Tales From A Disappearing City

Controlled Weirdness
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Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the early 80’s. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throughout Europe and beyond and has an eclectic and seriously deep collection of music built up over time that reflects an appreciation of all elements of the London groove. Neil currently runs Presence Unknown, a vinyl and digital label dedicated to releasing music influenced by his love of Electro, Acid House and Rave. He also does a fortnightly radio show live from Planet Wax record store in New Cross where his aim as always is to play you some amazing music that you have never heard before. 

  1. 12/01/2025

    Episode 32 - Dirty Punk to Holy Joy: 80s and 90s London Stories - special guest - Johny Brown

    Send us a text From a "dirty punk" being shamed in his Newcastle school assembly to sharing a beer with the Sex Pistols, Johny Brown lived the explosive birth of UK punk. But that was only the beginning. In this episode of Tales of a Disappearing City, Johny takes us on a wild journey through underground culture. He recounts jumping out of his window to escape being grounded for a TV appearance, only to be handed a ticket to a Sex Pistols gig in Middlesborough by Steve Jones himself. We follow him to London, where he immersed himself in the squatting scene, the industrial noise of Test Department, legendary clubs like The Beat Route and Flim Flam, and the anarchic warehouse parties of the Mutoid Waste collective. This is a story of creative reinvention, from homemade clothes and experimental cassette tapes to forming the beloved band Holy Joy, launching a groundbreaking radio show on Resonance FM, and creating avant-garde theatre. It’s a firsthand account of 80s and 90s London, a city of chaos, community, and relentless creativity, and a powerful reminder to always "keep the faith". Some great subcultural links mentioned in this episode: https://www.boredteenagers.co.uk/speed.htm https://briangibson.yolasite.com https://www.instagram.com/cindy_stern_11/ https://www.instagram.com/soulboyssoulgirls/ Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 56m

  2. 07/23/2025

    Episode 31 - Strictly Kev & DJ Food - special guest - Kevin Foakes

    Send us a text In this episode, Neil sits down with Kevin Foakes (aka Strictly Kev and DJ Food) - legendary DJ, graphic artist, and archivist of UK counterculture - for a deep dive into four decades of music, raves, graffiti, and psychedelic experimentation. Kevin's journey is a masterclass in underground creativity, spanning from Adam and the Ants fandom to hip-hop graffiti, from acid house squats to Ninja Tune's golden era. After discovering hip-hop through the legendary Subway Art book, he traces his path into graffiti culture, documenting pieces in Westbourne Park and Ladbroke Grove, and recalls the pivotal Freestyle '85 hip-hop jam. The conversation shifts to the rave and acid house years, where Kevin recounts his experiences raving at squats, founding the influential Telepathic Fish chill-out parties, and crossing paths with scene legends like Mixmaster Morris and Coldcut's Matt Black. He reflects on his design work for Ninja Tune, co-hosting the iconic Solid Steel radio show, and the label's legendary Stealth nights at Hoxton's Blue Note. Along the way, Kevin shares vivid anecdotes about Megatripolis' psychedelic chaos, the record shop culture of Ambient Soho, and his current projects—including a Telepathic Fish compilation released in September 2024 and his forthcoming book on psychedelic light shows. Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    2h 14m

  3. 06/05/2025

    Episode 30 - Free Party: A Folk History. Spiral Tribe, Bedlam, DIY and other underground tales - special guest - Aaron Trinder

    Send us a text In this episode we take a  deep-dive into Britain's underground festival counterculture with filmmaker Aaron Trinder, creator of the groundbreaking documentary "Free Party: A Folk History." Aaron reveals how the free festival culture of the 60s and 70s collided with the explosive rave scene of the late 80s and 90s, creating a movement so powerful that the government literally rewrote the law to stop it. From the legendary Castlemorton Common Festival of 1992 - a 50,000-strong gathering that triggered the Criminal Justice Act - to the chaotic Spiral Tribe NYE party at the Roundhouse, Aaron shares stories from the frontlines of cultural warfare and his 7-year DIY odyssey to preserve these forgotten histories. Aaron's grassroots filmmaking journey, battling music licensing and mainstream media, mirrors the same DIY spirit that built the free party movement. Shaped by childhood experiences in West London squats and punk venues, he brings an insider's perspective that no academic could replicate. The film explores how the Criminal Justice Act wasn't just about noise complaints but was a direct assault on the radical idea that people could gather freely without corporate or state control. "This film is a unique look at a much-underrepresented moment in cultural history. It was the last great unifying youth movement before the digital age, one that challenged the authorities, connected environmental awareness with music, and questioned laws on land rights and trespass. With new laws criminalising trespass and protest across Europe, the story is more relevant than ever." Director - Aaron Trinder Links to show your support https://youtu.be/YGy_lDDqO9E?si=5iZLuBeaApQvH4nA https://freepartydoc.info/ https://www.instagram.com/freepartydocumentary/ https://www.facebook.com/aaron.trinder.5/ https://alanlodge.co.uk/ https://www.instagram.com/tashuk Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    3h 8m

