In this interview, Manchester DJ Doctor D (Dennis) takes us on a vivid journey through the city’s evolving club scene — from the legendary Reno Club in the early ’80s in Moss Side to rave fields, pirate radio, and touring with The Orb.
Recommended by Aniff Akinola, Doctor D is full of raw, grounded memories. He started DJing at the Reno, a basement venue with a tiny setup and legendary status. Funk, jazz, and soul filled the air — artists like Herbie Hancock and John Handy were the backbone of the sound. The music came from local institutions like Spin Inn Records, where Kevin Edwards would save the hottest records for Reno DJs. He shares stories of playing alongside DJ Persian, late nights, and iconic visitors — even Muhammad Ali once dropped in.
As the ‘80s moved into the Acid House era, everything changed. Doctor D remembers the arrival of Ecstasy, the emergence of the Kitchen Parties in Hulme, and the sudden shift in sound and energy. From there, he transitioned into playing raves and underground nights with Eric Barker and the Spinmasters, appearing on their radio show and playing clubs like Precinct 13 and Konspiracy.
A pivotal moment came when he was invited to DJ for The Orb’s afterparty — a night that led to a long friendship with Alex Paterson and international touring. He describes the wildness of that time: playing chill-out sets, hauling sound systems across fields, and throwing parties in morgues, churches, and anywhere a crowd would gather.
He also recalls his own club night, Pollen, including a sold-out party at the Hacienda, complete with acid giveaways. The vibe was always inclusive, free, and musically rich. While he avoided drugs himself, Dennis found joy in the music and the people — often serving as the designated driver and clear-headed party anchor.
Doctor D reflects on the evolving reception of house music within the Black music community in Manchester — initially met with suspicion due to its drug associations, but celebrated in places like London’s Ministry of Sound where genres blended freely.
He speaks with warmth and humour about the many DJs he’s shared stages with — Sasha, Pixie, Mad Hatter — and the clubs that came and went. At the end, when asked to name a track that brings him back to the Reno, he chooses “Chameleon” by Herbie Hancock, a long, complex, funky tune that captured the mood of the early nights perfectly.
This is more than a club story — it’s a cultural chronicle, told by a man who lived it all.
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