Love at the Wag with Dave Dorrell

photo  - James Mclintock

Dave Dorrell needs no introduction if you were going out in London in the late 80's and early 90's. He was the man behind many nights – Dirtbox, Batcave, RAW, Love at the Wag and his night at the Nicky Holloway's 'Milk Bar' - "All Back To Mine".

His career in music started with DJing for Emergency Ward 10, Dirtbox & The Batcave. He was also writing for the NME. In the mid/late 80s. He was signed to ZTT as a member of Nast Rox Inc, and was involved in the legendary M/A/R/R/S  hit  "Pump Up The Volume" along side running Love Records. 

 Over the years, he has worked for a vast array of artists, from Bush to the Pet Shop Boys. He was a co-presenter of dance music show BPM on ITV & also managed Heller & Farley. He now works more on the business side of the industry - his London-based company Dorrell Management.

We are really excited to be collaborating with Dave on a re print of the Love T-shirt from the synonymous Love night. 

We caught up with him and found out a bit more about the legendary night at The Wag.

Tell us about Love at The Wag? How did it all start?

I’d been resident DJ at RAW at the YMCA on Tottenham Court Road since it began but after three wildly successful years it was due to close. I’d made friends with Rod Marsh (when he was dressed as a bear and doing the door on an illegal warehouse party in Covent Garden) and he suggested we start a night at the Wag after discussions with its founder Chris Sullivan. We all saw that the scene was going through a massive shift – 'I’d just had a number 1 with M/A/R/R/S and Pump Up The Volume, SHOOM was blowing up at the Fitness Centre - we hosted them at RAW in early ’88 - and it felt like things were at a turning point in London.’

….and you just knew that something big was coming and we wanted to be part of it. I came up with the name LOVE and we opened in June ’88 with CJ Mackintosh and me on the decks – on the first night we had a line from the door of the Wag to Leicester Square! None of us could believe it…and it carried on like that for the next two years.

 5 tracks that sum up your Love night?

So much great music got played at LOVE – and we had such incredible guests and residents….from Danny Rampling to Paul ‘Trouble’ Anderson and back again.  5 songs that summed it up for me were probably (and in no particular order):

Love Sensation – Loleatta Holloway

Let Me Love You For Tonight - Kariya

You’re Gonna Miss Me When I’m Gone – Turntable Orchestra

Tony G – Tony’s Song

Sueño Latino – Sueño Latino

What do you feel its legacy is?

So many joyous memories for so many people, so much great music played, so many friends made…and a legendary tee-shirt design that is now an iconic part of clubland history!