Interviews

Darren Partington

Scott Hallam (DJ Rhythm) 19/09/2025 No Comments

Daz 808 State

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting you and Andrew several times over the years, DJing at some of the same nights and back in 1996 I was on your show where you played a couple of tracks off a DAT I brought in.

Both you and Andrew were such an important part of life back in the 1990s as DJs on radio, in clubs and as members of 808 State. Not only were you a huge inspiration to many but you shaped the record collections of so many people in and around Manchester and further afield back then.

SH: When Sunset Radio launched in October 1989, how did you come to be a part of it, were you asked or did you have to apply to be presenters?

DP: We already knew Mike Shaft from going to a lot of the nights he put on and when he asked if we’d be interested in doing a show on Sunset, we said yeah OK we’ll give it a go. Initially it was Martin Price, Graham Massey and Andrew and myself but the dynamic wasn’t quite right and it soon became just me and Andrew as we seemed to bounce off each other much better.

SH: Tuesday nights 9-12 was the original time slot and you managed to pack the show full of incredible music with the 808 State & Eastern Bloc charts and some of the funniest moments ever witnessed on radio – the home made listener jingles, the shouts, the problems, the club guide, dating agency and the banter between the music and of course Andy’s laughing monster! Those STA Travel adverts were absolutey class as well.

SH: I loved the way you would support local talent, featuring them on your show as either brand new artists or people that were already on the scene but needed a bit of a push. Two that come to mind are M.V.I.T.A. (Manchester Vibes In The Area) who had a four track EP that sadly never saw a release and Neukleotide – Hybrid that I heard you helped them get a vinyl release of that back in 1991 is that correct?

DP: Yeah I financed Nuekloetide as I really liked their sound and what they (Shak & Mick Edge) were about – using live drums and incorporating samples, synths and drum machines too.

SH: It must have been great having a platform to broadcast weekly with the emerging music from the US and Europe which made up a large part of the show via Eastern Bloc and the ability to plug The Soundgarden which I have to say was one of THE best clubs in Manchester (I remember how hot it was in there with the black tar dripping from the ceiling) before those big industrial fans were installed!

SH: The all-nighters were incredible with some really nice slower tracks getting dropped such as Dr Alban – No Coke and Y.B.U. – Keep It Up.

SH: Djing on Radio or in Clubs – which did you prefer?

DP: Clubs as you got to see all the immediate reactions. Radio to us was funny as we weren’t really proper presenters you know, we just had a laugh and played great tunes each week.

OK, some quick fire questions

SH: Favourite track of all time?

DP: C.O.D. – In The Bottle

SH: Favourite club you’ve DJ’d at?

DP: The Soundgarden

SH: Best club you’ve been to as a punter?

DP: Fabric, London

SH: What’s your favourite food?

DP: Jamaican

SH: What’s your favourite tipple?

DP: Corona

SH: Where did you and Andrew first meet?

DP: At Youth Clubs in the early 80s

Spinmasters in action at the Salvation Army in Ancoats, 1985.

SH: How has life changed for you since Andrew passed away?

DP: It’s been hard as he was my best mate and dealing with it in my own way, I just think of him being in the next room and that helps me get through.

SH: What’s next for you?

DP: Continue Djing wherever I get the chance to play and hopefully creating some new music in a different direction.

SH: Thanks again for taking the time out to do this, all the best and big love and respect for everything you’ve done over the years x

You can book Darren for DJ sets at this link.

DJ Mark XTC

Scott Hallam (DJ Rhythm) 19/07/2025 No Comments

DJ Mark XTC (real name Mark Mckinley)

I’ve known Mark since 1990 when I first met him at Spin Inn Disc Centre where he worked behind the counter of what I still consider the friendliest record shop. He would always treat everyone the same and have a stack of records that he’d play you – often just 10 seconds would be enough for you to decide “yes please!” and with each visit he got to know his customers tastes very well. Always aproachable and not at all elitist unlike some of the other shops at the time where they would hold back certain records unless you were part of some special inner circle! We shared a love of Hip Hop and scratching (we’d both entered the DMC Mixing Championships) and he would often practice some routines in the shop, always wowing customers with his incredible skills.

