Dexter Jones

Ibiza in the 2000s was like nowhere else.
In Part 2 of my conversation with Carrie, we go deeper into what life was really like working behind the scenes during one of Ibiza’s most unforgettable eras.
From dancing in the island’s superclubs and the madness of Judgement Sundays, to worker life, nights becoming days, barely seeing the beach and the characters who made Ibiza what it was, this is the side of the island most holidaymakers never got to see.
Carrie also tells the story behind the incredible underwater Judge Jules photoshoot, recalls some of the situations that got completely out of control, and explains what it was really like being part of the Ibiza worker generation.
No smartphones. No social media documenting every moment. Just a completely different way of living, working and partying.
If you worked in Ibiza during the 2000s, I’d love to hear your memories in the comments.
Was Ibiza in the 2000s the greatest era the island has ever seen?
🎧 Subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast for more untold stories from Ibiza, club culture and the people who lived it.

What was it really like to live, work and dance in Ibiza in 2001?
Carrie Stevens was right in the middle of it.
After arriving on the island, she became a club dancer at Es Paradis, before being poached by Eden and eventually becoming Head Dancer. This was an Ibiza of packed dancefloors, podium dancers, workers crammed into apartments, club parades through San Antonio, morning bars and after-hours sessions that could disappear well into the next day.
In this episode, Carrie takes us back inside that world. We talk about the reality of being an Ibiza dancer, the incredible atmosphere inside Es Paradis, life at Eden, the notorious Garden of Eden, Ibiza worker culture, Judgement Sundays, surviving the winter and why the island felt so different before social media.
Carrie also tells us about one of the happiest moments of her life: dancing above a packed Es Paradis as the shutters opened and Café Del Mar played.
If you worked, danced or partied in Ibiza during this era, tell me your memories in the comments. What was YOUR Ibiza like?
Subscribe for more conversations and stories from the people who lived through dance music and club culture.
Chapters:
00:00 What It Was Really Like Being an Ibiza Dancer01:26 Leaving Ibiza and Coming Back04:34 An Unforgettable Night at Es Paradis06:44 Why Ibiza Felt So Different08:05 Did Social Media Change Ibiza?09:45 Surviving an Ibiza Winter12:54 Becoming an Ibiza Club Dancer14:04 Getting Poached by Eden15:51 Becoming Eden's Head Dancer17:28 The Infamous Garden of Eden19:50 Ibiza's Drinking Culture21:40 Es Paradis vs Eden22:32 Ibiza Dancer Auditions26:37 Kevin & Perry and Ibiza28:38 Moving to Ibiza32:05 Ibiza Worker Apartments34:35 The Darker Side of San Antonio36:14 Ibiza's Dangerous Dance Podiums39:23 Dancing Above a Packed Club41:48 Knowing When to Leave Ibiza42:49 The Legendary Ibiza Club Parades48:28 Part Two...

Marcella Woods is the voice behind some of the most recognisable anthems from the golden era of dance music, including Beautiful, Liberation (Fly Like An Angel) and El Niño.
In this episode of the Dexter Jones Podcast, Marcella tells the incredible stories behind those records, including how Liberation was recorded in just 20 minutes and how the vocal for Beautiful was nailed on the very first take.
Marcella also takes us back to the clubs that shaped her, from Bagley's and Strawberry Sundae to Freedom and The Fridge, and explains how a chance introduction eventually led her to Matt Darey and a string of records that would become part of dance music history.
But Marcella's story hasn't stopped there.
Now in her 50s, she's taken on an entirely new challenge: becoming a DJ. After just six hours of intensive training before her first gig, she's gone on to play festivals and events, finding herself handing over the decks to artists including Mauro Picotto, Dave Pearce and Signum.
We also talk about why dance vocalists haven't always received the recognition they deserve, Marcella's extraordinary classical musical background, the realities of balancing music with family life, and why she's still every bit as passionate about dance music today.
A brilliant conversation with one of the voices behind the soundtrack to a generation.
Subscribe to the Dexter Jones Podcast for weekly conversations celebrating the DJs, artists, clubs and stories that shaped dance music culture.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Liberation Was Recorded in 20 Minutes00:18 Marcella Woods & The Story of Beautiful02:35 From Vocalist to DJ04:37 Bagley's & The Golden Era of Clubbing07:12 Marcella's New Life Behind the Decks09:56 Hearing Your Own Voice on a Dancefloor10:49 Do Dance Vocalists Get Enough Recognition?12:14 Singing vs DJing14:09 Nine Gigs a Weekend15:53 Could Beautiful Be a Hit Today?17:24 Marcella's Classical Music Background19:03 The Truth About El Niño & Beautiful20:21 Liberation: 20 Minutes to Record a Classic22:08 How Marcella Became a Recording Artist25:03 Family, Touring & Music as an Escape27:30 Classical Training Meets Dance Music29:34 What DJing Has Taught Marcella

