SPOTLIGHT ON SKINNY JIM

In Cromer Norfolk.

The summer of 92 was the first time I had got behind any decks

what made you start?

I've been collecting records since I was twelve so I had a pretty good collection. A local pub landlord bought me my first set of decks so I played in the pub until I'd paid him back.

what kinda rockin' sounds get ya goin?

I love rockabilly and hard drivin' rock n roll, although at my local gigs I play a bit of everything, basically I'll play anything as long as its good.

who are your favorite original acts?

Carl Perkins without a doubt, Mac Curtis, Charlie Feathers and more of the obscurer ones are all fantastic. Most people think just because you have a quiff you must like Elvis if I was to pick a top ten of favorites he'd be way down the pickin' order.

what about bands of today?

There are alot of good bands about at the moment, there's been a big thing about authenticity over the past few years. For me, band wise the scene is much stronger than it was in the late 70's and early 80's. Favorites... Don Cavalli, Jack Baymore, Blue Star Boys, most of the stuff that's on 'Tail' records from Sweden, 'Favorite' records from Germany, Lennox from France is great. Oh Carlos and the Bandidos aren't bad either.

you've become quite well known over the past couple of years, who else do you rate as a DJ?

I like any DJ that does their own thing, someone that doesn't play safe and copies others, show a bit of professionalism. Anyone can stand up there and play record its how you put it across that counts. Jerry Chatterbox, Cosmic Keith, Dave Crozier, Mouse, Tony Thorpe, Bill Smoker are all good at what they do. There's alot of others as well.

Your now a regular dj at hemsby and the rave, how did you get to do these?

I'd already done two weekenders for Pollytone records. I kept the flyers for most of my gigs and sent them to tom Ingram who was good enough to giveme a chance. Mr Box (Jerry that is) first saw me at a Pollytone weekend where he booked me to play Camden Workers and it went from there. DeeJaying at these kinda gigs is a great feelin, something you won't get anywhere else.

what do you think of the scene at the moment?

The scene is gettin older, alot of us have got families and mortgage's. We need young blood. I'd love to see rockabilly back in the charts while I'm still a DJ , but I can't see that ever happening at the moment. There's Jive clubs startin' up every where aimed at a wider audience, the music being played here is much tamer (50's pop) than the rockabilly clubs, you probably do not hear a bopper allnight. Like the current state of the British charts it's lost it's balls. We all need to work together to kick it back into life.

well jim i'm afraid that's all we've got time for to night, thanks for comin' into the studio.

Thanks Slim it's been cool.

well folks that was skinny jim, now on to the next record. we're gonna play the latest hit from eddy cochran...........................................