Who is Joe 90? Well Joe 90 is a 1968 TV puppet series in which a 9-year-old boy was the planets most audacious special agent who worked for the world intelligence network. This was thanks to a pair of large NHS style spectacles that he wore which incorporated a device called BIG RAT that stood for Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record and Transfer. It enabled the knowledge and experience of one person to be transferred into the head of another.

Joe 90 is also a very good DJ here in Bristol. He’s the man behind the Futureboogie agency that are consistently putting on good nights in our city such as Bonobo, The Quantic Soul Orchestra, Domu, The Bays and The Juan Mclean. I caught up with him the other day to see if his prowess behind the decks had anything to do with those thick black glasses that he wears.

DIGBY: Looking at you now you look like a normal healthy DJ but there’s something about those glasses – have they got any special powers?

JOE 90: They hide a multitude of sins. Not only do they help me see things – which is obviously useful because I’m as blind as a bat but they also hide the bags under my eyes. Quite handy in that respect.

DIGBY: Nothing else?

JOE 90: Not really…

DIGBY: Tell us a little about BIG RAT…

JOE 90: BIG RAT? I don’t even know what that is…

DIGBY: You may be playing dumb with me Mr 90 but we know it stands for Brain Impulse Galvanoscope Record and Transfer.

JOE 90: Ha! I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about!

DIGBY: It‘s a device that enables the knowledge and experience of one person to be transferred into the head of another.

JOE 90: You’ve caught me out on a Joe 90 reference haven’t you? No they don’t have that power.

DIGBY: If they did which DJ’s knowledge would you have transferred into your head?

JOE 90: Really good question… Jazzanova – I’d really like to get into their heads when they’re DJing.

DIGBY: And maybe into their pants?

JOE 90: Already done that - obviously…er no that’s not true! Just one of them anyway – I’ve got another 5 to get through!

DIGBY: Which came first the glasses or the name Joe 90?

JOE 90: The glasses. When I lived in Leicester I used to do techno parties with some friends. We were on the dole at the time and then the parties took off and we started to get into the newspapers. But we used to have our own names on the flyers with isn’t very clever when you’re in the newspaper and signing on the dole so we had to come up with names quickly. Someone said I looked like Joe 90 and it stuck.

DIGBY: In the puppet series Joe 90 works for the World Intelligence Network. Is that anything like Futureboogie?

JOE 90: Well anyone who’s met Dave Harvey [Futureboogie DJ/Club Dave] will know he’s a world intelligence all of his own! Futureboogie is a few things: we put on parties, we do radio shows [Sundays at 9pm on Kiss] we have a booking agency. It gets referred to as a hub – the website has it all …. You can listen to music, read about stuff, get links to good sites, book a DJ, buy a ticket, and find out what’s on..

DIGBY: You’re also one of the best-dressed DJs in Bristol are you not?

JOE 90: One of the best-dressed people in this room.

DIGBY: Ha! But your trainers are always so worryingly clean…

JOE 90: Yeah I’ve got mild O.C.D.

DIGBY: You’re not gay then?

JOE 90: No, well – only when those German Jazzers Jazzanova are in town. No, it’s my O.C.D. manifesting itself in the need for clean trainers. I’ve been known to get in from a big night out and clean my trainers before I go to bed. I actually upset an ex girlfriend once because the morning after a night out the first thing I did when I got out of bed was clean my shoes rather than give her a kiss. Not seeing that one any more!

DIGBY: But you’ve still got those trainers…

JOE 90: Yeah! They’re well clean!

DIGBY: Joe 90, thanking you sir!

Fraser Boyes
Sound People, BBC Bristol

www.futureboogie.com