(Originally written for a magazine assignment, in October 2007)
David Hamilton was born and raised at his home in Swaythling, Southampton where he still resides with his wife Emma and dog Bosun. Born on July 26th, he’s proud to share his birthday with several well-known stars including; Mick Jagger, Helen Mirren, George Bernard Shaw and ex-Saints manager Lawrie McMenamy. At the age of forty-seven he is one of the longest running alternative DJs in Southampton and has played a vast number of club nights across the South Coast since he first appeared on the scene in 1980.
Who would imagine that pestering your local DJ to play your favourite songs each week, would one day lead them to offer you a DJ slot of your own? That’s what happened to David Hamilton – now popularly known as DJ Hammy – who now has almost three decades worth of live club nights under his belt, all thanks to his love of alternative music.
Says Hammy, “I started out by pestering the resident DJ at the Magnum Club so much for two-tone, punk and early Indie tunes that he [John Davis] decided to get me my own night to shut me up. It didn’t work though! The Magnum [a popular gay club] was the only club that would let us in. Club land was very different then and a very scary place if you were different in any way, but what a great place. The gay community loved us and we loved going there! So, on a dark Tuesday night in early 1980 my friend Gary and I trudged off with an Adidas bag full of singles, to play to our mates at the supposed Country and Western Rio Grande Club, it was more like the Wild West in reality! We were terrible but soon moved onto Saturday nights. It was quite a scary place to be at the time. Full of punks, mods, skins heads and football boys, but great fun.”
The Rio Grande Club used to be situated on St Mary’s Road, but now in its place are Solent University halls of residence, a sight which the young Hammy may once have dreaded, but a lot has changed since then.
“The scene was certainly more working class back in 1980,” he explains, “most students were grey-coated hippies to me, I was quite ignorant then. Most of the people I knew from the original punk and alternative scene were local but I didn’t know many students. Gradually as my nights progressed I attracted lots of local college kids and still do. Then there was the huge explosion of the student population that happened in the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s. The Indie thing started to explode as well at the same time, and then the rock and metal scene took off after years in the doldrums. Now without the students what would I do? ”
Despite his obvious love of DJ’ing, it’s not something Hammy foresaw. His ambition initially lay with his band, The Purple Alligators and a desire to live the rock and roll dream. But unfortunately the band – which according to Hammy was ahead of it’s time – folded in the early ‘80’s and what began as a simple love of music, soon become a life-long DJ career, providing him with fond memories;
“The queues outside Thursdays in ‘96 [at Western Esplanade] had to been seen to be believed – I nearly wet myself! And the first time I had a crowd go wild to a song I played (She Loves You by The Beatles at the Rio Grande) was so special. It gave me the hunger for more of that”
David Hamilton in 1979
“I never had the opportunity to do anything but live DJ work and I love working with a live crowd. You can work off them and instantly know if you’re doing a good job or not and what a buzz when you are. It suits my personality as well. There have been so many highs as well as massive lows. It keeps my ego in check for sure. Watching the crowd grow up and then being asked to do their birthday parties, then weddings. That’s the biggest thrill for me. DJ’ing my own wedding was a massive buzz, especially as it was full of club regulars alongside my family and friends.”
Outside of DJ’ing hours, Hammy is constantly rushing around dealing with promotions, club and bar link-ups and related business. He agrees that he barely gets a chance to relax, but when he does he enjoys taking trips with his VW camper van and as a vegetarian, he’s a keen supporter of animal rights.
“I spend nearly every living second working one way or another but I love the VW Camper Van scene and I go away with the VW Type 2 owners club to many a rally during the year in our trusty Type 25. I also love the scooter scene; both Emma and I have Vespas. I’m also a massive Southampton FC fan, a big supporter of animal rights and I love collecting music, films and old, classic British comedies.”
His real passion for people and music is certainly evident and is presumably why his club nights have been, and still are a huge success. Although often dubbed as ‘the drunken bald one’ his character as a friendly, request-driven DJ has been welcomed by club-goers old and new. Hammy often gives young, wannabe DJs a chance to show off their skills in various forms at his Supersonic rock night at Rhino Club every Wednesday. These include fifteen minutes of fame slots upstairs in the DJ booth and entire theme nights in the ‘Bassment Bar’ which often include live bands. Popular themes include take-overs by students from Solent University’s radio station, Sin Radio, The Electric Boogaloo with Tam and Joe and soon to be introduced are a 60’s psychedelic, soul and beat night called the Experimental Circus Club, as well as a monthly drum and bass night.
Over the years Hammy has built up good links with locals and students alike, of whom now significantly contribute to the body-count each week at his current nights at the Rhino Club each Wednesday, Hampton’s bar once a month on Fridays and at the Dorchester Pub every Saturday; which is where many of his regulars from years gone by still gather.
The key to his success then must be his genuine effort to personally communicate with his regulars, as well as those new on the scene. He keeps regular updates of his club nights and events on his own website and Facebook, offers free entry to those willing to help in the DJ booth or take photographs and often has a ton of freebies to give-away.
“I try and treat my customers with respect, first impressions do count. Giving local bands a helping hand has kept me in touch. I love meeting and booking new young gunslingers who often remind me of my younger self; enthusiastic to the extreme and sometimes a bit too arrogant but who cares, it’s part of growing up! Also I like people which helps. You shouldn’t be in this trade if you don’t!”
Hayley Clarke Media 