Fergie: From Belfast Kid to Club Legend

This week on Hard House History, Paul Glazby finally sits down with one of the most requested guests the podcast has ever had, Fergie. A DJ whose story is inseparable from the rise of UK hard house, the conversation goes far beyond club nostalgia and into the raw reality of growing up inside the scene.Fergie takes us back to early-90s Ireland, learning to mix on battered turntables as a kid and playing nightclub residencies at just 14. What follows is a journey that sounds almost impossible now, moving to England as a teenager under the mentorship of the legendary Tony De Vit. The episode explores the real relationship behind the myth, not just DJ and protégé, but family, trust and belief. You hear about long car rides to gigs, promo records spread across bedroom floors, and hours spent watching Tony craft sets and productions from scratch.The discussion also opens up the era many only heard rumours about: chaotic club nights, the explosion of Gatecrasher and Trade, and the intensity of a culture-changing dance music forever. Most movingly, Fergie shares deeply personal memories of Tony's illness, his passing, and the moment he was asked to play Tony's scheduled set the very night after the funeral. It’s emotional, honest and gives listeners a perspective on the scene that no documentary ever fully captured.The episode also explores the evolution of hard house itself. Was it really a genre, or something much broader? Fergie explains why tracks like The Dawn blurred boundaries and how that shaped his own decision years later to move away from the sound and search for his own musical identity.This isn't just dance music history. It’s a coming-of-age story inside one of clubbing's most important eras.Relive the History If this episode brings back memories, share it with a mate you used to go raving with. Tag them, message them, or send the link and say, "Remember this?" And don't forget to follow Hard House History so these stories never get lost.#HardHouseHistory #PaulGlazby #DJFergie #UKHardHouse #ClublandStories #TonyDeVit #RaveCulture #DanceMusicHistory #90sClubbing #ElectronicMusicPodcast