imagine growing up a stone's throw from the Tower Ballroom where The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were tearing it up!
Greg shared how his deep dives into artists like Bowie and Dylan fueled his passion for understanding the evolution of music. This meticulous approach would later come into play in unexpected ways.
Then, we took a turn into the vibrant world of early UK street dance with Broken Glass. Greg recounted how a chance encounter with Kermit (later of the Rap Assassins and Black Grape) led to managing this groundbreaking breakdancing crew. Their "street tour" of the Northwest sounds legendary, breaking down barriers and even sparking connections across racial lines in a time when such interactions were less common in some areas. He fondly remembers seeing young white and black kids connecting over the music and dance – a real moment of positive social impact.
The conversation then shifted to the emergence of the Ruthless Rap Assassins. Greg vividly described the raw energy and unique attitude of their early tapes, particularly the track "We Don't Care." Their originality and unexpected humor immediately grabbed him, leading to him taking on management and production duties. He walked us through their journey, from getting studio time to eventually signing with EMI – a "mad" move for such an uncompromising act.
The story of their time with EMI is a rollercoaster, from creative freedom with their first album ("Sample City" with its insane sample layering – think Hendrix, Jerry Lee Lewis, Ringo Starr, Happy Mondays, and even Sergeant Pepper!) to the clash with the main marketing department who, fresh off the success of MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice, didn't quite grasp the Rap Assassins' hardcore, socially conscious, and often satirical vibe. The near miss with Simon Bates playing the wrong side of their single perfectly illustrates the challenges they faced with radio play, which ultimately hampered their commercial success despite critical acclaim.
Greg also touched on the early days of re-editing for radio, including a surprising stint doing edits for none other than Timmy Mallett! These "turntable edits" using basic gear laid the groundwork for his later influential work in the re-edit scene.
It's a fantastic episode packed with anecdotes about musical discovery, the early UK hip-hop scene, and the challenges of navigating the music industry. You won't want to miss Greg's insights into the creative process and the stories behind these pivotal moments in music history!
Mentioned in this episode:
Reissued classics from Be With Records
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