Thread by @SecretDJBook

Could be the last MEGATHREAD 🧵🧵 - judging by the huge reduction in engagement recently. Which in-turn suggested this topic. The reason why I do this. The reason why I pay for the tick. So people can see the journalism. Because that is what the Secret DJ project is for.

I did a solid 20 years of writing before the Secret DJ. Rarely got paid for it and compared to DJ wages in the 90s, who cared back then? A lot of it was fluff. But the thing that changed everything was GATECRASHERGATE.

This thread would be like Lord of the Rings if I went into all the detail, but after hearing perhaps the 10th story of wrongdoing by them I went to a major dance mag and asked why no one talks about it and basically I was told to shut up, cos Gatecrasher owed them money. Lots.

So a network of ‘debt as control’ emerged. Simon Raine, Evil Brain, the boss behind it, essentially never paid anyone when he could. Leaving a trail of destruction going back to the early 90s, possibly further. Wherever I asked a victim, no one would speak up. No one.

Rumours begin to circulate of criminal dealings, threats and non-payments. Some agents place Gatecrasher on 'The Blacklist' as early as 1998. Some witnesses cite even earlier examples at 'Bakers' in Birmingham, Raine's first venture.

Gatecrasher's flagship and HQ 'Republic' experiences drop off in custom after the Millennium, as does most of the industry. 2007 Gatecrasher HQ 'goes on fire'.

thestar.co.uk/news/on-this-d…

As plans are made for a phoenix-like rebirth Police suspect arson ;

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e…

In lesser known news Simon Raine backs the famous Sheffield Ski Village. Eventually this closes after a period of bad business and again, mysteriously 'goes on fire'. Perhaps due to flammable snow?

sheffieldtribune.co.uk/p/the-rise-and…

1999 - 2003 Gatecrasher opens a much smaller venue 'Bed' in Sheffield. This is generally badly received and eventually closes. Again many complain of non payment and criminal threats. Gatecrasher also makes attempts to 'crack' London at Heaven. This also fails.

Gatecrasher opens as smaller spin-offs in Leeds , Birmingham, Nottingham and Watford. They buy the copyright of any possible competition large or small and send 'cease and desist' legal letters to all. Many never trade again including well known Leeds brand 'Dirty Disco'. More threats ensue.

Some of these people were my friends. I would look at the ‘legal’ document and tell them it was ridiculous, the ‘lawyer’ sending it was on the board of Gatecrasher! But still - total fear. Total silence. Also- this was during a recession.

Leeds branch of Gatecrasher/Bed (the names change often) is then caught in a false vodka scandal. Tests find no alcohol but ethanol and chloroform.

thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/10751027.…

2008 sees an attempt to crack the festival circuit. The festival is abandoned, all acts are unpaid and a man dies. Later the separate company formed for this purposes liquidates. Again.

metro.co.uk/2008/05/27/man…

Leeds is abandoned - for once a venue doesn't 'go on fire' - this time it floods.

The license is revoked regardless.

theguardian.com/leeds/2011/feb…

At some point you have to wonder - is Simon Raine the single most unlucky businessman who ever walked the earth?

Every single venue burning or flooding?

Every single venture going under, then rising again.

Despite all appearances of success Gatecrasher goes into administration amid storm of non payment of debts. No dance music trades will touch the story due the amounts owed them by Gatecrasher in unpaid advertising. The pattern of 'debt as control' is forming a ring of silence around the brand.

But I knew. By now I had been mentored into the NUJ, I was a 'proper' journalist.

I love what is says on the back of my press pass -

I'm a bona fide newsgatherer now.

So I looked at the public records of the bankruptcy. Essentially what it meant was over 300 people could whistle for what Raine owed them. He was laughing.

birminghammail.co.uk/news/gatecrash…

Wait! what's that you say?? ANOTHER venue 'goes on fire' ...again??

but...

birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-new…

OK so. Bear in mind now there has been a lifetime of wrongo.

He's done right? It is over.

Wrong. Imagine he destroyed your business and he owes you thousands, then he waves at you from Ibiza!

x.com/gcibiza

It didn't even last a season. Within 2 months Raine and his son reportedly scuttling around the venue bars emptying tills.

