The real story behind BOOMBOX as told to me by Richard Mortimer

Dear Shaded Viewers,

Photos by Alistair Allan http://www.dirtydirtydancing.com

As Richard Mortimer says, all good things must come to an end so on January 1st BOOMBOX shutters up.

Richard Mortimer and friends

How did you get started and what were the times like when Boombox was
born, how have they changed since then?

BOOMOX WAS STARTED ALMOST BY ACCIDENT. IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK OVER 4 YEARS.
MY FRIEND DANILO MILIC AND MYSELF WERE REALLY BORED OF GOING OUT AT THE
WEEKENDS IN SHOREDITCH. I WAS FRIENDS WITH THE OWNER OF THE HOXTON SQUARE
BAR AND KITCHEN AND APPROACHED HIM ABOUT HAVING THE VENUE ON SUNDAY NIGHTS.
HE WAS A LITLLE SCEPTICLE AT FIRST, BUT TOOK A CHANCE ON US ANYWAY. SUNDAY
NIGHTS BACK THEN WERE OFTEN THE QUIET NIGHT OF THE WEEK. THEN SOMETHING
HAPPENED. THE GEORGE AND DRAGON AND JONNY WOO BEGAN TO HOLD A WEEKLY PARTY
CALLED 'RADIO EGYPT'. IT WAS A HUGE SUCCESS - A MIX OF UNASHAMED 80'S POP
MUSIC AND AMAZING DRAG PERFORMANCES FROM JONNY WOO. IT WAS AN INSTANT HIT
AND RAN FOR ABOUT A YEAR ON A WEEKLY BASIS, BUT THEN WAS SUDDENLY CUT SHORT.
WE WERE THEN THROWN BACK TO LOST SUNDAYS. IT WAS A FEW MONTHS AFTER THIS
THAT WE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING OURSELVES.

What is life like as a party promotor? Can you take me through your
different incarnations, how did you get started, etc. etc.

LIFE AS A CLUB PROMOTER IS OFTEN MUCH HARDER THAN PEOPLE THINK. BOOMBOX IN
PARTICULAR IS REALLY DIFFERENT TO OTHER CLUBS. THE MAIN DIFFERENCE IS THAT
IT IS A NON-PROFIT CLUB. I DON'T CHARGE ON THE DOOR, THEREFORE, I DON'T GET
PAID. THE VENUE PAY MY DJ AND STAFFING COSTS, BUT THATS IT. ANYTHING ELSE, I
PAY FOR MYSELF. IT’S QUITE FUNNY BECAUSE PEOPLE OFTEN THINK THAT I MUST BE
MAKING LOADS OF MONEY FROM THE CLUB. THE TRUTH IS, I HAVE TO WORK A DAY JOB
TO BE ABLE TO LIVE. IT IS OFTEN HARD JUGGLING THE TWO. IT MEANS THAT ON THE
DAYS I WORK, I AM UP REALLY EARLY TRYING TO GET THINGS DONE BEFORE WORK, AND
THEN IT’S BACK TO THE OFFICE AFTER WORK. SAYING THAT, ITS NOT ALL WORK WORK
WORK, THERE ARE LOTS OF PERKS TO THE JOB. LOTS OF TRAVELING AND PARTIES!!!

How did Boombox mirror our times, what would you say the main
elements that made Boombox work?

I THINK THE FACT THAT WE TRY TO BRING LIKE MINDED PEOPLE TOGETHER IS WHAT
MAKES THE CLUB WORK. WE WILL NOT ALLOW CHAVS INTO THE CLUB FOR EXAMPLE. WE
DO HAVE QUITE A TOUGH DOOR POLICY, BUT I THINK IT IS NEEDED WHEN THE AREA
YOU ARE IN SUDDENLY BECOMES 'TRENDY'. I THINK THAT THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP
WITH LONDONS FASHION SCENE IS OF EQUAL IMPORTANCE.

Were there any references from the past?

