DJs don’t get long service leave.

DJs in some ways have a unique job. Heaps of fun, but no job security or consistency of work or income.

Ben’s first DJ gig in Sydney was in 1986 on Crown Street in Spago's a dodgy Italian joint/nightclub and has been a tireless force for quality music for a long time now. He has played consistently great, thoughtful music for the gay/queer communities for frigging decades. At 4am he will still tell me about a track I ask about.
He hasn’t been to Europe since 1980 when he was 14. But he is finally getting there!
He has been keeping it real in Sydney for so long and he  is getting overseas to a European summer (at last!) to see the other side of the world and play some tunes. He has gigs in Berlin at Cocktail D’ More and Buttons so far.

I know that for me, my DJ elders/friends helped shape my nights out, my memories of that special weekend. The first time I went to Phoenix on a Saturday night in 2001(?), I got rejected because 'it's a gay night mate'. The doorperson see me get rejected, found Ben on the decks. Ben came out and got me in and tore strips off the doorperson. I was accepted. I was there. And it changed my life.

Our DJ friends..... we rely so much on the mood they set, their skill at mixing and their taste to help shape our nights, our spaces, our parties, our (sub)cultures.
Since 1986 to 2017, from Club 77 to Phoenix, Bad Dog to Dirty Kitsch, House of Mince to the Horden, Ben has been there the whole time, playing to 8,000 people at the Horden or 5 at the Oxford or my house, and has been doing it so well for a long time! Respect!

Now its our turn to do something nice for this stalwart of Sydney's electronic gay/queer underground.

Ben could use some spending money for accomodation, and dare I say it maybe a pint and a cheeky 12 inch record he could bring back to Sydney to play for us.

This is our chance for us as a community to say ‘thank you for the music’ to a beautiful man who has fought the good fight for a long time, for over 30 years.

DJs don’t get long service leave and often don’t get a high five on Tuesday once life is back to normal and you’ve finally got that bloody glitter off your body.

Please chip in what you can.

Buy Ben a beer in Europe and say ‘Cheers’ from his Sydney family.

Please just share this privately. This is us passing the hat, just us as a crew, a circle of friends showing our thanks and respect.
Copy the link and message 5 friends who have been there along Ben’s journey with us. Please and Thank You!