Hard House History

Paul Glazby
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.

  1. 5D AGO

    Pete Bennett: From Big Brother to Hard House

    This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby sits down with one of the most unique and unforgettable personalities to ever cross over into the hard dance scene, Pete Bennett. For many, Pete first burst onto the radar through Big Brother in 2006, but this episode goes far beyond reality TV fame. It's a deep dive into the life behind the headlines, including Pete's experience living with Tourette's and the complicated reality of public perception. From moments of acceptance to frustration over misunderstandings, Pete speaks openly about what it's like to navigate life in the spotlight with a condition that is often misrepresented. From there, the conversation shifts into music, creativity and Pete's ongoing connection to the scene. Whether it's new tracks, upcoming releases or gigs tied to labels like Tidy Trax, Pete brings his signature chaotic energy and humour to everything he does. There's also insight into his creative world beyond music, including documentaries, acting work and his latest project, giving fans a closer look at "This is Pete", a raw and unfiltered glimpse into his life. What makes this episode stand out is Pete himself. Unpredictable, hilarious and brutally honest, he moves between topics at lightning speed, from serious reflections to completely off-the-wall moments that only he could deliver. It’s a reminder that hard house has always been about characters as much as it has about music. This is not your typical DJ interview; it's something far more human. Join the History What's your favourite Pete Bennett moment, on TV or in the scene?Have you seen him live or followed his journey since Big Brother?Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s celebrate one of the most unique personalities in the culture. Subscribe to Hardhouse History and help us keep these stories alive. #HardhouseHistory #PeteBennett #BigBrotherUK #HardHouse #RaveCulture #TidyTrax #HardDance #UKRave #PaulGlazby #DanceMusicPodcast

    52 min

  2. MAR 23

    Rob Tissera: Crash, Comeback & Club Culture

    This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby welcomes back a true pioneer of the UK scene, Rob Tissera, for a raw and deeply personal second appearance. The episode opens with Rob sharing the shocking story of a near-fatal car crash, a freak accident on the motorway that left him with serious injuries and a moment where he genuinely believed his life was over. It's a powerful reminder of how quickly everything can change, and sets the tone for an honest conversation about resilience, perspective and what really matters after decades in the game. From there, the conversation shifts into Rob's journey through the hard house scene. Unlike the meteoric rise experienced by some DJs, Rob reflects on his steady, long-term career and why that slower trajectory can sometimes be easier to manage mentally. He talks about the importance of having the right people around you, not just hype, but honest voices who push you to improve. There are also classic stories from the road, including encounters with global superstars and behind-the-scenes moments that show a different side of the industry. Rob shares how genuine curiosity and respect, even from the biggest names, can leave a lasting impression, reinforcing the culture's foundation. Paul and Rob also revisit iconic moments from the scene, from wild tour stories to the origins of DJ names and unforgettable nights on the south coast. It's a reminder that hard house wasn't just about the music; it was about the community, the chaos, and the characters that defined an era. This is more than a catch-up; it's a reflection on survival, longevity and staying grounded in a scene that has constantly evolved. Join the History What’s your favourite Rob Tissera memory or track?Were you there for the Rise or Tidy era?Drop your stories in the comments and tag a mate you used to rave with. Subscribe to Hardhouse History and help us keep the culture alive. #HardhouseHistory #RobTissera #UKHardHouse #RaveCulture #TidyTrax #HardDance #90sRave #ClubCulture #PaulGlazby #DanceMusicHistory

    57 min

  3. MAR 16

    Steve Hill: DJ Craft, Studio Secrets and Tripoli Trax

    This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby welcomes back one of the most respected figures in the global hard dance scene, Steve Hill. Returning for his third appearance on the show, Steve officially enters the Hardhouse History "royalty club", joining the small group of guests who have come back multiple times to share their stories and insights from decades in the industry.  In this episode, Steve gives listeners an update on what he has been working on recently, including time back in the studio and a series of new productions and remixes currently landing on labels like Tidy Trax. From fresh releases to collaborations and upcoming material, the conversation explores how Steve continues to evolve his sound while staying connected to the roots of hard house.  Paul and Steve also get into the craft of DJing, particularly the importance of reading a crowd and building a set properly. Steve explains why he always arrives early at clubs to feel the energy of the room and understand where the night is headed before he plays. For him, DJing is about complementing the energy that has already been created while still taking the audience somewhere new.  There are plenty of classic scene stories along the way, including a hilarious moment in Japan when the DJ before Steve decided to play 20 minutes of Steve Hill's biggest tracks before Steve's set. Moments like that highlight the unpredictable reality of DJ life and why every DJ needs a solid plan B when stepping into the booth.  The episode also features a fun challenge in which Steve's legendary knowledge of the Tripoli Trax catalogue is put to the test. From release numbers to sleeve colours, Steve demonstrates just how deep his knowledge of the label runs. If you love the history of hard house and the people who helped build it, this is a must-listen episode. JOIN THE HISTORY What's your favourite Steve Hill track of all time? Did you ever see him play live during the peak hard house years?Share your memories in the comments and help us document the scene's history.Subscribe to Hardhouse History and keep the legacy of hard dance alive. #HardhouseHistory #SteveHill #UKHardHouse #TidyTrax #HardDance #TripoliTrax #RaveCulture #90sRave #PaulGlazby #DanceMusicHistory