AS WITH ANYTHING, THERE ARE ALWAYS REFERENCES FROM THE PAST. OF COURSE I SAW
JEANETTE AS A 'TROJAN' TYPE. OF COURSE THERE ARE COMPARISONS TO STUDIO 54
AND TABOO. WHAT IS IMPORTANT THOUGH, IS THAT I NEVER SET OUT TO 'COPY' ANY
OTHER CLUB. IT HAS TO GROW ORGANICALLY. I WORK WITH A TEAM OF PEOPLE THAT I
REALLY LIKE TO BE AROUND. I DON'T EMPLOY PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE 'COOL'. I
WORK WITH PEOPLE I LIKE AND RESPECT.

How did Boombox effect fashion? How would you define the boombox style?

I THINK THAT BOOMBOX HAS REALLY REMINDED PEOPLE THAT ITS FUN TO DRESS UP. IT
HAS TO BE STRESSED THAT THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN 'DRESSING UP' AND
'FANCY DRESS'. THE BOOMBOX STYLE COULD BE ANYTHING. I ADMIRE PEOPLE THAT
HAVE GOOD TASTE. I ADMIRE PEOPLE WITH BAD TASTE. IF YOU WEAR YOUR LOOK WITH
CONFIDENCE, THEN IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE IN A COUTURE GILES GOWN OR
INFLATED BIN BAGS.

MAC COSMETICS RECENTLY COLLABORATED ON MY BOOK PROJECT AND THEY SAW THE
IMPACT OF BOOMBOX INTERNATIONALLY. THE PR HAD, JUST DAYS BEFORE OUR FIRST
MEETING, BEEN IN NEWCASTLE AND WAS TAKING THE TRAIN BACK TO LONDON ON A
FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN A GROUP OF KIDS BOARDED THE TRAIN AND STARTED GOING ALL
OUT WITH THEIR MAKE-UP. THERE WERE SEVERAL BOYS IN THIS GROUP TOO. SHE
CREDITED BOOMBOX AS HAVING A MASSIVE INFLUENCE ON KIDS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

Who notably hung out there?

I DON'T REALLY WANT TO GET INTO NAME DROPPING. THERE ARE A FEW WHO 'NOTABLY'
DIDN'T GET IN THOUGH!!!

What were some of the most iconic moments?

MY FAVOURITE NIGHT HAVE TO BE:

GARETH PUGH AFTERSHOW PARTY WITH KYLIE MINOGUE
POP MAGAZINE CHRISTMAS PARTY
BOOMBOX 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY WITH ROISIN MURPHY

Precisely who were involved in the stucture of Boombox?

WE HAD A BIG TEAM:

JERRY BOUTHIER -DJ
MATTHEW STONE - DJ
DJ ROKK - DJ
ANDREA GORGERINO - DJ
COZETTE MCCREERY - DOORHOST
NUNO ANTUNES - DOORHOST
SARON - CLOAKROOM
MANDI LENNARD - PR
ALISTAIR ALLAN - PHOTOGRAPHER
LAVINIA CO-OP - CLUB HOST
MIKKO - CLUB HOST
HELGA - CLUB HOST

What made you want to close the doors on January 1st and why?
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END. I FEEL READY TO MOVE ON AND DO SOMETHING
NEW.
What comes next?

A LONDON BASED FASHION WEBSITE, COVERING FASHION, MUSIC, ART AND PARTIES.
WWW.PONYSTEP.COM

Photos by Alistair Allan http://www.dirtydirtydancing.com

Thank you.

Later,

Diane

News Year's eve at BoomBox?

Tickets, £25, to this landmark night are available through the following friends of BoomBox: The George and Dragon, 2 Hackney Road, E2 7NS, t 020 7012 1100, b Store, 24a Savile Row, W1S 2XE, t 020 7734 6846, Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen, 2-4 Hoxton Square, N1, t 020 7613 0709

BoomBox NYE
9pm - 4am
Monday 31 December 2007
HOXTON SQUARE BAR AND KITCHEN
2-4 Hoxton Square N1

DJs
Matthew Stone
Jerry Bouthier
DJ ROKK
Andrea Gorgerino
Nathan Gregory Wilkins
Princess Julia

Enquiries
boombox@ml-pr.com