Tales From A Disappearing City
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.
- Update frequency
- every 25 days
- Average duration
- 68 minutes
- Episodes
- 31
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
Episode 31 - Strictly Kev & DJ Food - special guest - Kevin Foakes
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 o…
Episode 30 - Free Party: A Folk History. Spiral Tribe, Bedlam, DIY and other underground tales - special guest - Aaron Trinder
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 Histo…
Episode 29 - Planet Wax: Record Shop & Vital Community Space - special guest - Dexta
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 h…
Episode 28 - Cereal Box Beats, UK Garage & Drum and Bass - special guest - Dexta
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 u…
Episode 27 - 80's Ibiza, Ecstacy & Acid House - special guest - Ian St Paul
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 i…
Episode 26 - 70's London Soulboy Scene & Paradise Garage - special guest - Ian St Paul
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 197…
Episode 25 - Pushing Boundaries: Playing Across Genres and Styles - special guest - Warlock
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 playi…
Episode 24 - Raves, Record Shops and Pirate Radio Stories - special guest - Warlock
Join me for part one of my two-part conversation with Warlock. A raw, unfiltered journey through the golden age of pirate radio, and the birth of jungle. In this episode, Jason takes u…
Episode 23 - Squat Parties, Record Shops and Techno - special guest - Jerome Hill
This is the second part of my two-part conversation with Jerome Hill, a DJ and producer renowned for his exceptional skills behind the turntables. Since his first gig in 1990, Jerome ha…
Episode 22 - Early influences: Skating, Breakbeats and Pirate Radio - special guest - Jerome Hill
Join me for part one of my two-part conversation with Jerome Hill, a DJ and producer renowned for his top-notch skills behind the turntables. Since his first gig back in 1990, Jerome ha…
Episode 21 - Acid Techno, Squat Parties and Sound System Culture - special guest - Gizelle
Join me for the second part of my conversation with Gizelle, a key figure in London's 1990s underground acid techno scene. Starting in 1990, we explore the evolution of acid house and t…
Episode 20 - Lovers Rock, Charisma and Acid House - special guest - Gizelle
Join us for the first part of our captivating conversation with Gizelle, a pioneering female DJ who witnessed the birth of London's acid house scene. From her roots in Lovers Rock to be…
Episode 19 - Black Market Records, Jungle and Dropping into Different Scenes - special guest - Miss Pink
In this second instalment of our two-part conversation, we discuss Rachel's expanding career as a DJ, playing at more venues in London, including the influential Movement at Rumba and H…
Episode 18 - 90's London Subculture. Fashion, Clubs and Ambient Soho - special guest - Miss Pink
Welcome to Episode 18, where I sit down for a lively chat with Rachel, better known as Miss Pink. Our connection dates back to the mid-1990s, a time when I frequented record stores like…
Episode 17 - Underground Raves, Electro and Releasing Tunes - special guest - Phil Klein
In Episode 17, I speak again with my old friend and fellow rave war veteran, Phil Klein, also known as Bass Junkie. Phil is a highly respected UK music producer, having crafted tunes si…
Episode 16 - 1980's Electro, Scratching and Making Beats - special guest - Phil Klein
In Episode 16, I speak with my old friend and fellow rave war veteran, Phil Klein, also known as Bass Junkie. Phil is a highly respected UK music producer, having crafted tunes since th…
Episode 15 - Breakdancing, Acid House and Pirate Radio - special guest - Uncle G
In Episode 15, I speak with Uncle G, also known as Urban Intelligence. Godfrey has been deeply embedded in South London's music culture since his family relocated to South East London f…
Episode 14 - Berlin Riots, Anarchy and Techno - special guest - Brandon Spivey
In Episode 14, the second part of my conversation with Brandon Spivey, an old friend and cultural provocateur, we delve into his experiences traveling to Europe in the mid-1980s. During…
Episode 13 - Punk, Anarchy and Acid House in 1980's Manchester - special guest - Brandon Spivey
In episode 13, I am joined by my old mate and cultural hooligan, Brandon Spivey. We delve into his initiation into radical music and subculture, recounting his upbringing in 1970s Maccl…
Episode 12 - Praxis Records, Dead by Dawn and Datacide. - special guest - Christoph Fringeli
Episode 12 contains the second part of my conversation with Christoph Fringeli. We discuss his move to South London from Basel at the start of the 90's and how he started a new record l…