    53 min

  4. MAR 9

    Lab4: The Birth of Stadium Techno

    This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby reconnects with Les from Lab4, one half of the duo that helped define the harder, louder and more theatrical end of UK hard dance. Les takes us right back to the early 90s, before Lab4 even existed. He and Adam were in an industrial metal band called MAD, writing, programming and effectively carrying the project themselves. When the band dissolved around 93 to 94, the studio side began to take over. Access to proper equipment in Oxford, long hours of experimenting, and a growing obsession with programming led to the birth of Lab4. From day one, the goal was clear. They wanted to create what Les calls "stadium techno." Inspired by the spectacle of bands like Kiss and the sheer scale of arena rock, Lab4 invested heavily in stage production, lasers, smoke machines and a full visual show. It was never just about tracks; it was about impact. We dive into the breakthrough Fridge gig that kicked everything off, the unique Lab4 sound that sat differently on the pitch control than other DJs of the time, and the relentless behind-the-scenes workload. Writing, performing, organising gigs, doing artwork, accounts and logistics, the hour on stage was the easy part. The rest led to burnout. Les opens up about Adam leaving in 2006, the reunion years later for the Tidy Magna event, and the eventual final chapter after Finland in 2019. There is honesty here about physical limits, creative fatigue and the realities of sustaining a hard dance career for decades. It is a raw, reflective and hugely important conversation about one of the scene's most recognisable acts. Join the History Were you front row for Lab4 at The Fridge or Magna?What was the first Lab4 track you heard live?Drop your memories in the comments and tag a mate who used to lose it to Soulfire.Subscribe to Hardhouse History and help us keep the legacy alive. #HardhouseHistory #Lab4 #LesLab4 #UKHardHouse #TidyTrax #HardDance #90sRave #StadiumTechno #RaveCulture #PaulGlazby

    46 min

  5. MAR 2

    Jon Langford: The Story of Knuckleheads

    In this episode of Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby sits down with one of the most quietly influential figures in the scene, Jon Langford, the man behind Knuckleheads, K-Series and a huge part of the UK hard house foundation. The conversation quickly turns nostalgic as Paul and Jon talk about how DJs in the 90s rarely actually knew each other. They were, as Jon puts it, “ships in the night", a handshake at the decks, a quick hug, then one DJ mixing while the other packed their headphones away HHH - Jon Langford. Long before social media, reputations were built entirely on records and dancefloors, not followers. Jon walks through his beginnings, starting DJing in 1990 while still holding a day job, often finishing a club at 2 am and turning up exhausted at work the next morning. It didn't take long to realise that banking wasn't the future; music was. From record shop culture in Bournemouth to scrabbling for promos on Friday mornings, to forming Knuckleheads with Warren Clark, the episode dives deep into the creation of the hard house sound. Inspired by the Sharp Boys, Armand Van Helden's basslines, and the energy of American house, Jon explains how “House Rocker” and the Knuckleheads' identity were intentionally designed to create a recognisable style. They also explore the rise and fall of vinyl culture, the shift to digital downloads, and why many producers walked away in the mid-2000s. Jon candidly discusses leaving the scene for stability, building a full career in IT and cybersecurity, and returning years later with a completely different perspective on music and DJing. It’s a story about passion, burnout, reinvention, and why hard house never really leaves you. Join the History Were you there for Trade, Tidy or the early Knuckleheads days?Tell us your memories, your first rave, or the track that changed everything. Leave a comment or message, and we might read it out in a future episode!Subscribe, share the episode with a mate from the dancefloor days, and keep the history alive. #HardhouseHistory #HardHouse #Knuckleheads #JonLangford #RaveCulture #UKHardHouse #90sRave #ClubCulture #DanceMusicPodcast #PaulGlazby

    58 min

  6. FEB 23

    Paul Maddox: "Inspirations"

