…..I was just wondering if you were free to DJ at our Christmas party”. Her crisp, Sloaney tones suggested that this would be a very posh do. But the fact that it was at their factory in Harlesden suggested that it might be wise to fill my boxes with reggae. The party-goers, many from the notorious Stonebridge Estate, took one look at me and I could see what they were expecting: Michael Jackson, Phil Collins and Madonna. Instead, they got Peter Tosh, Pat Kelly and Toots & The Maytals, but this was the track that really blew the roof off. From then on, I worked regularly around Harlesden and Ladbroke Grove doing their parties, weddings and 21sts. But each time it took me at least two days to remove the riddims from my head and the sweet tang of tu sheng peng from my nostrils.
