DJ Welly - Biography (DJ Career)

DJ Career

DJ Welly real name (Paul Welding).

I am now living in Brisbane, Australia, as of September 2008, but was originally based in the North West of England, I have been DJing professionally on the dance music circuit since 1988.

During my formative years as a teenager, during the eighties, I used to make mix tapes using two cassette decks, recording stuff from the radio, mainly Hip-Hop and Electro, inspired by the early days of Electro and Hip-Hop, this was the spark that drew me into the world of music and DJing. Once I saw the skills of DJ's such as Jazzy Jeff, Joe Cooley, DJ Cheese, Chad Jackson, Grandmaster Flash, Cash Money and other early pioneers of the turntablist culture that was it, my only goal in life was to own a pair of 1210's, it took a few years, but eventually I scraped enough money together to buy some decks and I was on my way.

I honed my early skills in my bedroom during the late eighties playing Hip - Hop / Breaks / Electro & Funk, learing how to mix, scratch and backspin. I got a break as a warm up DJ at Wigan Pier in 1987 alongside Malcolm Thorpe, playing a mix of Hip-Hop, early House Tracks, Soul and Funk.

I was taught an invaluable lesson by Malcolm during my time there, the art of warming up a crowd, a lesson which would stand me in good stead later on in my career. I did not have a DJ name as such at this time, and as my real name is Paul Welding, my nickname of WELLY kind of stuck.

In 1989 as the House phenomenon started to explode in the Northwest, and massive illeagal warehouse parties were attracting thousands of party goers every weekend, I got a break playing at a little known club in Blackburn called MONROES.

This was my first real big break, working alongside the infamous JOHN JEPSON and GREEN BINS at a night that would go on to achieve legendary status with the people who went there. This gave me an invaluable education playing alongside such quality DJ's and formed the foundation for the rest of my career as a House DJ.

In 1990 I started up and promoted my own night KAOS at the Cricketer in Wigan (U.K.) that pulled in a capacity crowd on a Monday night, playing quality US, UK, Italin and European House tracks, this night went on to become one of the most successful underground house nights in that area. It was at this night that he was approached and asked to play at the Legendary REVENGE Warehouse Parties (which, along with the M25 & BLACKBURN parties, were the peak of the Warehouse scene).

I soon became established as the main DJ for those massive illegal gatherings, which served to spread my name to a much wider audience and lead to Welly becoming an established and respected name on the underground house circuit.

In 1991 and with myself at the controls, a then little know club in Manchester (U.K.) was to become one of the most successful club nights of its day. Within four weeks of taking up the Residency at the PLEASUREDROME on Saturday nights, the club went from attracting 200 people a week to packing in 3000+ with many more locked out in the car park. Playing a mixture of U.S. / U.K. & ITALO House the REDZONE nights enjoyed unparalleled success. Supported by DJ's such as DJ SHEZ, Kenny Grogan, John Waddiker, Jamie Scahill and others, the Pleasuredrome was my first real residency that I cuold call my own.

Police pressure sadly ended the PLEASUREDROME after only eight months. Undeterred the promoters moved the night to the massive BOWLERS Sports complex in Trafford Park, Manchester. With a capacity of about 5000, the night took off where the Pleasuredrome had ended and LIFE@Bowlers was born. It was at this club that KENNY GROGAN offered me a job behind the counter at one of ,(if not the best) dance music retailers in the U.K. MANCHESTER UNDERGROUND RECORDS. This was to be one of my better moves, working in one of the coolest record shop in the U.K. only served to raise my profile even more.

I remained the main resident at LIFE for two years whilst guesting at many more clubs around the U.K. and beyond, playing alongside DJs like GRANDMASTER FLASH, SASHA, LAURENT GARNIER, DAVE ANGEL, CARL COX, CJ BOLAND, KENNY GROGAN, RUSS MARLAND, ALLISTER WHITEHEAD & IAN OSSIA but to name a few.

A few of these clubs included: -

• The Opera House - Toronto (Canada)
• The Milk Bar - London (UK)
• The Music Box - Manchester (UK)
• ARK - Various (UK)
• The Corn Exchange - Leeds (UK)
• Town And Country Club - Leeds (UK)
• The Pleasuredrome - Manchester (UK)
• Life@Bowlers - Manchester (UK)
• Network - Belfast (N.I)
• Venue 44 - Nottingham (UK)
• Dot Zero - Sheffield (UK)
• Inn On The Park - Jersey (UK)
• Revenge - Various (UK)
• Circus Circus - (N.I)
• Kellys - Port Rush (Northern Ireland)
• Wigan Pier - Wigan (UK)
• BCM - Magaluf (Spain)

In 1993, I left LIFE due to conflicts with the management over the music policy and took up the residency (1993 - 1994) at a club in Colne (Burnley) called CARLOS II. This club was a sharp contrast to the massive complex that was Bowlers, a sweaty 500 capacity house venue with a unique intimacy unlike any other. Playing mainly U.S. House/Garage this club soon gained a reputation for quality music and a knowledgeable crowd.

During 1993-94 I was also playing regularly for the massive ARK events around the north of England. These massive parties were renowned for quality DJ lineups, and I was lucky enough to play alongside some great names including CJ Boland, Rob Tisserra, DJ Vertigo, Ian Ossia, Christian Woodyatt and many more. The venues used to stage these massive events were amazing, venues such as the Corn Exchange (Leeds, UK), the Town and Country Club (Leeds, UK), and the infamous University of Lancashire S.U.

During this time I was also making regular trips over to Northern Ireland, Jersey and the Isle Of Man, playing at some awesome nights! Some of the nights in Northern Ireland were amazing, regular DJ partners at the time were DJ VERTIGO (one of the best DJs I have ever played with), Rob Tisserra and DJ NIPPER (another legend), we played all over the province at clubs like Circus Circus, Network, Kellys and many more, the people of Northern Ireland were fantastic, some of the best crowds I have ever played to, thanks people!

Nights in Jersey at The Inn On The Park with DJs Woz and Warren LeSure were also legendary, located next to the beach in St Hellier, this massive club had a fantastic atmosphere, and my many trips to that island were memorable!

In 1996 I took up the residency at Wigan Pier (the place where it all started for me) taking the legendary Friday night to new levels, the club was so successful that a Saturday night was launched by DJ BOWA, and Craig Stocks. After a short time, I also became the resident on the Saturday night, both nights enjoying unparalleled success, a feat not matched by many other clubs, EVER!

I remained the resident DJ at Wigan Pier until September 2008, when I left to begin a new life in Brisbane, Australia

Between my picking up the residency at Wigan Pier in 1996, to 2008, I continued to take guest work at countless venues across the UK and beyond! Some of the highlights have been two nights for MTV at BCM in Spain, djing with the legendary GRANDMASTER FLASH at Dot Zero in Sheffield, and more trips to the emerald isle! More guest spots at Bowlers (Compulsion) continued until the plug was pulled on the night in 2001.

Other memorable nights during this time included many Old Skool nights I have played at across the UK, Timeless in Manchester at the Music Box, and other venues continue to put on some awesome nights. I have played at, and continue to play at other Old Skool nights, Vision and Good Times are just a couple of them, sorry to anyone I have missed out.

My move to Australia has seen a new direction for my musical focus, I have returned to my first love of Hip-Hop, Funk, Breaks, Funky / Deep House and the art of Turntablism (the very reason I became a DJ in the first place). I am still knocking out the mixes and productions from down under, and will be looking to continue my DJ career down under, look out for me nipping back over to the UK from time to time to play some one-off events; maybe I will see you there?

DJ WELLY.