Adrian Luvdup - Ask the DJ
Adrian Gent AKA Adrian Luvdup, one half of the Luvdup duo, formed the partnership by accident in the early 90's. After being forced to join the defence forces in South Africa , Mark made a quick exit to Manchester where he started DJing at parties for indie/dance group 'The Farm'. Meanwhile Adrian, a born and bred Mancunian, was playing warm up slots at a local weekly club night- the pair got together after Adrian helped Mark out of a particularly sticky situation after a rather heavy night out.
They started DJing at some very unlikely venues, including a Chinese restaurant, and after boosting 'The Venues' weekly crowd five-fold, they began to get regular slots at regular House/Club events all over the UK. I personally remember going to the Academy in Liverpool ( later became the venue where Cream started ) every week just to hear them where they played a balaeric mix up of delights in the back room.
"Nowadays Adrian is no longer a twin, but still very much Luvdup. He has a new partner, Paul Hughes, formerly part of the Last Rites crew, who operated the pre-party for the late great Electric Chair. The two of them host a Thursday night show (10pm-12pm) for the community station Salford City Radio called ‘The Eclectic Circus’, which is fast gaining cult status in Greater Manchester’s second city and, thanks to the internet, far beyond.
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What I really like about it is that whilst on the one hand it’s got a great knockabout feel to it, its presenters really know their shit and play some top tunes, so you’ve got that balance between entertaining and informing, which is a compelling combination." Greg Wilson
An ace DJ in our opinion and one our favourites. He also has many an acid house story to tell, but here's his choice selection from our acid house questions...
1. What was your first acid house moment?
Everyone on the coach to Venus in Nottingham having a whip round to furnish me with my first “dove”. I danced on the bar all night long and then got lost. That was the night I was christened “Adrian Luvdup”
2. Favourite club/night ever?
Glitter Baby at the State and Luvdup at the Venue. Early 90s complete and utter madness of the highest order.
3. Best acid house debauched moment?
Too many to mention, but collapsing and passing out in the DJ booth at my first appearance at Wobble before I’d even played one record was a moment of great pride (it wasn’t the drugs, honest). I felt my legs going and grabbed on to the nearest thing which happened to be my record box which I dragged down with me, emptying the contents on top of me. That’s one of the tame stories that I can tell from when we were quite well-behaved.
4. Guilty pleasure always in your box?
Inner Life – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. ALWAYS in the box and love the recent John Morales remix released for Record Store Day this year.
5. Guilty pleasure not in the box!?
Abba – Lay All Your Love on me (Disconet Remix). Haven’t had the courage to play it out in 20 years!
6. Give us one of your favourite and hard to find records in your collection?
Favourite moderately hard to find record is an original 7” in mint condition of the Steve Karmen Big Band “Breakaway” – great Northern Soul instrumental stomper that I destroyed our Christmas tree to last year (I lost my balance attempting a spin and fell into the tree causing irreparable damage – ahhh, the dignity of the middle-aged man…)
7. Favourite acid track?
Charles B – Lack of Love. Still utterly brilliant (and a proper song with words, verses and a chorus – rare for proper Acid House!).
8. Favourite labels?
DJ International, Trax, Salsoul, Prelude, Junior Boys Own, Trojan, Rik Tik, Motown, Philadelphia International, 2 Tone, Postcard, Factory
9. Favourite producer / producers?
Tom Moulton, the master and a thoroughly decent gentleman…
10. Who to watch from the new school?
I have no knowledge whatsoever of the new school. I’m a grumpy old git these days. Are Psychemagik still classed as new school???
11 Current favourite track?
Psychemagik - Triumph of the Gods. Like a modern day David Axelrod – brilliant and impossible to categorise.
12. Favourite record shop? Eastern Bloc and Trax on Greek Street (in the 90s), Piccadilly Records and Vinyl Exchange where I worked.
13. The most money you’ve paid for a record? - £45 for Beck’s “Sea Change” on Mobile Fidelity. Going for upwards of £170 now. Small fry to some people but I’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed!
Here's one of Adrian's Eclectic Circus mixes for Disco Outcasts
Catch Adrian Dj-ing at the Basement ball over the festive period
Listen to The Eclectic Circus radio shows here on their Soundcloud page & follow them on twitter here