  4. 05/14/2025

    Episode 29 - Planet Wax: Record Shop & Vital Community Space - special guest - Dexta

    Send us a text In the second part of our chat, we continue our conversation with Chris (aka Dexta), following his journey from aspiring DJ to co-founder of Planet Wax, the New Cross institution that has become a cornerstone of London's underground dance music scene. "Record shops aren't just about selling vinyl—they're about creating a space where the culture can breathe," Dexta explains. In this episode, we discuss how Dexta founded Diffrent Music in 2010 with his friend Jamie. This experimental bass label deliberately countered mainstream trends and quickly became a cult favorite with over 100 releases. Dexta's career evolved through various roles in graphic design at DJ Mag and Hospital Records, where he blended his talents in A&R, broadcasting, and event management. He notably helped organize the popular DJ Mag Bunker nights and co-founded Clashmouth, a vibrant drum & bass vinyl marketplace that strengthened community bonds. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish 1-800-Dubplate with Lewis (aka Sicknote), a specialized dubplate-cutting service, before they both successfully crowdfunded Discworld (later rebranded as Planet Wax). After relocating to New Cross and expanding with a bar, the record shop and venue evolved into a cultural hub for vinyl enthusiasts, artists, and DIY culture. As Dexta reflects, while it's "not a fortune-making business," the true reward lies in preserving authentic music culture for future generations. 👉 Visit Planet Wax and Planet Wax - On Air  https://planetwax.net/ https://live.planetwax.net/ Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 26m

  5. 04/24/2025

    Episode 28 - Cereal Box Beats, UK Garage & Drum and Bass - special guest - Dexta

    Send us a text In the first of a two-part conversation, we sit down with Chris (aka Dexta), co-founder of Planet Wax, a legendary record shop, bar, venue, and radio station in New Cross dedicated to underground dance music and its surrounding culture and community. This episode explores Dexta's journey through the UK music scene from the late 1990s to early 2010s. Growing up in North London, his musical passion began with compilation albums and cassette tapes, with a particular affinity for The Prodigy and UK garage. Dexta recalls his first production experiments using basic software that came free in a cereal box, before transitioning to DJing after acquiring a pair of belt-drive turntables. The conversation traces his evolution through various music scenes—from UK garage to grime, and eventually to drum and bass. He shares his experiences with pirate radio, first as a listener of Y2K Radio, then as a presenter hosting his own shows on stations like Rush FM, Elite Radio, and UK Bass Radio. These platforms allowed him to connect with fellow DJs and build an audience while honing his skills both as a DJ and presenter. Dexta recounts his early club experiences, including his first gig at age 16 where he played a 15-minute set as part of "Solid Jam Cartel" (SJC). He discusses frequenting iconic London venues like Fabric, The End, and Bar Rumba, where he discovered various subgenres of drum and bass. His musical tastes gradually shifted from "jump up" drum and bass to darker, more underground sounds. Throughout the episode, Dexta reflects on technological changes in music production and distribution—from early software like Mixman and Fruity Loops to the transition of record shops moving online. He also touches on his brief relocation to Bournemouth, where he discovered even darker drum and bass sounds, before returning to London with ambitions to launch his own record label. Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 26m

  6. 03/26/2025

    Episode 27 - 80's Ibiza, Ecstacy & Acid House - special guest - Ian St Paul

    Send us a text In part two of our conversation, Ian St. Paul shares his remarkable journey through some of the most influential moments in dance music history. Beginning with his first trip to Ibiza in 1984, Ian recounts how what started as a holiday transformed into a life-changing adventure that would shape club culture for decades to come. The conversation traces Ian's evolution from running bars in Ibiza to becoming a pivotal figure in London's acid house scene, where he founded legendary clubs like Future, Spectrum, and Land of Oz. Ian provides an insider's perspective on the emergence of ecstasy culture, the development of the Balearic sound, and how he helped bring these experiences back to the UK, kickstarting the acid house movement.  Beyond the acid house era, Ian discusses his ventures into trance music with Dragonfly Records and TIP, his seven years in Japan building the scene there, and later adventures in Goa, Nepal, and back to Ibiza. Throughout the episode, Ian offers candid insights about the personalities, music, and cultural shifts that defined these revolutionary moments in dance music history, providing a rare first-hand account from someone who was not only present but instrumental in creating these movements. Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 36m

