John 00 Fleming on trance, underground culture, and four decades behind the decks

In this rare episode of The Dexter Jones Podcast, I sit down with John 00 Fleming, one of the most respected and influential figures in electronic dance music history. Known for his deep, progressive sound and uncompromising underground ethos, John has been a pioneer of trance, progressive house, and club culture for more than four decades. From the golden years of Godskitchen and Gatecrasher to unforgettable Ibiza residencies at Space Ibiza, Amnesia Ibiza, and Privilege Ibiza, John has witnessed and helped shape some of the most iconic moments in global dance music. This conversation goes far beyond nostalgia. John reflects on his early inspirations, his breakthrough in the UK scene, and the behind-the-scenes reality of superclub culture. We explore how the industry evolved from vinyl to CDJs to digital, why he chose to stay true to an underground progressive sound, and what was lost as the era of marathon sets and warm-up DJs disappeared. We also look forward. John shares thoughtful insights on the future of trance, the role of AI in music, and what it really takes to survive creatively, mentally, and emotionally across decades in the industry. This is not a hype-driven interview. It’s a reflective, honest conversation about longevity, integrity, and the culture that built dance music. If you care about trance history, underground club culture, Ibiza’s golden era, or the realities of a life in music, this episode delivers. 🎧 Take your time with this one. We talk about: 🎧 Early inspirations and falling in love with music 🔊 Breaking through in the UK trance and progressive house scene 🪩 Godskitchen and Gatecrasher behind the scenes 🏝️ Ibiza residencies and life on the island 💿 The shift from vinyl to CDJs to digital 🏗️ The rise and fall of UK superclubs 🔥 Staying underground and true to sound ⏱️ The lost art of warm-up DJs and marathon sets 🤖 AI, technology, and the future of electronic music 🧠 Longevity, mental health, and surviving the industry Official website and bookings: www.john00fleming.com Chapters: 00:00 Introduction and name origins 05:00 First steps into DJing 10:00 South Coast and early raves 15:00 Discovering psytrance and sound evolution 20:00 First Ibiza experiences 25:00 Amnesia and Godskitchen memories 30:00 Club culture in the 90s 35:00 Life as a touring DJ 40:00 Staying underground and true to roots 45:00 Industry changes and superclubs 50:00 Reflections on longevity 55:00 Production, labels, and releases 1:00:00 Modern scene and technology 1:05:00 Final thoughts and One More Tune For guest invitations, sponsorship proposals, and collaboration enquiries, please contact Dexter: [email protected]