Krafty Kuts interviews Paul Arnold
Just before Chew The Fat's 7th Birthday, we locked the pair in a room together...
Breaks master Krafty Kuts sat down with club resident Paul 'Trouble' Arnold to Chew The Fat, before they both played at the club's 7th birthday on October 15th '04 at The End...
Krafty Kuts: Hello, how are you today?
Paul Arnold: Hello - feeling Fat! cos it's Friday :-0 and I've just sent out the latest fatmail which is as usual hilarious. Big up the sanchez!!!
So, what were you doing last night, and what will you be doing this weekend?
Crush my plums - wouldn't you like to know what I was up to last night... It'll take me as long as this sentence I am typing to remember. Aaah yes, got it now. Can say but no names. Was eating Italian, drinking some nice red wine with very pleasant company...
So Chew The Fat is 7 - did you ever think you'd make it this far?
No I though I was gonna live fast die young? Oh you mean the night.. Erm it's not something you think about at the beginning, it just creeps up upon you... But I always new it was something special.
What are your fondest memories of the club?
With my short/long term memory loss due to running this club I find it hard to answer this sort of question. I know they're all fond memories if I could remember them. I wouldn't be doing it now if they weren't . Chewing the fat with so many different people under the fat banner has I hope created a unique fondness for everyone.
The crowd is really important at Chew The Fat. Who are the nuttiest, sweetest clubbers you've met over the years?
What a question - actually easier than I thought. I can name them: Ziggy, Cush, Viren and Dan. These guys are completely bonkers and they have been coming to Chew the Fat! since the very beginning. They're legends in my book.
Not forgetting the sweetest 6ft Dread called Bigga. All Chew the Fatters know who he is. Gave the club a new life when he come from the sky like an angel spreading love...
Aah. Moving on to guests at Chew The Fat, who have been your favourite guests?
There are plenty of those. Tayo has to be up there, again someone from the very beginning. Also The Plumps or was it Lee Freskanova and his sidekick Andy back in the day. James Zabiela, Justin Rushmore, Matthew B, Dirty Sanchez, The Stantons, Evil 9 and many more. I thank them all.
And who are you most proud of having had the foresight to book?
The above, especially Tayo, The Plumps, Stantons, Jame Z, Justin Rushmore and not forgetting Friendly. Look at them all now!!!!
Of course you'll be playing on the night. What can we expect, apart from the unexpected?
Another killer set from man of the moment Friendly .. He is currently tearing up the states on his US tour. His DJ sets and now up there and above the best of the breakbeat DJs around!! I can't wait.
Any killer tunes you'd like to recommend?
Friendly: 'The Bump 'n' Grind', and all Evil 9's latest releases...
On the subject of records, what records have had the biggest impact at Chew The Fat over the years?
Grooverider's remix of Stone Roses 'Fools Gold' - people could identify with this classic but the remix tears the arse out of it with an evil 'rider bassline. A breakbeat classic. Also Zinc: '138 trek' - a Fat classic , plus Bushwacka's 'Healer' on Oblong, Peacemaker: 'Crisis' (Fat), P.M.T.: 'Gyromancer' (an acetate), Mystery Men : 'B-Boy Strance', Psychotropic: 'Hypnosis'. They're all coming out at the party!!!
And what are the records that were heard first at Chew The Fat?
See the above plus many more I can't remember. I knew all the DJs and producers playing at the time especially the Plumps who used to road test all their new tunes as they would get a reaction from a crowd that knew what they liked..
Staying with choons, what are the records you can always rely on, that you'll always love, that define the Paul Arnold sound?
Choons that have soul...
And what's the dodgiest request you've ever had for a record?
Not too many as the people there are there for the music...
You've taken Chew The Fat all over the world - where has been the best place to play?
I'm hoping to go to Brazil and Argentina this year... otherwise Good Vibrations Festival Centinial Park Australia.
Australia has a massive breaks scene - how do the UK and Australian scenes compare?
One's hot and has beaches the other isn't and doesn't.
Chew The Fat is the original breaks club, that gave a platform to a lot of people before they became stars. How do you think the breaks scene has changed over the years? (apart from becoming massive!)
The production, quality and quantity of music has got better... There are now many different styles and sounds which make it far more interesting especially when going out!!
And what's next for Chew The Fat?
A residency in Barcelona, a tour of South America, Chew the Fat! tour of the UK. And I hope plenty more festivals this year. Thanks to Pete Lawrence the Big Chill has to be a highlight of this year's festivals....
Finally, tell us why your DJ name is Paul 'Trouble' Arnold?
I'm just always in it - what ever I do wherever I go I get in it. I don't know how it happens but me an' it just seem to go hand in hand...
Published: 12/10/2004
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