Billy “Daniel” Bunter takes over the airwaves
Reported by benz
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Submitted 04-07-06 16:57
Daniel Light, more commonly known as Billy “Daniel” Bunter, has been djing at some of the biggest dance music events in the UK’s history since 1990. This long-running commitment is made all the more impressive by the fact that he was a mere 15 years old at the time! His roots are grounded firmly in the acid house revolution of 1989, and from then on he was chiefly known for supporting the harder, faster (excuse the “pun”) strains of dance music in the UK — from early rave music through to happy hardcore and modern hard dance, Bunter has always been about tough underground music.
Alongside his DJing and erstwhile production career, he has been a regular fixture on various forms of radio stations for over 16 years now. I went down to the Ministry of Sound studios in Elephant & Castle to sit in on his weekly radio show to see the man in action.
The “On-Air” light flashes red as I enter the plush MOS office and find the radio studio tucked away to one side. I open the heavy soundproof doors once the light goes off, and am greeted by the chirpy Cockney tones of Mr. Bunter himself. “Benz me old son! Let me just do this link and I’ll be right with ya.”
I watch as he handles the mic like a true pro, with an energetic and light-hearted style that makes for a good accompaniment to the old skool beats he is banging out. “I first started pirate radio in 1993 for Eruption FM — I had done the odd guest slots on pirate stations between ‘89 and ‘92,” he later tells me. “But Eruption was the first regular slot. It was so different to the Ministry show and set-up”.
Billy "Daniel" Bunter with special guest and hardcore legend Dougal
Pirate radio really is a very different game from legal broadcasting — what with its clandestine nature, lack of regulations, and its spontaneous feel. As Bunter found out when he first started though, this spontaneity isn’t always a good thing. “You’d get other djs messing around and pretending you’re getting raided whilst presenting a show in a disused flat in a tower block. When I was on Eruption that was how the management welcomed me to my first show. Pretending to be the old bill . . . I shit myself!”
Radio has always played a massive part in educating the masses about dance music. Right now in London there are dozens of pirate stations showcasing everything from tech house, to drum ‘n’ bass, to old skool hardcore, to grime, and back again. The big dogs Radio 1, Galaxy and Kiss have brought us specialist shows from across the musical spectrum, and have helped to break new djs and styles of music over the years. Even with the rise of the internet and all the new possibilities for downloading music online, the good old fashioned radio is still king in kitchens, cars, and workplaces all over the country. And in fact, the internet now has hundreds and hundreds of live radio stations operating on it — breathing new life into this old medium.
The live element, combined with the element of surprise of what’s coming next and the possibility to interact with the show, makes it a truly different entertainment experience from anything else around. “The music changes that’s being played, but the importance and impact is still as vital as it’s ever been. Be it pirate radio or Radio 1 it’s still the most important way of getting fresh music out to people who want to know what’s fresh and cutting edge,” Bunter proclaims.
Fooling about in the studio with the in-house engineer and Sytronik . . . and a cock?
Aside from bigging up his own Love Muzik weekly show on Ministryofsound.com, Bunter also has much love for the rest of London’s radio community. “I always check Kool FM — it’s the voice of Drum & Bass, always has been, always will be. I always try to catch up with Eruption when I’m in town gigging. They was playing live sets from Labrynth a few weeks ago from ‘93 with Nicky Blackmarket DJing and me on the mic! House FM and Passion FM are wicked for house.”
As you can tell from his on-air style, he appreciates djs who give the listeners a bit more than just record after record. “My favourite radio show and presenters are Heartless Crew on 1Xtra — you never know what they’re gonna play and it’s complete entertainment!”
As for hard beats though, he’s not wrong when he tells me how lacking they are. “Hard dance is really underrepresented on the radio which is a real shame. People are to quick to call out hard dance’s demise, but I still live and breathe the music and scene, and events like Tasty and Frantic are testament to the fact the harder dance is still big”. Aside from Kutski’s monthly show on Radio 1, and a few shows on Galaxy, there really is very very little hard dance on FM radio. Not even on the pirates. It’s hard to know why exactly, when other types of underground music such as old skool and grime are well represented. Fair play to all the internet radio stations supporting hard dance, but it would be pretty fly if we could cook/drive/shower/etc. at 150BPM . . .
Bunter won’t be on the mic this weekend at Tasty, but he’ll be behind the decks in a big way for sure, as well as no doubt running about like a blue-arsed fly in between his two sets. “London is lacking quality hard dance and hardcore events, and I believe Tasty always gives it 110%, and people really notice that” he says confidently. If you can’t wait that long for some Bunter magic — check out his radio show archive at http://www.ministryofsound.com/radio/djs/features/billydanielbunter . Now about that hard-dance-reclaiming-the-airwaves-malarkey Billy . . .
Tasty - Generation Energy
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On:
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Saturday 8th July 2006
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At:
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Renaissance Rooms [map]
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From:
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2100-0600
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Cost:
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Very Limited Early Bird Tickets Only £12
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Website:
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www.tastyuk.com
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Ticket Info:
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ALL £12+BF Early Bird Tickets SOLD OUT in 2 Weeks!
The £14+BF Saver Tickets will sell out by the end of May!
Standard Tickets £17+BF
Available from www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100 and TastyUK.com
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Buy Online:
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Click here to buy tickets
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More:
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This is the ONLY event ever to feature 2 Main Rooms of banging action from both our Hard House and Hardcore Superheroes! Only the Renaissance Rooms can provide 2 Massive Warehouse size spaces for our favourite styles!
Hard House – We’ve locked down the man voted worlds # 1 Hard Dance DJ Proteus. Alongside him will be the legendary Andy Whitby Frantics #1 Resident, and all time favourite and ultimate crowd pleaser Rob Tissera.
Hardcore – MC’s Storm & Whizzkid will be exclusively hosting the Hardcore Arena ALL NIGHT LONG! Force & Styles have teamed up with MC Junior for a very very special set, and Hardcore’s # 1 DJ Sy goes head to head with the one the only…Slipmatt!
This is just a taster of the killer line-up we’ll be bringing you…
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2 Other Arenas give you a massive total line-up of 40DJs, PAs and MCs.
NOTE****This is not a club event this is a 21st Century Harder Rave!****NOTE
No venue can match the Renaissance Room sound! Since the hugely successful Timeless was held there back in January the venue have spent £150,000 on 4 Funktion One Dance Stacks for the Main Room and brand new Funktion One for the Top Room. This will definitely go BOOM!!!
The Renaissance Rooms has had brand new lighting installed and now has loads and we mean loads of Intelligent Lighting in all Rooms and 10 Brand spanking new Mirror Balls to light up the Main Arena!
Witness the cool as f**K Outdoor Area as we enjoy one of the longest nights of the year!
All Roads and Raves lead to the Renaissance Rave Rooms!
This will be the Last Tasty for Months…don’t miss it!
This will see ravers travelling from all over the UK to unite for the birth of a new chapter in the glorious history of the almighty TASTY!
TastyUK.com presents:
TASTY-Generation Energy
‘Lift Off’ Saturday 8th July 2006
@ The Renaissance “Rave” Rooms,
Wandsworth Road, Vauxhall,
London, SW8 1SD
ALL £12+BF Early Bird Tickets SOLD OUT in 2 Weeks!
The £14+BF Saver Tickets will sell out by the end of May!
Standard Tickets £17+BF
Available from www.ticketweb.co.uk / 08700 600 100 and TastyUK.com
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The views and opinions expressed in this review are strictly those of the author only for which HarderFaster will not be held responsible or liable.
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