Casino DJ Still Keeping the Faith
* First published in The LINC Magazine, Summer 2005
You would expect Russ Winstanley to reply drearily when asked about Wigan Casino shutting down, given the number of times he's been questioned about it.
Yet Russ flashes a smile and answers with as much enthusiasm as he must have had 32 years ago, when he put on the first Wigan Casino 'All-Nighter', consequently creating a world-wide phenomenon.
"It was a sad day when the Casino shut down, especially as we were still on top of our game and there was so much more we could've done."
Russ's regret stems from the fact that Northern Soul and the Wigan Casino were about much more than the 'All-Nighters'. To him, it was, and very much still is, the quintessence of his life, and as such, he can still talk about it with passion for hours on end.
These days, the likes of Pete Tong and Fatboy Slim (who's hit, 'Rockerfeller Skank' began life as a Northern Soul classic, 'Sliced Tomatoes' by the Just Brothers) are famous for their remixes.
However, in 1975, it was Russ, with a remix of a B-side from a Canadian-surf tune called 'Footsee' by Chosen Few, who put dance music into the charts.
Promoted under the band name 'Wigan's Chosen Few', Footsee was performed on Top of The Pops by a group of young dancers from The Casino's midweek soul sessions, and hit number nine in the UK charts.
From there, with the club voted the 'World's #1 Disco' by top US magazine, Billboard, Russ helped to set up the 'Casino Classics' record label, which went on to release more successful singles.
Yet, like all good things, the Casino's reign had to come to an end, and many long time Northern Soul fans moved on from the scene.
One of those people was Russ Winstanley himself, hoping to bow out whilst still on top and to break away into pastures new. However, the soul had took a hold, and refused to let go.
"When the casino closed, it just left a massive hole for me. I tried to break away, but as everyone knows, if it is in your blood, you can't stay away from the music for too long," says Russ.
Even though Northern Soul returned to the underground in the UK, it went on to spread like wildfire across the globe.
"It's not a UK thing now, Northern Soul's popular all over the world, there are soul nights in Japan, Australia, all over the place," Russ enthuses.
Some may see Russ as a desperate man, clinging on to a scene that peaked many moons ago, but he counters such accusations with the argument that nothing better, in a musical sense, has come along since. Besides, whilst soul remains his greatest passion, Russ is actually a fan of modern music as well.
"I quite like The Coral, Keane and Coldplay," he remarks. "I did some work with Ocean Colour Scene in 1998, and they've asked me to go back and do more, so we're working on a big show in Blackpool at the moment."
Despite his brushings with the great and the good, Russ seems totally unfazed by celebrity and fame.
"Sometimes Paul Weller pops down," he says nonchalantly, as though he were speaking about his next door neighbour popping round for a brew, rather than the legendary frontman of The Jam hanging out at one of his gigs.
It is clear Russ is not affected by his successes, or by the 'legend' tag which so often precedes his name. He simply sees this as part and parcel of his job. He has certainly not lost interest. After all this time, he is still incredibly passionate, not only about Northern Soul, but also about all music.
This enthusiasm has seen Russ appointed by Groundwork Wigan & Chorley (a charity organisation which provides a wide-range of projects and activities to help young people find their way back into work) to run a Young Roots Project.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery fund, and based upon Northern Soul and the Wigan Casino, the scheme gives young people a chance to learn about their cultural history whilst also learning about life in the music business.
"It's working very well," says Russ. "Some of the young people we've got are not working but are looking at getting into music, and working in the music industry."
The project is not just for aspiring DJs or musicians, it is also providing young people with opportunities to learn about art and design, journalism and events organising. Each aspect of the music business is covered through the history of The Casino.
As a result, young people are learning what it was like to live in a time when Wigan was famous for its youth culture from the man who started it all.
Given Russ's eternal love and passion for Northern Soul and the Wigan Casino, there surely can not be a better man for the job.
By Chris Skoyles