C.J Dread interviews Earl Gateshead, selector for Trojan Sound System. Born on Tyneside, Newcastle came to London in 1977 and began to DJ at the Old Queen’s Head in Brixton. He built a sound system and installed it at The Dive Bar in Soho’s Chinatown, London and the night became legendary as Earl began a 20 year residency in the dark underground venue. As Earl’s reputation grew residencies followed at the famous Blue Note club in Hoxton, and at Plastic People, where he worked with Big Youth , Dennis Alcapone, Adrian Sherwood and Bobby Digital amongst others.
Spells followed in which he toured as Big Youth’s and Doctor Alimantado’s DJ. He formed Roots and Reality Sound with Daddy Ad and, as links with the world’s greatest reggae label, Trojan records, had become strong, the Sound gradually metamorphised into Trojan Sound System, for whom he remains selector. Earl’s London residency is the Rootikal night at East Village where he performs alongside David Rodigan.