One by one associate brands and DJs pull out.

ra.co/news/25473

One by one they go.

facebook.com/eddiehalliwell…

By this point Raine is employing a team to erase bad press online and they literally cannot keep up. Much of it has been erased due to folk panicking at the fake lawyer, but plenty remains.

youredm.com/2014/08/06/how…

The Raine in Spain then left quickly on a plane.

What's your point Secret DJ?

Well glad you asked. By now ALL OF THE ABOVE is public knowledge but not a single publication speaks of it. One of the reasons Raine continues for so long is either people just do not know, or more likely have heard rumours and utter to themselves the mug's mantra -

"not me. I'm too smart."

SO?

Is an industry and its press complicit in the silence? Is this a form of professional Omertà? Solution? Go big.

I’m going to name The Guardian. Long story short? they wanted my story, were about to print it and WALLOP - after one of Raine’s hilarious letters they, unbelievably, sided with him! He sold them the classic ‘disgruntled ex employee’ line - but I’d never worked for him or met him. This bastion of left wing news left me swinging in the wind with a gangster on my heels!

The threats started. Raine started calling. In his empire he had a ‘security’ firm known in Birmingham for being well dodge. I had to get a threat assessment done. I also went to my union, the NUJ, who helped with advice. Like it or not I was a journalist now. With real journalists problems.

Thank the Lord (Gnome) ! Private Eye to the rescue!

Again, condensing things greatly. The Eye saw immediately that I was both very correct in my work, and also being shut into a box. Not only by my own industry but a major 'left wing' newspaper.

FINALLY someone published my work -

And of course, fast forward a couple of years and Raine opens "Area" in Sheffield and exactly the same pattern emerges, more are ripped off - and it goes on!

Because who in dance music reads anything other than their phones? "what? 'The Secret DJ!?' haven't you heard? He's a nutcase? Nothing he says is true" etc etc.

And to this day. Still not a word in our press and industry.

But by now I knew, I had to do it. This is what I do now.

I suppose this is an origin story of sorts. It definitely meant pretty much the end of my career as a DJ - but it was certainly the start of something else.

And I tell you - I have 20, 30, maybe more stories exactly like this, exactly as detailed, just as researched and rigorously proven using as many reliable sources. I just assume you all know that by now.

But maybe you don't.

So yeah, maybe the last MEGATHREAD is just to let you know that I do not fuck about.

So when I talk about wrongness - non-payers, liars, bad promoters, cheating venues, abusers, bullies, rapists, thieves, racists and general rotters - understand it is THEY who tell you not to listen to me. Many of them chat together about how they can bring down Secret DJ Project.

But it's all exactly the same as the Gatecrasher case. None of them have ever taken me to court or indeed ever will - because they cannot.

None of them realise there are a few people behind this phrase 'Secret DJ' including the might of an entire union, a couple of brilliant specialist lawyers and 2 ace editors.

They cannot go to court because you can only do that if none of what I say is true.

And no country in the world is easier or more keen to hear a libel or defamation case than the UK.

I do not say a word online about a villain until I have a stack of proof and months of rigour behind it.

And if this place goes under, or limits reach further, it will just pop up somewhere else.

I'm going nowhere.

help out.

press like

Share.

put the fucking willies up the worst people in our biz.

(and yes, if you detect a slightly combative and pissed-off undertone here - yes I am getting bit sick of doing all this for zero recompense, endless whisperings and nasty attacks just to have the account hobbled and perhaps people start to take this work for granted a touch).

perhaps I have danced around a couple of things here hoping you will work it out.

for clarity...

am I saying the UK has a ring of dark asteroids orbiting around it known as 'directors' who intentionally drive their own enterprises into the ground, running up HUGE debts for others, enriching themselves and then, sometimes literally, burning it down only to start all over again in the full knowledge that the UK will NEVER prosecute, and will in fact reward them??

am I pointing out as clearly as possible how 'failing upwards' works not just in my biz, but all western enterprise?

perhaps.

post script

thought you might enjoy their 'legal' letter to me from a while back.

And my answer.

'answer came there none'

you might be legitimately wondering where is the music biz on the comments section?

I mean I know of dozens of name DJs, venues and promoters who have been shafted by Raine and are definitely watching my socials.

Saying nothing is what allows people like Raine to operate.