FEATURED ARTICLE – Ratpack

Everson Allen has been there, seen it, done it and more to the point he’s still doing it and doing it his way. When he wanted to release ‘Rizla’ his record company told him that it wouldn’t get any airplay. Radio 1 returned the record saying that they wouldn’t promote drugs. A week later the record was No 1 in all the dance charts including the Radio 1 Nightline chart, and they had to ask for another copy. Amusingly, Pete Tong then played the uncensored side by mistake.

Ratpack goes back a long way. At the age of 12 Everson was DJing at school parties. “They called me a dreamer at school” he said, “now I can earn more in one night than a schoolteacher does in a month” But is money what it’s all about? “No way, I’ve done all nght, but I could have done better if I’d been greedy. Where I am night now, yes I do want to earn. My dream is to buy Centre Point and make it into the biggest studio block that you’ve ever seen in your life. I want to get the kids off the street to give them the chance to make music and if it runs as a tax loss then the Government can pay for it. There’s so much talent around from people who never get a chance. I grew up in Islington at a time when you never saw black people on the telly, and I grew up angry and fought back. House music changed that for me and has done for so many others. I can’t see that going away ‘cos the music’s healthy and changing all the time. Jazz, samba, industrial, reggae, all have a part in it. The music business should be run by the people who make the music, not Japanese men in business suits. In twenty years time it’ll be Ratpack v Sony!”

Hasn’t that been tried before, for instance in the days of Punk?

“No, no that was different. It wasn’t universal. Punks stick to their own. It didn’t cross class and race like house does. This music has had a good effect on society, it’s a positive force”.

What part does Ratpack play?

“Ratpack is now me, Lipmaster Mark and Robert. Mark is like my hands. I found him when he was 13 in a tower block. He was a skinny little white kid hanging around with black kids, but he was the one making the sounds. I kinda took him under my wing and eight years later our work together is instinctive. Everything I know about computers and programming I learn’t from him, but he still does all the complicated stuff. Over the years others have been part of Ratpack, like Steve Jackson, Matthew B, Frankie Valentine. Devious D is our best new apprentice. We teach them the Ratpack attitude, remember where you’re coming from and respect the ravers.

You’ve been to Japan, Holland and Belgium. You started Trip City and Cronin Road. You were resident at Labrynth and Telepathy. The new track is out soon. What’s next?

“I want to keep raving and performing for as long as I have a voice. I feel the music and it comes out in what I say. My voice never sounds the same, but you have to flow with  music, rather than shout over it to make yourself heard. Some MC’s shouldn’t be allowed on the mic, ‘cos they just give you a headache. I rate Moose and J Jay does OK, their attitude shows through in what they do. I like to rave all over the country, all the people are so different. Everyones got an opinion of what hardcore is, it’s a personal thing. You can’t make rave music unless you rave yourself and keep in touch with what’s going on. I’ve had a lot of things that I’ve wanted to do for a while. ‘Rizla’ dates back to  Telepathy and although the accident I was involved in just before Christmas delayed it, it’s done now. Who knows what’s next? JJ at Sub 2000 is helping us out and maybe New Years  Eve, the year 2000 we might be raving on the moon!

ADVERTS

• The Bass Box, Lea Valley Trading Estate, London N18
• Fascination – 4th July 1992 @ The Warehouse, 138-140 Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
• Rave World – 18th July 1992 @ Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
• Double Dipped – Saturday 18th July @ Four Aces, 12 Dalston Lane, London E8
• Fantazia Takes You One Step Beyond – Saturday 25th July @ Castle Donnington International Raceway
• Soul Sense Records, 16 Stuart Steet, Luton LU1 2SL
• Unity Records, 47 Beak Street, London W1R 3LE
• Premadonna Records, 32 Mill Road, Cambridge CB1 2AS
• Music Power 2, 24 Centreway Precinct, High Road, Ilford, Essex
• Prime Records, 15a Church Streetm Chatham, Kent
• Wax City Records, 306-308 London Road, Croydon
• PJA Productions (Lifeline), 30 District Road, Wembley, HA0 2LG
• Erotica at Grange Farm – Every Saturday

RAVE LISTINGS

• Raveworld Saturday 18th July. Leas Cliff Hall, Folkestone, Kent
• Double Dipped Saturday 18th July. Four Aces, 12 Dalston Lane, London E8
• Fascination Saturday 4th July. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
• Dance ’92 Friday 26th June. Angel Centre, Angel Lane, Tonbridge
• Liberty Friday 26th June. Stevenage Arts & Leisure Centre
• Starlight Friday 3rd July. Aston Villa Sports & Leisure Centre, Birmingham
• In Search Of Space Friday 3rd July. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
• Concrete Jungle Saturrday 27th June. The Warehouse, 9 Brighton Terrace, London SW9
• Aurora Saturday 11th July. Jenkins Lane, Ilford
• Peace Fest ’92 Friday 3rd July. Ledburn, Leighton Buzzard
• Desire ’92 Saturday 18th July. The Warehouse, Nathan Way, Plumstead, London SE28
• Reincarnation Saturday 27th June. Kings Hall, Herne Bay, Kent
• Elevation Friday 17th July. Bedford Youth House, Luton
• Wide Awake Club Saturday 27th June. Broadway Boulevard, Ealing, London W14
• Destination Ibiza (Delerium) 13th – 27th September. Ibiza, Spain
• Worship Saturday 12th July. Bedford Corn Exchange
• Amnesia House Saturday 27th June. Brayfield Stadium
• Pirates Independance Saturday 4th July. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, Edmonton, London N18
• Something DIfferent Saturday 27th June. Roller Express, Lea Valley Trading Estate, Edmonton, London N18