    Hard House History goes properly behind the curtain this week as Paul Glazby welcomes back fan-favourite guest Paul Maddox for a very special episode, the first in a new series called Inspirations. Instead of just telling stories from the rave years, this episode digs into how the music actually gets made. Maddox breaks down the creative process track by track, explaining where ideas come from, why some work and others don't, and how a rejected concept can sometimes become gold. The pair start with Maddox's track "Miracle," born of hearing an indie-folk record on the radio and wondering, “What happens if you turn this into hard house?" After experimenting with a remix that never took off, the idea evolved into a full cover version, complete with new vocals and a deliberate nod to late-90s trance influences.  They then move on to "Build It Up", a B-side that ended up outliving the A-side in DJ sets. Maddox explains how early hard house producers, long builds, chunky grooves and even clever sampling shaped the record, and why sometimes the simplest dancefloor track connects more than the clever one. Finally, the episode's highlight is the brand-new Glasby & Maddox collaboration, "Keep Hope Alive." What started as a risky idea inspired by a classic guitar progression slowly evolved into a full emotional record, eventually transformed by a powerful spoken-word vocal that gave the track its identity and meaning.  This episode isn't just nostalgia. It's a genuine look at creativity, risk-taking, collaboration, rejection and those rare moments where everything clicks. If you've ever wondered how a hard house anthem is actually born, this is the episode you've been waiting for. JOIN THE HARD HOUSE HISTORY FAMILY If you enjoyed this episode: • Follow the podcast • Share it with a rave mate • And tell us — what track inspired you to love hard house? Because the music never really left… we just kept hope alive. #HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #PaulMaddox #HardHouse #UKHardHouse #TidyTrax #DanceMusicPodcast #RaveCulture #ElectronicMusic #HardDance

    50 min

  7. FEB 16

    Fergie: From Belfast Kid to Club Legend

    This week on Hard House History, Paul Glazby finally sits down with one of the most requested guests the podcast has ever had, Fergie. A DJ whose story is inseparable from the rise of UK hard house, the conversation goes far beyond club nostalgia and into the raw reality of growing up inside the scene. Fergie takes us back to early-90s Ireland, learning to mix on battered turntables as a kid and playing nightclub residencies at just 14. What follows is a journey that sounds almost impossible now, moving to England as a teenager under the mentorship of the legendary Tony De Vit. The episode explores the real relationship behind the myth, not just DJ and protégé, but family, trust and belief. You hear about long car rides to gigs, promo records spread across bedroom floors, and hours spent watching Tony craft sets and productions from scratch. The discussion also opens up the era many only heard rumours about: chaotic club nights, the explosion of Gatecrasher and Trade, and the intensity of a culture-changing dance music forever. Most movingly, Fergie shares deeply personal memories of Tony's illness, his passing, and the moment he was asked to play Tony's scheduled set the very night after the funeral. It’s emotional, honest and gives listeners a perspective on the scene that no documentary ever fully captured. The episode also explores the evolution of hard house itself. Was it really a genre, or something much broader? Fergie explains why tracks like The Dawn blurred boundaries and how that shaped his own decision years later to move away from the sound and search for his own musical identity. This isn't just dance music history. It’s a coming-of-age story inside one of clubbing's most important eras. Relive the History If this episode brings back memories, share it with a mate you used to go raving with. Tag them, message them, or send the link and say, "Remember this?" And don't forget to follow Hard House History so these stories never get lost. #HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #DJFergie #UKHardHouse #ClublandStories #TonyDeVit #RaveCulture #DanceMusicHistory #90sClubbing #ElectronicMusicPodcast

    1h 36m

  8. FEB 9

    Mark Kavanagh: Ireland’s Hard House Pioneer

    This week on Hard House History, Paul sits down with Irish hard house pioneer Mark Kavanagh, a name woven deep into the fabric of the late-90s scene. From pirate radio and underground raves in Dublin to chart positions, Trade club connections and releases that helped define the harder sound, this episode is less an interview and more a living archive of how hard house actually spread beyond the UK. Mark explains how the early Irish rave scene evolved from tiny gatherings into packed venues like the Olympic Ballroom, where hundreds quickly became thousands, and where he eventually went from playing records to producing them. He recalls documenting the scene in magazines and fanzines because, at the time, nobody else was capturing what was happening.  The conversation dives into the real history of the genre, the pre-digital era of DAT tapes, mailing lists and white labels, and the moment Irish dance floors embraced the harder, faster sound years before UK media took it seriously. Mark also shares how his productions took off after pirate radio repeatedly played his records, turning a studio shed project into a national booking schedule.  Paul and Mark also unpack Trade’s influence, the origin of the term “hard house”, and how radio, clubs and DJs together created a movement rather than a marketing genre. It’s a fascinating reminder that scenes weren’t built by algorithms, they were built by people travelling, sharing music and handing records directly to each other. If you want to understand how hard house actually grew internationally, this episode is essential listening. JOIN THE HISTORY Got memories from the late 90s rave era?Tell us the club, the DJ and the track that changed everything for you. Comment on Spotify or YouTube and help document the real history of hard house. #HardHouseHistory #MarkKavanagh #90sRave #TradeClub #IrishRaveScene #HardHouse #DanceMusicHistory #OldSchoolRave #ClubCulture #PaulGlazby

    1h 6m
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About

Welcome to Hard House History, formerly known as When I Grow Up, hosted by Hard House icon Paul Glazby. This podcast dives deep into the evolution of the Hard House movement, exploring the music, the culture, and the unforgettable nights that defined an era. Join Paul as he reconnects with the DJs, producers, promoters, and fans who built the scene from the underground up. Whether you lived it or are discovering it for the first time, Hard House History is your front-row seat to the beats, stories, and energy that still move dancefloors today.

Information

  • Creator
    Paul Glazby
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Paul Glazby

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