By Simon Morrison

Simon Morrison continues his look at the influence Paul Taylor has played in the development of dance music as a DJ, producer and club owner.

It's not the magazines, it's not the big name DJs, it's the punters.

Since then, Retro has single-handedly given credibility to the club classics concept. The club took Ibiza by storm, becoming the success story of 2000 and the focal point of many a clubbers time on the island, earning the best newcomer award from Mixmag.

The same mag has since asked the nation "Is this the UK's most popular club?" As if Paul's diary wasn't already straining at the hinges, he continues to gig around the UK and Europe, as well enjoying his residency at 2Kinky, "my favourite club", where he's allowed the freedom to play across the genres for an entire six hours.

And with the fabulous Retro album out in January 2001, the first of a five album deal signed with Neo, it's all coming together at the same time for Paul.

Put simply Paul Taylor's been there, seen it, done it, bought the T-shirt, then bought the factory that made the T-shirt and taken everyone on a staff disco.

Aside from DJing, promoting and actually owning nightclubs, Paul has also been instrumental in the development of dance music.

He has always produced music, notably as Loveland, who scored several top 40 hits throughout the 90s; he established the label Eastern Bloc with Pete Waterman and when Ministry of Sound needed a good A & R with their finger on the pulse, they turned to Paul. After a break he's now back in the studio because, as well as enjoying the history of dance culture, he's equally interested in the classics of the future.

"I do actually prefer to play new music," he details, "I'm very sceptical about being labelled a classics DJ, which I am not. I've always played new music and that's why I'm a good classics DJ, because I was there when those records came out.

"I'm an atmosphere DJ basically. Entertainment, as well as education."

As Paul has discovered through the years, there is a skill, a knack, a balance between both, in taking a dancefloor to new places whilst keeping it bouncing in the process.

"I've been through the education process, trying to purely educate dancefloors," he continues, "and I've been sacked for it. I've been through that and I've come out of the other side - there's very few DJs that can manage both and get away with it."

Paul Taylor is one of them. In an ever-evolving dance world, the key is longevity and Retro works because people know what they're going to get.

"Leave people to get into what they want to get into," says Paul. "It's a free choice and anybody can make that choice."

Well if it's a choice, you'll find me in the middle of the dancefloor at a Retro gig, bouncing between the walls and swinging from the chandeliers.

See, the original acid face had a smile. Somewhere along the way it was wiped off but Paul has made it his disco mission to put the smile back on the face of clubland.

"After 25 years, I'm still here doing it because I love it," he smiles.

"I don't know what the hell I'm going to do when I finally hang up my headphones, I just go with the flow.

"But I enjoy myself, I smile at people, I always have time to talk to punters - I always greet them when they're coming into a club and I always say goodnight, because they're the people that make this industry what it is.

"It's not the magazines, it's not the big name DJs, it's the punters."

Count yourself lucky to be one of them!