Tall Paul’s story is inseparable from one of the most legendary clubs in British dance music history. Long before Turnmills became an institution, it was his family’s business, and the place where a teenage Paul began learning his craft behind the decks.
From the arrival of House music and the birth of all-night clubbing to Trade, The Gallery and the extraordinary rise of Turnmills, Paul takes us inside a period when London club culture was being created in real time.
We also dive into 30 years of Rock Da House, hunting London record shops for exclusive white labels, the pressure of playing Trade, following Tony De Vit, and why DJs of that generation treated every weekend like it mattered.
This is the story of Tall Paul, Rock Da House and the family-run London club that became part of British dance music history.
#TallPaul #Turnmills #RockDaHouse
In this episode:
• The story behind Rock Da House• Why Rock Da House nearly came out on Hooj Choons• Hunting record shops for exclusive white labels• Why playing Trade felt like performing at Wembley• How Turnmills went from wine bar to legendary nightclub• The arrival of House music and all-night clubbing• Learning to DJ inside an empty Turnmills• Trade, The Gallery and the nights that defined an era• Following Tony De Vit behind the decks• What made Turnmills so special• The incredible 90s London clubbing scene• The emotional story behind the final days of Turnmills
Chapters 📖00:00 Trade Felt Like Playing Wembley00:19 30 Years of Rock Da House03:15 How Rock Da House Became a Club Anthem09:13 Reworking a Classic 30 Years Later13:18 Tall Paul’s Obsession With Finding Records16:48 The Pressure of Playing Trade20:27 The Incredible Story of Turnmills29:56 What Made Turnmills So Special?31:47 Learning to DJ Inside Turnmills37:52 Trade, The Gallery & Turnmills41:43 How Trade Became an All-Day Institution49:07 The Memories That Made Turnmills Special52:12 Did We Know We Were Making Clubbing History?53:10 How Trade Launched Tall Paul’s Career55:25 The Emotional End of Turnmills01:02:10 Why Turnmills Still Means So Much
🎙️ The Dexter Jones Podcast – Conversations with the people who shaped dance music.

How many clubbers, DJs and music lovers already have permanent hearing damage without even realising it?
In this week's episode, I sit down with Jono Heale, Director at ACS Custom, musician and one of the UK's leading voices on hearing health in the music industry.
After developing permanent hearing damage himself, Jono made it his mission to help protect musicians, DJs and clubbers from making the same mistake.
We discuss tinnitus, hearing loss, safe listening levels, why ringing ears should never be ignored, whether one loud nightclub can permanently damage your hearing, and why so many people don't discover the problem until it's too late.
If you've ever left a club, festival or gig with ringing ears, this conversation is essential listening.
In this episode:
• How tinnitus really starts• Why hearing damage is often permanent• Can one loud nightclub damage your hearing?• Safe listening levels explained• Why DJs are at greater risk• Why dance music is particularly challenging for hearing• The truth about hearing protection• How ACS Custom helps protect musicians worldwide• Practical advice every clubber should know
Chapters:
00:00 The diagnosis that changed everything00:21 How many clubbers already have hearing damage?02:10 Why musicians often ignore hearing loss04:00 What is tinnitus?05:43 Why ringing ears are a warning sign07:57 Meet Jono Heale & ACS Custom10:55 Why custom earplugs work better14:12 Why hearing damage is becoming more common18:30 Jono's own hearing loss journey22:40 Living with tinnitus every day25:55 How Jono joined ACS Custom30:20 Why musicians need hearing protection36:10 The moment ACS changed Jono's career37:30 The Musicians' Hearing Health Scheme38:25 Why tinnitus can't currently be cured43:05 Can one nightclub permanently damage your hearing?45:40 Why dance music is harder on your ears49:00 Why some people lose hearing faster than others53:40 Are DJs more at risk?56:15 The biggest myths about hearing protection59:45 The future of hearing health01:03:30 Jono's advice to every clubber