  7. 03/05/2025

    Episode 26 - 70's London Soulboy Scene & Paradise Garage - special guest - Ian St Paul

    Send us a text In this captivating first installment of our two-part conversation, Ian shares his remarkable coming-of-age story: from his teenage years in South London's vibrant soul scene of the 1970s to living in New York from 1980 to 1983, concluding as he departs for Ibiza in 1984. Ian St Paul stands as a genuine pioneer of London's underground music scene. Raised on the Roundshaw Estate in South London, he discovered soul records at age 13, igniting a lifelong passion for music. He quickly became a fixture at iconic London soul venues like Crackers and the Lacy Lady, absorbing the vibrant club culture of the era. At just 15, Ian embarked on an extraordinary journey to New York City with friend Paul Oakenfold, immersing himself in the legendary club scene that would later profoundly influence UK dance music. Upon returning to London, he founded "Candy Box," a youth club that hosted early performances by then-unknown DJs including Giles Peterson and Oakenfold. Ian's influence expanded when he moved to Ibiza in 1984, diving deep into the island's emerging club culture alongside his DJ cousin Trevor Fung. His pivotal moment came in 1987 when Oakenfold visited him in Ibiza with fellow DJs; Ian introduced them to the island's revolutionary party scene, taking them to Amnesia and exposing them to the nascent ecstasy culture. In 1988, Ian returned to London where he promoted the legendary Acid House nights Future and Spectrum—events that kickstarted the UK's acid house revolution. His journey continued into the 90s when he relocated to Goa, India, where he managed trance music pioneers Juno Reactor. Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 4m

  8. 12/11/2024

    Episode 25 - Pushing Boundaries: Playing Across Genres and Styles - special guest - Warlock

    Send us a text In part two of my conversation with DJ/producer Warlock, we explore his fascinating musical evolution and contributions to UK electronic music. The episode traces his journey from playing UK hardcore in the early 90s to embracing the harder European techno scene as well as a multitude of other underground genres and styles over the years. Jason shares his experiences working at Kickin Records alongside Peter Harris, where he handled A&R and compilation licensing. He then discusses co-founding Rag & Bone Records with Stacey (NoYeahNo). Throughout his career, Jason has produced music under various aliases including Warlock, Lorenz Attractor, Han Do Jin, and Hooverian Blur. The conversation offers an intimate look at the golden era of UK club culture, featuring stories from legendary parties such as Knowledge at SW1 in Victoria and the influential FWD nights at Plastic People. Beyond nostalgic reminiscence, Jason provides insightful perspectives on contemporary electronic music, discussing the current jungle revival and how a new generation of producers is breaking down traditional genre boundaries. He emphasises the importance of maintaining musical open-mindedness rather than becoming confined to a single genre. Support the show https://www.youtube.com/@ControlledWeirdness https://open.spotify.com/artist/20nC7cQni8ZrvRC2REZjOI https://www.instagram.com/controlledweirdness/ https://controlledweirdness.bandcamp.com/ Theme song is Controlled Weirdness - Drifting in the Streets https://open.spotify.com/track/7GJfmYy4RjMyLIg9nffukt Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the mid 80’s when he first began to go to nightclubs, gigs, and illegal parties. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throu...

    1h 34m
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About

Hosted from a South London tower block by Neil Keating aka Controlled Weirdness. Tales from a Disappearing City is a chance for Neil to tell some untold subcultural stories from past and present, joined by friends from his lifelong journey through subterranean London. Neil is a veteran producer and DJ and has been at the front line of all aspects of club and sound system culture since the early 80’s. His musical CV includes playing everywhere from plush clubs to dirty warehouses as well as mixing tunes on a variety of iconic London pirate radio stations. He has released music on numerous underground record labels and was responsible for promoting and playing at a series of legendary early raves in the USA at the start of the 90’s. He still DJ's in the UK and throughout Europe and beyond and has an eclectic and seriously deep collection of music built up over time that reflects an appreciation of all elements of the London groove. Neil currently runs Presence Unknown, a vinyl and digital label dedicated to releasing music influenced by his love of Electro, Acid House and Rave. He also does a fortnightly radio show live from Planet Wax record store in New Cross where his aim as always is to play you some amazing music that you have never heard before. 

Information

  • Creator
    Controlled Weirdness
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Tales From A Disappearing City
  • Show Website
    Tales From A Disappearing City

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