Club giant Tall Paul is still the Cream of dance music

Tall Paul is a dance icon – a legendary DJ whose towering contribution to house music is matched only by his lofty stature.

A fixture on the decks since the heyday of house in the early 90s, and a stalwart of the age of superclubs, Paul is still at it. On Saturday he brings his box of records to the O2 Academy Oxford for a night of clubbing courtesy of Cream.

Famous for its long-standing weekly club night in Liverpool, Ibiza residencies and albums and compilations, Cream has been responsible for hosting some of the best club nights on earth. Saturday’s Cream Classics night sees Paul teaming up with old mate Seb Fontaine for a journey back to the heady days of club culture, spinning some of the biggest dance anthems from the club’s legendary history.

The night comes as classic house goes through a resurgence.

“It has turned a corner and is getting more popular,” says Paul, talking from Ibiza. “People are looking back in time for music to have a good boogie to.

“I still like to play the new stuff, even though I’m more famous for playing a certain era of music when I was in the production stage of my life. I can find a brand new record today, and it’ll have the same elements and energy of a record that I had 15 or 20 years ago; they just start differently: the tempo’s a bit slower, the music sounds different, but the format still has to follow a certain type.”

Paul (real name Paul Newman) began spinning vinyl in the 80s, DJing at his dad’s club Turnmills, and made his name on pirate radio stations Touchdown and Sunrise FM. From his first residence for Trade at Turnmills, he went to Zap Club in Brighton and the Gardening Club before releasing his own vinyls – including the chart hits Rock Da House, Deeper, Train of Thought and Camisra’s Let Me Show You, which charted at number five.

He has worked with New Order, Stone Roses, Erasure, Human League, K Klass, Wild Child, Energy 52, Duran Duran, Keane and The Killers, sold more than a million compilation albums and scooped up an armful of awards. Few people know dance culture better, so when he says the scene is healthier than it has been for years, we believe him.

“It has taken a bit of a turn,” he says. “The shows are better, the productions are better and it seems to be taken a bit more seriously than it was a few years ago.

“I don’t mind doing it as much now, because the last few events have been really cool, and I’ve got lots of great music to delve into, but I try not to play the most obvious ones.”

Paul and Seb will be joined by dance duo and former Cream residents, K-Klass, and Allister Whitehead.

To what does Paul attribute Cream’s longevity?

“At the beginning it was just going to a club and going ‘oh we’re going to do a classics night’. But there needs to be some time spent on it for things like advertising and a decent production. Then we’ll put on a show which Cream have done since day dot, with things like Creamfields.

“Cream is a good outfit that’s got a good history and knows how to put on a good show,” he says. “People are being introduced to so-called classics, not necessarily from a certain age group, but a younger age group are discovering it, which is cool.”

Despite that, clubland has changed. Look at the decision to close down London’s legendary Fabric. What does he think of the loss of venues? Will there be any new additions, or is it a case of hanging on to what is left?

“It’s a big shame to be honest,” he says. “I just feel like there is always a bit of an ulterior motive behind decisions to shut down venues.

“All these areas like King’s Cross and Clerkenwell in London, 10 or 15 years ago when we were in our heyday, were not the greatest places to live in the world, or to have an office. But there are big plans for these areas. Especially with Fabric, you feel like there’s an ulterior motive and a bigger picture.

“But where do we go from here? Where do the clubs go from here? It’s a big shame; it’s a big turning point really.”

He goes on? “I’d like to think that there would be new clubs; someone to take the bull by the horns. But it’d have to be slightly out of London, something that has a bit of character... a slight warehouse feel.

“There’s a demand there, obviously, it’s just a question of whether the demand can match the supply from the financial side of it.”

He admits the industry has changed.

“The main thing is that there is so much music out there now,” he says. “It’s a bit of a pet hate with me that I don’t come across it all.

“I hear it from here or there, or someone tips me off about something and then I track it down. There’s just a lot of music out there, and a lot of stuff that really shouldn’t be quite coming to the forefront, but it is, because there’s not that filter system anymore that used to be about, with the DJs or the radio.

“I’m not complaining about that abundance of music, but it just takes me that extra couple of hours to sift through it!”

Proof of dance music’s resurgence is evident in Paul’s hectic schedule.

“Music is such a massive part of my life, and will always be,” he says. “I spend a lot of time listening to new music. That’s a hobby of mine. I still do the Ministry every Friday, and there’s a lot to think about like how to keep it fresh, and keeping it moving forward; that keeps me busy enough.”

The tour follows a mad few months. “It’s been really good,” he says. “There have been a lot of good shows in Ibiza. I had the Ministry birthday down at the Gallery a couple of Fridays ago, a Clockwork Orange out here, and a couple of Cream shows, it’s been a good summer.”

And he is looking forward to playing alongside his old sparring mate Seb. How many times have they hit the decks together?

“I probably have lost count to be honest!” he laughs. “There was a little phase where we did a lot together, and it seemed to be what a lot of people were digging. But I’ve known Seb for a long time. I know his style, what he is going to play and we can work together quite well, so I don’t mind it whatsoever.

“We usually gel quite easily when needed, and can give each other a bit of space when needed too – but we’ve had some fun over the years.”

And what has been the best part of being a superstar DJ? “The travelling is great; I’ve been to some great places,” he says. “Also just representing what you do, where you’re from, and making people enjoy themselves all across the world, without a doubt.”

And what would be his advice for DJs and producers looking to get a break? “You’ve definitely got to start making music that is so important, learn the programmes and learn how to create the sounds that you want.

“As new producers come along, with their own style and take on the genre, it’s always going to keep pushing on and getting taken up another notch. It is a very popular job to have at the moment.I was speaking to a guy this morning who is just getting into it, and he was all ‘vibed’ up, all fresh, and had the fire in his belly. It was great to see that enthusiasm.”

And is it still about vinyl, or has he moved with the times? “I’m on the USBs, but I’ve got a little box of vinyl when needed,” he says. “I’ve still got my ‘gold selection’ in the garage, and in my front room, but vinyl is having a great resurgence.

“There have been a few gigs recently where I couldn’t play vinyl because there was too much feedback coming through the needle, and the bass drum is kicking up underneath and it starts to come through the needle. It has to be set up right – but I’ll take my vinyls to the grave.”

And what classic tracks will he be dropping on Saturday?

“Oof that’s a question! A couple of productions that have been going down well from yesteryear, the Beachball, and one by Nalin & Kane is still very popular. I like to drop a few of those, but I don’t want to go through all the old bangers that everybody knows; I like to keep it a bit fresh.”

And, the question on everybody’s lips... how tall actually is he? “Only six foot six, but I’m probably shrinking now!” he laughs.

“Most DJ boxes can accommodate me, though a couple of months ago I was playing somewhere and the resident DJ was quite small, so there was a step up and it was a bit high. But usually it’s manageable.”

• Tall Paul and Seb Fontaine play Cream Classics at the O2 Academy Oxford on Saturday.
• Tickets from ticketweb.co.uk