What happens when your first-ever single becomes one of the biggest dance records of all time?
In this exclusive conversation, Darude reveals the untold story behind Sandstorm, from handing out demo CDs in Finland to becoming an international superstar within weeks. He explains why having your biggest hit first was both a blessing and a burden, why he couldn't even DJ properly when success arrived, and how he has spent the last 25 years building a career beyond one iconic record.
We also dive into the evolution of dance music, surviving overnight success, record label pressure, social media, AI, mental health, and why passion, not fame, should always come first.
Whether you're a fan of trance, dance music history or electronic music production, this is one of Darude's most open and insightful interviews.
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IN THIS EPISODE:
• How Darude got his name after repeatedly playing the same record at a party
• How handing out one demo CD changed his life forever
• Why Sandstorm was created in just a week and a half
• Becoming a global superstar before he could properly DJ
• Why having your first release become your biggest hit comes with unexpected downsides
• The pressures of following one of the biggest dance records ever made
• Why Darude says he still loves playing Sandstorm after 25 years
• The story behind the iconic Sandstorm music video and the annual Helsinki run
• How the music industry has changed from vinyl and CDs to streaming and social media
• Why record labels wanted him to copy Sandstorm, and why he refused
• Rebuilding his debut album from scratch after the original project files were lost
• How technology has transformed music production over the past two decades
• Why supporting new artists through his Vibing Out label matters so much
• Darude's honest advice for young producers starting their careers today
• Why passion, not fame, should always come first
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Chapters
00:00 Intro00:35 How Darude got his name02:39 Discovering electronic music07:00 When music became more than a hobby08:08 Meeting JS16 changed everything09:20 Creating Sandstorm10:16 Overnight success in weeks10:50 Becoming famous before learning to DJ14:25 Does he get bored of Sandstorm?17:00 The story behind the Sandstorm video19:20 Creating the Darude Sandstorm Run25:35 Overnight success and its downsides30:00 Pressure after your biggest hit33:35 Touring the world37:00 How the music industry has changed40:10 Why Sandstorm still works today43:20 Hearing Sandstorm played by an orchestra45:00 Current projects and new music47:05 Technology and producing music today48:35 Rebuilding Sandstorm from scratch52:20 Future ambitions beyond dance music54:00 Launching the Vibing Out record label56:45 Helping the next generation of producers01:00:10 Advice for young producers01:04:10 Fame, TikTok and today's DJ culture01:08:00 Mental health in dance music01:09:25 One More Tune: his perfect closing track01:13:00 Final thoughts

