In 1991 we started going to the Ministry of Sound, which had just opened in Elephant and Castle. It didn’t even have a licence, because everyone was on E. It was a terrible cop-out when they started serving alcohol.
I remember the layout exactly – and seeing Hanif Kureishi there, who was even older than me! What was good for me was that, apart from the dancefloor, it had a chill-out room upstairs and a cinema, showing things like 2001. I could dance – at a pinch – for about half an hour, but after that I got a bored. You would stay on the dancefloor with John (now dead), Andy (dead) and T. D would be like everyone’s little brother (though in fact he’s the oldest of four), wandering around, off in his own head. Amanda (dead), AH and E would be gossiping in the chill-out room. I would gravitate to the cinema.
Going there was fun a few times. But I have to confess it got boring. I had always gone to clubs to see bands. Playing records was just what you did in between. But now this was all they did. I would want to go home at 2 o’clock, and I’d have to wait around till 4 and then 5 and then 6, all the time giving you ‘just a minute’ for another dance…
Soon on Saturdays I started staying up till midnight, driving you to a club – and then driving home again and going to bed…
Stroke of luck 