Ben:
Gregory, instead of asking you mundane questions that you’ve probably answered a million times before, I am going to give you an opportunity to kick start this interview by answering the question you’ve always wanted to be asked, but no-one ever did…
So, ask and answer the question that you’re dying to let us know about…

Greg:
What do you think of the current state of hard dance?

I think hard dance got to a point recently where it got very stale with nothing new really happening. It seemed to be same-old same-old. I hadn't really heard any new music that interested me that much. But it does seem like things are on the up again now. It's very promising to see Hard House Academy coming round again this month as well as some new smaller, underground events that are starting around the country. I think the whole scene needed a bit of a kick up the arse and, from what I'm seeing recently, that seems to be happening. There seems to be a new wave of ravers who are getting into hard dance. Musically it would be nice to hear some new talent coming into the scene. People who aren't afraid of trying new things in the studio and not just sticking the same tried and tested off beat bass formula!

Things have been up and down for hard dance, but your night, Puzzle Project, recently turned the grand old age of three years old. What has made sure it hasn't faded away like some nights and what's been the most random thing that's happened at a Puzzle Project event?

Ben:
Puzzle Project has been going strongly for 3 long years as you’ve said, and I think the main reason it has not only lasted as a party but consistently delivered as an event, is because of the team behind it.
Each and every individual behind the party brings something to the table and because there are so many big personalities behind the brand there is no reason why we should ever run out of steam.
We have always been about the biggest and best line-ups in an intimate surrounding; and 3 years on, we are still doing exactly that!

The most random thing I’ve seen at Puzzle was a guy who must have been about 7 feet tall walking behind the DJ booth and started hugging the monitor speaker (this was when we used to have the decks on the opposite side of the club) – peculiar bloke. haha

Saying that, you know all about sneaking behind DJ booths don’t you! Tell us about the time many moons ago when you blagged yourself onto the decks by pretending to be a well known hard dance DJ…

Greg:
So does that mean you would describe yourself as a big personality then Ben?!

I've told the story about blagging it onto the decks at Frantic so many times I feel the only way to tell it now is with a limerick!

In Camden Palace there was a DJ named Greg
Who got it into his scheming little head,
To use a true blaggers sentence and tell 'em he was Nick Sentience
But Steve Hill didn't believe a word that he said!

Ben:
Ha ha! A producer and lyricist - I take it we wont be having poetry corner with Brookman at Puzzle Project then!

I hear on the grapevine that you’re leaving the sunny shores of the UK for pastures new. Where are you going, and will we see or hear from you again?

Greg:
A few weeks ago me and a mate went to Thailand for a couple of weeks. I loved it so much I've decided to go and live there for 6 months in January! I'm going to take a mini studio with me so I can still produce and I'll DJ in a few places too. It really won’t be too shabby at all living on a beach in paradise and producing tunes!! :)

Now, at the last Puzzle Project you treated us all to your live set. It seems that these days every man and his dog are doing live sets, mainly helped with the now wide spread use of Ableton. Do you have any tricks up your sleeve to keep your PA’s original and when will you be performing next?

Ben:
I decided to do the live set for Puzzle’s 3rd birthday as I wanted to do something different to my DJ sets. I also wanted to challenge myself to do something new.
Some people use Ableton Live because they can’t mix, some people do it for that same reason I have done and others put together massively elaborate shows with it. It’s a great tool to be used in production and in live sets, but I’m just scratching the surface with it.
I don’t want to do too many at the moment as they take me a bit of time to put them together being a newbie to Ableton, but I think I might do one for Decembers Puzzle Project.

While we’re on the subject of PA’s, for those that don’t know, can you let us know more on the differences of your new Ignite show compared to the first A.L.I.V.E show you used to perform?

Greg:
Ignite is still performed from Ableton just like my original A.L.I.V.E shows were. The difference is the content. DJing in its rawest form is just mixing one tune into the next. With Ignite I take different parts of tunes and mix them together. For example I'll have the drums and bass from Dark Monks "Insane" playing with the riff from Vinylgroover and The Red Head "The Bleep" and the vocals from Fat Boy Slim "Star 69." I'll then swap the groove for something else, add some FX, swap the riff, speed it up, slow it down, add the breakdown from a trance tune, add a classic pop sample......just generally have a lot of fun with it!

It seems that the world's economic system is going into meltdown. Large banks are collapsing, the stock markets are fluctuating badly, people are losing their jobs, governments are frantically trying to muster large financial bail-outs and it looks as if a recession is looming. So Ben, taking all this into consideration, who do you think has the best legs in hard dance?

Ben:
There are many fine pins in hard dance Greg, and I couldn’t single out one person *cough* Cally Gage *cough* as it would be unfair on many beautiful ladies out there ;0)

In my back garden I have a deck chair from St James’ Park that you ‘borrowed’ for me.
When I first met you, you also borrowed an entire trolley of sweets and newspapers from a corner shop, which you did eventually return due to some gentle persuasion from a local bobby.
As a master of mischief and one who loves to prank, if you could prank any celebrity who would it be and why?

Greg:
Hmm, tricky question. I like pranks to be spontaneous, I don't really plan them. I'm sure if the opportunity ever came up I'd prank any celebrity simply because it would be a funny thing to tell the grand kids! Richard Madeley would be a good one though, he's such a c*nt!
Here's an old but fun prank you can try yourselves kids. Send this text to a friend "Hi, I need 2 talk 2 u ASAP. I'm at my friend Elizabeth's house. Please call me on 020 7930 4832. Ask to speak to Liz, she'll get me" - That's the number for the Queen's office at Buckingham Palace!

What would be your dream line up at Puzzle Project?

Ben:
I’ve just tried it and it is! Although I have to say that we are not responsible for any messages left on the Liz’s voicemail!!! lol

As far as dream line-ups how can you not think October’s event is already it ;0)

Ok mate, a quick fire question round to finish things off…

Ketchup or Brown Sauce on a bacon sarnie?

Greg:
Brown Sauce.

Sex with an extreme fatty or no sex at all?

Ben:
Who am I to discriminate! ;0)

You just sent a text to my work phone and it was fairly abusive! lol

What is your favourite swear word?

Greg:
Bollocks.

Vinyl or CD?

Ben:
CDs

Production or performance?

Greg:
Production.

X Box or Playstation?

Ben:
One more thing

Draw a picture of me using paint and I will draw one of you

Greg’s Picture of Ben:

Ben’s picture of that famous time Greg stole a Goat from London Zoo: