In this unforgettable interview, Tall Tim Williams takes us deep into the underground world of Manchester’s late ’80s and early ’90s club culture — from wild after-hours Kitchen Parties to founding the legendary Konspiracy club and eventually working the VIP rooms of Miami’s elite nightlife.
We begin with a shout out to DJ Jay Wearden, who introduced me to Tim. From the moment Tim speaks, it’s clear he’s lived a life full of music, hustle, and cultural influence. Raised in a creative household with a singing mother and an actress grandmother, music was always in his blood.
Tim shares his journey from under-16s clubs like Berlin and Annabelle’s to the more influential Gallery nightclub. There, he formed lasting connections with Mario, who would later bring him into the Konspiracy club story. Frustrated by the repetitiveness of soul music in traditional Black clubs, Tim embraced the emerging sounds at the Hacienda, where he rubbed shoulders with future legends like A Guy Called Gerald, Kermit, Bez, and Sean Ryder.
Out of frustration with the lack of after-hours options, he started throwing illegal parties known as Kitchen Parties—a scene that became legendary. Based in Hulme in a building ready for demolition, these nights were wild, free, and inclusive. With a recording studio upstairs and a dance floor below, the venue saw appearances from Salt-N-Pepa, Bez, members of the Stone Roses, and countless other creatives. The atmosphere was raw, joyful, and bursting with music: Deep House, Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, and early Detroit and Chicago sounds.
The Kitchen Parties led to the creation of Konspiracy, a club hidden beneath the Corn Exchange in the old Pips venue. With six rooms and a fresh rotation of DJs, it gave many artists their first major gigs. When i-D Magazine featured Konspiracy in a two-page spread, it reached global audiences — and caught the eye of Chris Paciello, a Miami-based club owner with serious connections.
Tim was flown out to Miami, where he became part of the VIP management team at Liquid — a club co-owned by Madonna and frequented by Naomi Campbell, Kate Moss, Michael Jordan, Jack Nicholson, Oliver Stone, and even Prince. He recalls a surreal night with Oliver Stone, discussing the then-upcoming film Nixon, and being told Sir Anthony Hopkins was being cast before the news broke.
It’s a story that moves from Moss Side to Miami Beach — intimate underground gatherings to A-list celebrity encounters — all held together by music, community, and the hustle of a man who saw opportunities where others saw obstacles.
And what track takes Tim back to those early days? “Promised Land” — a timeless anthem of hope, unity, and the pursuit of something greater.
808 State photo by Peter Walsh - instagram @peterjwalshphoto
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