In this interview, I chat with Tom Wainwright, one of the key DJs at the Hacienda, about his journey into House music and his experiences during the golden age of club culture. Tom reflects on how Hot Night at the Hacienda in 1988 transformed him, recalling how the energy, Ecstasy, and Acid House heads created a scene like no other. The first night had just 50 people, but by the next week, the entire club was alive with excitement, changing everything for him.
Tom shares his early love for music, starting with Another Brick in the Wall by Pink Floyd as the first record he bought. As a kid, he was into Heavy Metal and even saw AC/DC at the Apollo in Manchester at just 12, calling it the best gig he’s ever seen. With money from his newspaper round, he would head to Spin Inn Records every Saturday, spending his week’s pay on music imports – his introduction to crate-digging. Later, as his DJ career grew, Tom had access to the coveted basement of Eastern Bloc Records, where he got first picks of the newest tunes.
We talk about The Dry Bar, where Tom worked as a pot washer when it opened. With Laurent Garnier as the chef, the bar was groundbreaking for its time, acting as a unique hub for people fresh from the Hacienda. Tom describes the buzz in Manchester on Saturday afternoons and evenings, with the city packed with energy and excitement.
Tom got his big break at the Hacienda when Paul Cons was looking for a warm-up DJ for Graeme Park. Despite missing his first opportunity when the club temporarily lost its license, Tom nailed the audition tape and became the Saturday resident for five years starting in April 1991. He reflects on the first few years as magical, with a packed crowd enjoying USA-influenced House that him and Graeme specialised in.
Tom and I discuss how House music has remained timeless. At age 55, Tom still loves dancing to it and finds endless joy in good music. We laugh about how ridiculous the term “House Music” sounded when it first emerged, not imagining it would last 40 years and still bring people together.
Tom also talks about his life as a lawyer, working on governance and structural projects for Housing Associations, which brings him job satisfaction alongside his love for music.
Towards the end, the video cuts out at 28:59 due to a Wi-Fi issue with my iPhone camera. However, the audio continues until the end of the interview at 31:56, so I left it in for the full conversation.
When asked to pick his favorite House music track, Tom laughs at the challenge, but mentions his love for David Morales Def Mix dubs, Masters At Work productions, and particularly Lil’ Mo’ Yin Yang – Reach, a track co-produced by Louie Vega, who Tom names as one of his heroes.
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