Being a key taste maker and having access to the right records went hand in hand with his work in the clubs and radio shows which saw him progress very quickly, playing all over the UK and then later as part of Mix Factory.

Here’s a link to his official bio.

I spoke to Mark about his journey over the last 35 years and after all that time he is still one of the nicest down to earth DJs and still as passionate as ever…


SH: Growing up, who were the first bands or artists you liked?

MM: I liked Level 42, The Specials, Tears For Fears – ‘Shout’ was the first 12” record I bought from Golden Disc in Oldham, but then I found Hip Hop with the likes of Jazzy Jeff, Tuff Crew, EPMD, LL Cool J etc.

SH: Where did you used to shop for your records before you worked at Spin Inn?

MM: I bought all my records from Spin Inn when it was on Cross Street, at first I went to Golden Disc, then BPM Records in Oldham, but unfortunately they didn’t have the tunes Stu Allan was playing on his Bus Diss show, Eastern Bloc when it was in Aflecks as well.

SH: What was your favourite record shop?

MM: Eastern Bloc when I worked there of course, because of all the things we accomplished when we worked there, but have a soft spot for Spin Inn, changed a lot of things when I went there.

SH: Apart from me always mithering you for records you didn’t have in stock but always managed to find for me (thanks!) did you have any other annoying customers haha and can you elaborate on life on the other side of the counter?

MM: Hahaha great question, erm, a few customers were difficult at times haha one of my favourite people who came into both shops was James Masters, he knew exactly what he was looking for and was particularly hard to please, but when you found the style of tunes he wanted, like others, he came back every week looking for something new.

SH: Ahead of landing the Mix Factory show on a Sunday night, you played on Sunset Radio originally filling in for 808 State on Tuesday nights when they were away – how did that come about?

MM: We were all close friends from the DJ circuit, mainly Darren & Andy, so when they were touring they asked Paul if we could cover them, the rest as they say is history.

SH: DJing in clubs or producing – which do you prefer and why?

MM: DJing over producing, I love making music, but mainly to make people dance or go sick to it, so it still boils down to DJing.

SH: If you hadn’t got into DJing and music, what would you have done?

MM: In school I always wanted to be a teacher, always loved maths, thanks Mrs Pickles (old maths teacher), it was in my school reports, so I think I naturally gravitated to that after I left the record shops.

SH: Favourite scratch DJs of all time other than our mutual hero, the GOAT aka The Magnificent Jazzy Jeff?

MM: DJ Craze, what he did with two turntables and a mixer showed why DJing is an art-form.

DJ Mark XTC (Xtra Tuff Cutta) @ DMC Mixing Championships, The Hacienda 1990


SH: What would you say is the best record to scratch with?

MM: Blapps Posse – Don’t Hold Back

OK, some quick fire questions;

SH: When you’re at home, what do you listen to?

MM: Everything really, from 60s to present day Dance Music, different genres of music, more often than not Dancehall, Reggae, Hip Hop and R&B.

SH: Favourite track of all time?

MM: I’ve got a few;

Tuff Crew – What You Don’t Know
Asmo – Jam The Dance
The Verve – Bitter Sweet Symphony
Massive Attack – Unfinished Sympathy
T-Coy – Carino

I could keep going haha!

SH: Favourite club you’ve DJd at?

MM: The Banshee Manchester

SH: Best club you’ve been to as a punter?

MM: Fabric

SH: What’s your favourite food?

MM: Chinese

SH: What’s your favourite tipple?

MM: Vodka & Red Bull

SH: What’s next for you?

MM: Keep pushing music, my students, and myself. Make more music, work with people from different genres and play in as many countries as I can playing Oldskool, Jungle and Drum & Bass.

SH: Thanks again for taking the time out to do this, all the best and big love and respect for everything you’ve done over the years x

Check out Mark’s most recent vinyl release on the mighty Suburban Base Records.

You can also catch DJ Mark XTC playing at the following events.