Graham Gold on Peach, trance, and breaking a generation of DJs (Part Two)

This is where the Graham Gold story gets wild. In Part Two of this conversation on The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with Graham Gold to explore one of the most important chapters in UK dance music history. We dive deep into the rise of trance, the birth of legendary club nights, and the behind-the-scenes reality of a scene that exploded across London, Ibiza, Thailand, and beyond. From breaking future global icons to shaping dancefloor culture at its peak, this episode captures the moment when UK club culture became a worldwide movement. Graham doesn’t just talk about history. He lived it. From booking Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten before they were household names, to building Peach into one of the most loved club nights in British dance music, this conversation is packed with insight, nostalgia, and unfiltered truth. We talk about the evolution of trance, the reality of touring at scale, Ibiza tales, industry shifts, and what it really means to live through multiple eras of club culture without losing your identity. If you care about UK dance music history, trance culture, legendary club nights, or the real stories behind the records, this episode delivers. No myths. No revisionism. Just first-hand experience from someone who helped shape the scene. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎶 Early UK bookings for Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten 🪩 The story of Peach and how it became a defining club night 🔊 The evolution of trance and its impact on British nightlife 🌍 Touring life, Ibiza stories, and global scene shifts 🎛️ Breaking new talent and championing records before the hype 🧠 Behind-the-scenes moments from a true pioneer Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 03:10 Chris Hill, the Soul Mafia, and the first UK superstar DJs 10:20 Early grind: Funky Roadshow, mobile discos, and radio apprenticeship 17:45 Discovering house music and the origin of the name 24:30 From disco to house: BPMs, Philadelphia, and four-to-the-floor 31:40 Soul roots, early UK house clubs, and missing the M25 raves 38:15 Chart shows, Malibu sponsorship, and going full house on radio 44:50 Birth of Peach at Legends and building the resident DJ team 51:20 Moving venues: Café de Paris, Leisure Lounge, and Camden Palace 57:30 Inside Peach nights: tunnels, 6am finishes, and culture change 1:03:40 First UK bookings for Tiësto, Armin van Buuren, and Ferry Corsten 1:09:00 Touring 170 cities, air miles, riders, and life on the road 1:12:40 Remixing, production, engineers, and releases on Discover 1:16:10 The Brian Eno The Ending story and the white label that got away 1:18:45 Moving to Thailand and Koh Phangan life 1:20:30 Today’s gigs, new crowds, and Graham’s final tune choice For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: [email protected]