How did a monthly Wednesday night attract 2,000 clubbers to The Haçienda?
Guy Williams experienced Manchester’s acid-house explosion before becoming a regular DJ at Flesh, one of The Haçienda’s most groundbreaking club nights. From there, his journey took him through Trade, DTPM, Queer Nation, Defected Records and the golden years of Ibiza.
In this episode, Guy takes us inside the clubs, record labels and dance floors that helped shape British club culture. He explains how Manchester changed during the early 1990s, why Flesh became such an important night and how he progressed from learning to DJ in public to playing around the world.
Guy also discusses working for Pete Waterman, becoming club promotions manager at Defected, witnessing Ibiza’s extraordinary 24-hour era and eventually creating Flash at Pikes—a party built around brilliant music, inclusivity and clubbing without prejudice.
A fascinating journey through Manchester, London and Ibiza with someone who experienced it from inside the DJ booth.
▶️ SUBSCRIBE—it’s free, and you’re on the guest list:https://www.youtube.com/@subscribetodexterjones?sub_confirmation=1
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WHAT’S INCLUDED:
• Growing up surrounded by records and musicians• Being 18 in Manchester during the Second Summer of Love• Discovering The Haçienda and Manchester’s underground clubs• Learning to DJ while already playing in public• Performing as part of DJ duo Planet Janet• Becoming a regular DJ at Flesh• How Flesh attracted 2,000 clubbers on a Wednesday• Manchester’s changing club culture during the early 1990s• The connection between Strawberry Sundae and Trade• Working for Pete Waterman and Jive Records• Becoming a resident at Trade, DTPM and Queer Nation• Working behind the scenes at Defected Records• Why Guy never embraced hard house• Ibiza’s legendary 24-hour clubbing era• Creating Flash at Pikes Ibiza• Flash’s relationship with Homoelectric• Why the best dance floors welcome everybody• The final record ever played at The Haçienda
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CHAPTERS:
00:00 2,000 clubbers on a Wednesday00:42 Guy Williams: Manchester to Ibiza03:36 Growing up inside the music industry06:29 Discovering Manchester clubs and The Haçienda09:40 How Guy Williams became a DJ12:32 Planet Janet and the first residencies13:15 What happened to Guy’s record collection?18:50 How Flesh transformed The Haçienda23:39 Strawberry Sundae and its connection to Trade26:43 Working for Pete Waterman30:50 Moving to London31:04 Becoming a Trade and DTPM resident33:29 Working at Defected Records35:51 The music Guy played at Trade37:32 When British club culture began changing38:42 Ibiza’s extraordinary golden years44:30 Creating Flash at Pikes Ibiza48:25 Flash, Homoelectric and inclusive dance floors51:41 Guy’s life in Ibiza today54:14 The final record played at The Haçienda

Graeme Park never planned to become a DJ. A reluctant "yes" behind the counter of a Manchester record shop led to one of the most influential careers in dance music history.
From discovering I Feel Love and the explosion of Chicago House to becoming one of the defining resident DJs at The Haçienda, Graeme shares the moments that shaped both his life and an entire generation of club culture.
We also dive into the rise of Acid House, why The Haçienda became legendary, how Haçienda Classical was born from a drunken conversation, and why, after more than 40 years behind the decks, Graeme still believes great music has no boundaries.
This is the story of a man who never intended to become a DJ... and ended up helping shape dance music forever.
🎙️ Guest: Graeme Park
In this episode:
• Growing up in Manchester• Working in record shops before Spotify• The record that changed everything – I Feel Love• Becoming a DJ by accident• The birth of House music in Britain• Life inside The Haçienda• Why The Haçienda became legendary• The rise of Haçienda Classical• DJing then vs now• Why great DJs should never stop discovering music
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Chapters 📖00:00 I Never Wanted to Be a DJ01:17 How a Record Shop Changed My Life06:52 The Record That Changed Everything09:19 Becoming a DJ By Accident13:12 Discovering Chicago House Music15:06 How The Haçienda Really Began21:22 Why The Haçienda Changed Clubbing Forever30:54 The Birth of Haçienda Classical34:11 "The First Show Was a Disaster"38:28 Why Every DJ Has an Orchestra Now48:01 Has Dance Music Become Too Formulaic?53:53 The Records That Defined The Haçienda56:43 Why I Stopped Drinking59:33 Cycling, Fitness & Still DJing After 40 Years01:00:32 Final Thoughts
🎙️ The Dexter Jones Podcast – Conversations with the people who shaped dance music.
👍 If you enjoy the podcast, please like, subscribe and leave a comment. It really helps us continue documenting the history of dance music through the people who lived it.
 

