Legendary Outlaw DJ Stratos talks to Mary Boukouvalas about the good ol' Hard 'n' Fast days, the upcoming reunion and the Reach Out program.

Who are your influences?

Nobody was playing Rock music in clubs when I started so I never really had a DJ hero. I had anti-influences I guess. I wanted to be the opposite of the disco DJs and the commercial radio DJs with the smooth voices. I hated those guys. I wanted those DJs to walk in and see a room full of people going nuts to the music they rejected.

How long have you been DJ-ing?

I started at RRR Breakfasters in 1984 I think. I did about 4 years there. It was way different then to what you get now. Chris Hatzis and I were 2 wogs before it was cool to be wogboys. We just talked about music, footy, cars, made bad jokes and generally enjoyed each other’s company. It was the original show about nothing. After that I was asked to DJ a night called Thrash and Treasure. I thought that it would be fun for a few weeks, but life as a DJ didn't stop until about 2001.

How did the night, Outlaw - Hard n Fast - begin?

It started in 1988 when Chasers wanted to do something different. They were entertainment innovators back in those days. I was told to play rock but to mix it like a club DJ would. I had to think of beats per minute and timing which is hard to do with music that isn't based on drum machines.

Is there a particular song you had to play EVERY week?

For the entire 11 years of Outlaw I would get 3 requests a night minimum for the Cults "She Sells Sanctuary". I still love that song.

Yeah, me too. What bands played at Outlaw?

It's more of a case of who didn't play. Outlaw was the home to EVERY band in Australia. We had heaps of internationals play and come in to visit. HorseHead, Tumbleweed, The Fuck Fucks did their first ever gig at Outlaw, The Living End also started with us, Screaming Tribesman, Violent Femmes, Bodeans, primus, You am I, Hard Ons, Mantissa aka Killing Time, The Hitmen, Hoss, Nursery Crimes... Umm we had a lot of live music for a club night

What was your most memorable night?

I remember lots of nights but the one I want to recall for you is the night when Fishbone came in. They took over the DJ booth and the dance floor and put on a show. Everyone in the place just stopped to watch their crazy antics. I can't paint the picture with my words but all I'll say is see them on DVD and then picture that running around the whole venue for 3 hours - insane shit. I also remember the first time I played teen Spirit by Nirvana. That was a riot. It was 2000 people coming together and saying “FUCK YEAH!!!!"

I remember a few police raids, one in particular where the dj started playing: NWA - Fuck Tha Police ... was that you?

No. I was the one who was actually telling them to fuck off out of the club. They laughed in my face and asked me for a drink card.

I remember being devastated when the night ended. Why did Outlaw end?

It was 11 years. We kept reinventing it and that's why it lasted. We all cared about the Outlaw community but the owners were winding up the venue for sale and each night kinda stopped. I don't know.

What can we expect from the reunion night?

You can expect the best music from the Outlaw era from the original DJ crew. You can expect a bunch of people who were a community come together again. You can expect to see hear and smell rock.

Why should even those who never went to Outlaw Hard n Fast come along as well?

I don't think there is anyone in Melbourne who didn't make it to at least one night. Outlaw hard n fast was the greatest rock club on earth. Every Wednesday 2000 or so rock heads would party hard. The Chili Peppers came in every tour without fail, Rusty Crowe, Tea Party, Ice T, Soundgarden, faith No More, L7, Primus played for our Sausage sizzle promo night, The Ramones, Tommy Lee of Motley Crue started a riot, Sting sauntered in like a diva, John McEnroe watched Kings of The Sun perform, David Bowie chilled out, Danzig muscled in, I coughed up a gob onto Mick Jagger's shoes. He didn't notice as he was just amazed at the dance floor still going nuts to the Rolling Stones. Alice in Chains, Anthrax and may more. They all came to party with Melbourne’s rock community. In the 90's we showed the planet how it was done. Outlaw brought together, punks, metalheads, rockers, grunge kids, goths and more. These rock legends who I've just shamelessly namedropped all said at the end of the night "Thanks man, this place is the best!!!!"

Do you think it will become a regular event?

It would be a great to see Outlaw raise some money and awareness for a good cause once a year or so. Having said that I hope the new kids do their own clubs their own way though

How did you become involved in the Reach Out program?

I have seen a lot of kids make some very tragic decisions. I just started looking for people who were doing something and I had the idea to attach Outlaw hard n fast to it. I don't think Outlaw people want to sit back and watch tragedy unfold, we've seen enough. We all want to do something for the next generation to let them know that we were there and we can help you now.

Outlaw Hard 'n' Fast – Melbourne’s legendary rock club that ran between 1988 - 1999 is back for 1 night. Featuring original DJs Stratos, Zodiac Black, Dev, BeatNick and Madball.
Outlaw will be at the House of Rock at the Palace Theatre on November 26.
9pm - whenever.

DJ Stratos: "It was 11 years of mayhem. We were rebels without a clue, but now we want to make a difference". Proceeds go to ReachOut.com a group running a 24/7 service for kids with serious issues.

The music is as powerful now as it was then. If you love your Nirvana, Cult, Alice in Chains, AC/DC, Beastie Boys, Metallica, RHCP, Soundgarden, Mudhoney, Faith No More, Dinosaur Jr, Motley Crue and stuff like that: as well as the party vibe Outlaw DJs created, then book now. Prizes on the night include exclusive, limited run Hard n Fast T shirts, Mudhoney concert tickets and more.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/146116118804163/#!/event.php?eid=133031266795769

Rock n roll is not an option: It's compulsory!!!!!!