Burt Beevans: "If your show-biz were funded like the National Library..."
The famous house dj has opened more than 20 clubs around the world, has launched the Ministry of Sound production label and has performed at the most famous clubs of Europe and US. He played several times at private parties for celebrities at the once trendy New York-based club Studio 54.
On April 30 Burt Beevans joined a party at the Minsk-based club BRONX which promised local clubbers to rebuild the spirit of Sstudio 54.
ERB: Burt, tell me frankly what a musician like you is doing in Minsk?
I was invited to come to Belarus many times but I could not make it. Now many things have worked out and I am here. BRONX is a nice place, so I am glad to be here. I arrived several days before the show in order to learn about your city in a greater detail. They have already showed me a national pride of Belarus -- the library (laughs). My colleagues here grudge that your show-biz is in decline. I think that when you start investing the same money into show-bize as into the library, things will change rapidly.
ERB: You are a prominent clubber. How come you are still alive after a huge number of drug parties?
I am just lucky! I had a lot of drugs and alcohol in my life, but I got lucky! (laughs) You can see me sitting healthy here, to my surprise.
ERB: Today BRONX is actively using your alleged career in Studio 54. It is known it is not true. Studio 54 is not your greatest ashievement. Do you feel embarrassed?
Of course, I desagree with the policy of BRONX clubs, because I am indeed famous in the other areas. I opened over 20 clubs around the world! Why is BRONX focused on Studio 54? Because that's all they know about me. I consider the launch of the Ministry of Sound as my biggest achievement. This label changed the face of dance culture in Europe.
ERB: How and why did you start dealing with the dance culture?
Quite frankly, I had no other choice. I was being trained as a commercial pilot. But America was pretty racist in those days, so I had to drop out. They wanted to make me a mechanic, but I would not agree. I came there to become a pilot!
My friend ran a music shop, so I started working there. I began visiting night clubs and getting to know musicians. I knew that I wanted to do dj-ing because I always get high about manipulating people by the means of music. This is wonderful! The desire to understand this wonder led me to a dj panel.
ERB: I want to hear the truth from the man who was at Studio 54 club. Does the movie Studio 54 reflect everything aht happened in the club? Sex, drugs?
I watched this movie only several months ago, when some of my friends gave it to me. It resembles but does not shows the whole truth, because you can lose freedpm if you undertsand what I mean (laughs).
ERB: Do you think BRONX will sell cocaine in the VIP area as it happened in Studio 54?
I don't think so. In America in 1970s everyone used cocaine everywhere. It was normal. Cocaine was extremely cheap. You could come to a club and buy five grams for $100 and the bartender would tell you: "Don't lose your time! Have fun from our party". That was the club culture. BRONX will hardly take similar risks. But I am playing soon at a party in Colombia. That will be blow-off! You'd better come too (laughs)
ERB: Burt, you are talking so easily about drugs! Should one fear them? What do you think about their legalization?
I tell you what! Governments always tell you to not do this, not to go there, not to use that. My stance is when the government says "don't do it!", they better ban alcohol, tobacco and coffee. Drugs should be legalized!
Drugs should be found easily at any farmacy. We will thus get rid of the narcomaphia which allegedly operates behind the back. In reality, it operates under the protection of the government (laughs). Only the maphia and the government fear legalization, because it is their business.
Photo by Yury Matsiyun
On April 30 Burt Beevans joined a party at the Minsk-based club BRONX which promised local clubbers to rebuild the spirit of Sstudio 54.
ERB: Burt, tell me frankly what a musician like you is doing in Minsk?
I was invited to come to Belarus many times but I could not make it. Now many things have worked out and I am here. BRONX is a nice place, so I am glad to be here. I arrived several days before the show in order to learn about your city in a greater detail. They have already showed me a national pride of Belarus -- the library (laughs). My colleagues here grudge that your show-biz is in decline. I think that when you start investing the same money into show-bize as into the library, things will change rapidly.
ERB: You are a prominent clubber. How come you are still alive after a huge number of drug parties?
I am just lucky! I had a lot of drugs and alcohol in my life, but I got lucky! (laughs) You can see me sitting healthy here, to my surprise.
ERB: Today BRONX is actively using your alleged career in Studio 54. It is known it is not true. Studio 54 is not your greatest ashievement. Do you feel embarrassed?
Of course, I desagree with the policy of BRONX clubs, because I am indeed famous in the other areas. I opened over 20 clubs around the world! Why is BRONX focused on Studio 54? Because that's all they know about me. I consider the launch of the Ministry of Sound as my biggest achievement. This label changed the face of dance culture in Europe.
ERB: How and why did you start dealing with the dance culture?
Quite frankly, I had no other choice. I was being trained as a commercial pilot. But America was pretty racist in those days, so I had to drop out. They wanted to make me a mechanic, but I would not agree. I came there to become a pilot!
My friend ran a music shop, so I started working there. I began visiting night clubs and getting to know musicians. I knew that I wanted to do dj-ing because I always get high about manipulating people by the means of music. This is wonderful! The desire to understand this wonder led me to a dj panel.
ERB: I want to hear the truth from the man who was at Studio 54 club. Does the movie Studio 54 reflect everything aht happened in the club? Sex, drugs?
I watched this movie only several months ago, when some of my friends gave it to me. It resembles but does not shows the whole truth, because you can lose freedpm if you undertsand what I mean (laughs).
ERB: Do you think BRONX will sell cocaine in the VIP area as it happened in Studio 54?
I don't think so. In America in 1970s everyone used cocaine everywhere. It was normal. Cocaine was extremely cheap. You could come to a club and buy five grams for $100 and the bartender would tell you: "Don't lose your time! Have fun from our party". That was the club culture. BRONX will hardly take similar risks. But I am playing soon at a party in Colombia. That will be blow-off! You'd better come too (laughs)
ERB: Burt, you are talking so easily about drugs! Should one fear them? What do you think about their legalization?
I tell you what! Governments always tell you to not do this, not to go there, not to use that. My stance is when the government says "don't do it!", they better ban alcohol, tobacco and coffee. Drugs should be legalized!
Drugs should be found easily at any farmacy. We will thus get rid of the narcomaphia which allegedly operates behind the back. In reality, it operates under the protection of the government (laughs). Only the maphia and the government fear legalization, because it is their business.
Photo by Yury Matsiyun
