"You Think It's Sh*t Then You Realise You Like It" - Amadeus Mozart on Discovering House Music

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In part one of this two-part conversation, we sit down with Amadeus Mozart (Lee Marlow), one half of The Tidy Boys and the architect of the Tidy Empire that defined UK hard house.

Born in Kettering in 1965 into a working-class family, Amadeus traces his musical journey from his audiophile father's obsession with the Moog synthesizer to becoming a disco devotee in the punk rock era. We explore his formative years being bullied at school for loving Village People while his classmates embraced The Clash, his discovery of London's underground gay club scene in the 1980s, and navigating the AIDS crisis while waving the flag for gay rights.

This episode covers the crucial early years: his friendship with Darren Kennedy, the influence of classical music through his gay housemate Norman, and the loss of his father in 1996 just before his breakthrough success. It's a story of passion, persistence, and staying true to your musical vision against the odds.

Key Topics:

1. Growing up with Spotlight on the Moog (1968) - the pre-Kraftwerk electronic revolution
2. Being into disco during the punk rock movement (1977-79)
3. The UK's reaction to the "Disco Sucks" movement
4. Discovering London's gay club scene in the 1980s
5. Living through the AIDS crisis and fighting for gay rights
6. The influence of classical music on electronic music
7. Working-class roots and the journey to music industry success

Guest: Amadeus Mozart (The Tidy Boys, Handbaggers) Recorded at: Tileyard North, Wakefield

Part two coming soon, covering the Hit the Decks era, the birth of Tidy, and 30+ years of UK dance music history.