1: Storm has long established itself as the Midlands super-brand, how have you kept your crowd so loyal and partisan?

I think we have tried to create a great community feel with Storm, I always try to listen to the feedback that’s given to my about the events. We have set out to make each event about the clubber, not the DJs because ultimately with them and there loyalty there would simply be no night!

2: Do you think there is a definite split now between the UK’s Filth hard-house sound and the European Hardstyle / Hard Trance?

I certainly recognise that they are two separate markets. With Storm we try and keep it as varied as possible and cater for peoples different tastes, one month we have a line up dominated by “Filth” DJs and the next by the more European Hardstyle DJs, then month after that it will be a line up of the so called more “commercially recognisable” DJs i.e Lisa Lashes, Tidy Boys, Lisa Pin-Up, & Andy Whitby.
The key to Storms success has been variety!

3: The forth-coming Storm vs. GG “Battle of The brands” event will showcase both sounds and bring them together, as the two most forward thinking brands in the UK to date, do you think its right for the market leaders like us to cross over and bring new music to a new audience?

Yeah for sure, it can only be a good thing. Its key that we are constantly appealing to a broader market for dance music to evolve. When Storm and Goodgreef collaborate they are always such good nights. So I for one cant wait for the 26th.

4: Being the promoting behemoth that you are how do you unwind after a sell out event

We’ll any one that knows me well enough will tell you from the months of March to November most of my weekends are taking up completely obsessing over the Formula 1 season. I have stop after party’s in mid flow just to put the grand prix on the box! I am an absolute fanatic to the point I have a massive Lewis Hamilton print on my wall in my dinning room hahaha (I know… sad twat!)

Other than that I don’t really get much time to do any thing else (I’m writing this at 10:30pm) with running Storm and playing out most weekends.

5: After your critically acclaimed Birthday bash and the following you have, where do you see Storm in 5 years time?

Well hopefully I will still be involved, but the important thing is that we still retain a great young audience who are just as enthusiastic and passionate as some of us are now.
I hope the brand will continue to grow and carry on moving forward in the direction we are now. And hopefully we will be just as, if not even more, consistent as we are at the minute, we have a great home in The Emporium and great directors at the club, and we all seem to want the same for the brand… So here’s to Storms 13th Birthday!

6: Would you agree that you look a little too good in a blond wig?

Haha The blonde wig!
No I looked a knob, but stranger things have happened. It did feel good at the time though. ; -)

7: What are your plans for Ibiza 2008, I understand you are working with Tidy on some projects on the White Isle?

Yeah something I’m really looking forward too, we did a similar kind of thing with Tidy at Es Paradise last year. But this year it will be at Eden, and will be part of Tidy’s Boot Camp week from June 14th where we shall be doing a Tidy Classics vs. Storm Classics night on Tuesday 17th. It will be on a larger scale than the collaboration last year, with all four Storm residents going head to head with some of Tidy’s finest DJs. Tickets are still available from www.tidy.com *Plug!*

8: Is it true that Coalville is magnetically opposite to the rest of the UK?

HA HA HA HA!!

Coaville is the midlands answer to the Bermuda Triangle!!

9: The UK’s hard scene, far from being dead is now overflowing with great new talent, who are your 3 for the future?

1. Scott Fo-Shaw – The lad has everything on his side, age, talent, and some might even say looks!! Haha. But Scott has the right attitude and delivers time after time. Its not very often some one comes along and you instantly know that they are set to go far in this scene - He will have Storms full support!

2. Rodi Style – Already making big noises through the scene after playing his UK debut at Storm. Easily the most technically gifted DJ currently doing the rounds. Tidy quite rightly have snapped him up and added him as their only international DJ on their roster.

3. Jimmy Dean – One of the runners up for ‘Best Newcomer’ at this years Hard Dance Awards, and deservedly so. Jimmy has been knocking on the door for some time now, and has established himself a good loyal following, just needs that big break, but instead of sitting on his laurels and waiting for it to come and drop in his lap, Jimmy is always out there trying to find it, and trying to make it happen.

10: Coming from a different era also haha True or False “Hard-Dance” is the worst term ever?

I’m in two minds about this term, I always bloody use it, but half of me hates it! But being realistic I think it’s the right term for the direction the music seems to going, so deep down I’m all for it. Music is evolving and you have lots of different styles coming through, so when you have for example BK, Lisa Pin-Up, Alex Kidd, Paul Glazby, Technikal on the same line up, which is not unheard of, then it’s a good term to describe the night.