He thought he was absolutely smashing it...
For 45 minutes, George Kafetzis believed he was hosting one of his best Facebook Live sessions ever. The comments were flying in, people were reacting, and everything seemed perfect...
There was just one problem.
There was no sound.
In one of the funniest stories ever told on The Dexter Jones Podcast, George shares the unforgettable moment his wife walked downstairs and broke the news that thousands of people had been watching... in complete silence.
But beyond the laughter is the story of one of the UK's most respected DJs, promoters and likeable industry characters. George has spent decades helping shape club culture, promoting events, supporting artists and building a reputation as one of the genuine good guys of the dance music scene.
In this episode, we talk about:
🔴 The hilarious 45-minute silent Facebook Live🎧 George's journey through the UK dance music scene🎤 DJing, promoting and life behind the scenes😂 The funniest moments from a lifetime in clubland❤️ Why passion for music never disappears
Chapters 📖 
00:00 The Silent Facebook Live Disaster02:31 Social Media, Comedy & Not Taking Yourself Too Seriously02:54 Forbidden Forest, Godskitchen & Still Playing Big Gigs03:20 Growing Up In Birmingham04:16 Wanting To Be An Actor05:24 Entertaining Crowds & Nearly Breaking The Decks06:44 How George Got Into DJing07:42 Birmingham Clubbing, Slag, Crunch & The Early Scene09:19 Working At TGI Fridays In Its Glory Days11:40 Playing Clubs, Promoting Nights & Building A Name12:21 Bringing Cream Classics Back To The Q Club13:57 Why The Q Club Was So Special26:33 Acting, DJing & Hearing Damage35:12 Godskitchen Birmingham & Luna Springs40:16 DJs George Rates Today46:45 Embracing The Viral No Sound Clip47:13 Why Birmingham Is Such A Special Dance Music City50:06 The Final Tune: Orbital - Belfast50:42 Closing Thoughts
If you love dance music, Ibiza, club culture and the stories behind the people who built it, you're in the right place.
If you enjoy the podcast, please consider subscribing. Every like, comment, and share genuinely helps us preserve these incredible stories from dance music history.
Subscribe for a brand new episode every Sunday.

When COVID shut down the music industry overnight, DJs across the world were left wondering what came next.
For Dale Castell, what started as a simple Facebook livestream from his son's bedroom unexpectedly became one of the biggest moments of his career. Within weeks, thousands of people were tuning in live, his audience was growing every week, and one stream would go on to reach over half a million views.
In this episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, Dale shares the incredible story behind those lockdown livestreams, growing up in Halifax, his journey from drummer to DJ, the evolution of Kevin & Perry Ibiza, HomeRave, the challenges of Facebook livestreaming, and why community has become more important than ever in dance music.
If you've ever wondered how one of the toughest periods in clubbing history created unexpected opportunities, this is a story you won't want to miss.
In this episode:
• How COVID changed Dale Castell's career forever• Every gig cancelled overnight• Building a viral Facebook livestream audience• 5,500 people watching live• Over half a million views from one show• HomeRave and surviving Facebook takedowns• Kevin & Perry Ibiza behind the scenes• Why dance music communities matter more than ever• The future of clubbing and festivals• Dale Castell's One More Tune
Chapters
00:00 COVID Changed Everything01:00 Meet DJ Dale Castell02:15 Why One More Time Ibiza Is So Special05:20 How Dale Castell Got Into Dance Music08:30 My First Nightclub Experience12:00 Why I Quit My Band To Become A DJ16:00 Every DJ Lost Their Gigs Overnight19:00 Too Scared To Press LIVE23:30 How My Livestream Went Viral27:00 5,500 People Watching Live30:30 Half A Million Views In One Night34:00 Facebook Kept Taking My Streams Down39:00 How HomeRave Changed Everything44:30 Behind The Kevin & Perry Ibiza Terrace49:30 How We Fixed The Kevin & Perry Terrace54:00 Why Dance Music Festivals Have Changed57:00 Dale Castell's One More Tune