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Find out more about DJ JoSH on https://linktr.ee/djjoshadelaide

Around the end of 1984 it all started for me at the Iconic club The Mars Bar for my first residency around the same time guys like HMC, Adrian Zac and many other legendary OGs were dominating the Adelaide nightlife scene. 

HMC worked at Soul Man records where I first met him when I would go in and purchase the only imports you could find in Adelaide at that time. This was before Central Station records moved in upstairs in Adelaide Arcade establishing and cementing the brand that was to become our thriving underground scene in SA as we know it today.

My first 3 gigs in the mainstream straight world around 1991-1994 was support act for Dead or Alive at Heaven nightclub, A big Whare house party at an empty wharehouse on Adam street behind the Adelaide Entertainment Centre and Another somewhere in Port Adelaide at some derelict wharehouse. 

The other defining gig for me was with The Dirty House Crew who ran events promoting Juice records and the legendary HMC who was dominating the world with his techno sound from Adelaide. They ran dirty style themes it was then Promoter extrordinaire Toni Clarke asked me to run a “Lick” room based on my infamous “Lick” monthly parties at Club Freezer in the Hilton Hotel. DirtyHouse records produced many wild parties in the 90s it was this particular party “Intercourse” at St. paul’s nightclub for me I believe was the turning point that created a scene within a scene which brought open minded Gays and straights together to create an amazing open minded and gendered parties it was definitely Adelaide’s finest parts of clubbing history. it was a safe space to create, play safe and experiment with music and fashion. 

Adelaide fashion in the 90s saw local labels such as Truck designs, Miss Gladys Symchoon, Central Station, Youthworks and Dorothy’s closet. 

My inclusion to any of the mentioned above parties always stunned audiences with my infamous leather gear inspired by my heroes Joan Jett and Suzie Quatro a theme common with the girl DJ with the boys name. 

I somehow in the right time in history became not only a pioneer of the Australian dance music culture but a trend setter, gender bender and one of the first to create gender equality and acceptance in South Australia. F#%*ing with people’s minds since the 80s and super proud of it! 

Thank you for the memories! this jogged quite a few for me and I reckon I should use this as my opener for a book?

If you want to read more about the history of dance music get the book “Music Wars” 

https://www.amazon.com.au/Music-Wars-Central-Station-Records/dp/B072WRWDJ2