Music has always been a big part of joey's life. Aided by his dad at the age of 13 he started to learn guitar and piano, he then took this on further at school developing his skills. Rave culture also took hold of him at an early age.
Still in primary school he was mesmorised as acid house swept across the uk. Once at high school and running with an older group of friends, the excitment of rave, the music, the parties, made him immerse himself in the culture.
At the age of fifteen he and friend Darren Grant, helped by darren's older brother Robert starting putting on their own under 18's events in their home town on moodiesburn, near glasgow in their local community centre. The event was first called "THE TECHNOZONE" but was later daubbed "TLM (the lethal mix)" after there DJ/MC partnership name which was emblazoned on the front of their flyers. Joey started out MC'ing at these parties while Darren manned the dex. Their "TLM" events were a huge success from the very first one and joey had caught the performing bug!

Throught the mid to late 90's joey concentrated on MC'ing although he did DJ, but more as a hobby throughout this time. After playing at their own event, joey and darren then moved to a local nightclub @ cumbernauld airport to do another under 18's event as resident MC & DJ. It was playing at this club he was asked to MC for "tiny tunez records" live P.A. showcase and played MC'd for them at numerous venues across the uk. After playing a gig at "THE CORE" @ the calton studios in Edinburgh with the P.A. he enjoyed the club so much that he started going every fortnight and after bending the promoters ear for a while got a go on the mic. His first set @ the club was MC'ing for the mighty BASS GENERATOR, and he was to stay resident MC @ the club for its duration. When the night finished @ the Edinburgh venue and the promoters teamed up with "NORTH"
who promoted their legendary nights in stoke, to start a joint venture @ visions in rosyth (formerly nosebleed) joey was asked to be resident MC there too at "THE CORE" & "NORTH" among other events in Scotland he MC'd for DJ's including... LENNY DEE, BASS GENERATOR, MANU LE MALIN, RADIUM, SHARKEY, KEVIN ENERGY, SCOTT BROWN, MARC SMITH, SCORPIO, THE PRODUCER, VORTEX, and MARK EG to name a very few!

In the late nineties, moving into the millenium joey became disillusioned by the music in the hardcore scene and sought solice in other forms of music like techno & trance. As these scenes did not use MC's joey got more serious about DJ'ing and honed his skills on the decks. He also done an HND in music technology @ college. Up to 2002 joey played mostly trance and techno and dabbling in production at home. After meeting Thian Brodie @ a gig he was playing at the arches in glasgow, Thian booked joey to MC at his Hardcore event in leeds (UNITY) where he got a chance to hear some of the new hardcore that was being produced and played out @ raves south of the border. The production had came on leaps and bounds since hardcore's inception and it was this new sound and love of the hardcore crowds that made him decide a career in hardcore producion was for
him.

Joey moved to England in 2003 to be closer to the action and holed himself up in his studio, determined to make waves in the hardcore scene. After just 2 yrs producing the new stlye of hardcore, joey gained his first
release on HARDCORE COLLECTIONS part of the nu-energy collective. "Wide Awake" was his first track followed by a host of others on labels such as... HCC, RELENTLESS, QUOSH, MAXIMUM IMPACT, NEXT GENERATION, FBI, REDEMPTION to name a few. He has also featured on albums such as HARDCORE HEAVEN volumes 1, 2 and 3. HARDCORE NATION 2, 100% HARDCORE and HARDCORE REUNITED. Joey has upcoming releases on a plethora of labels including releases on his and Kurt's LETHAL THEORY label.

With a string of releases under his belt and even getting several track played on radio one Joey's gig diary has been filling up rapidly! playing at venues across the uk including, VIBEALITE, HTID, UPROAR, REZERECTION, TWISTED & BRAINFIRE, BACK TO THE FUTURE, TIDY WEEKENDER, etc, etc and with his first gig abroad in Toronto he is now an international DJ too! check out where he'll be next in the bookings section of his site.

Firstly would like to say.. massive congrate on winning best label at the hardcore heaven awards on saturday How do you feel?

Thanks mate. it was such a surprise to find out we won! We’re very proud of what we’ve achieved with lethal theory and both on a major high!

Secondly lethal theory on the main stage! Mindblowing to say the least! How did this go for you guys? & could this be up there with one of the best sets played by you guys?

The set itself was unreal, that mainstage is epic! Myself, kurt and enemy were all on form too, the reaction from the crowd was immense. Defo up there with the best sets we have played.

what have you been upto in the last couple of weeks? Keepin Busy?

I’ve been hectic. Been a struggle getting this interview as so much has been happening. Been working on loads of new tracks as per usual and working hard on the label and the new serioussounds.net mp3 store. There’s a new lethal theory site being built as we speak plus loads more in the pipeline.

From what age & why did you choose uk hardcore as your genere of sound that would take you were you are today?

I’ve been playing out hardcore since I was 15 and been through the ups and downs of the genre. It’s always been the scene with the best raves and most diverse music so it was an easy choice for me.

Who was your musical influence's.. People that inspired you to get into the scene?

TTF, Prodigy, Scott Brown, Marc Smith

Youve made many tracks.. What was the first?

I’ve been composing songs from a young age. 1st song I wrote was on the guitar age 14!

1st hardcore track that got attention and played out was “saving grace” that got remixed by sy & unknown and was released on HHC

What do you think about the scene right now & were do you think we will be in 5 years time?

The scene is kicking ass right now. Hopefully it still is in 5 years time!

What do you get upto in your spare time?

Cinema, restaurants, usual shizzle.

Is there any other music you like other than hardcore?

Anything and everything. I listen to and make many different genres. As long as makes me sex wee, I’ll listen to it!

So whats new for Dj Joey Riot? Whats comin? & What can we expect to see from you in the future?
I have a new Gabba label coming soon. Bit of an exclusive for this interview. It will be distributed through hollands biggest, Midtown. That’s super exciting for me, so I’ve been busy getting this project and new gabba tracks ready for this.

Your booked to play Resistance 2nd Birthday party! Its at the old fire station in Bournemouth! Youve played here many times what can you tell us about the bournemouth & Southwest party scene!!

I love it in the southwest, I seem to have a big fanbase down that way. I also have made a lot of good friends over the years in this part of the uk so I always love coming down to play!

Last but no means least.. If you can some up your set in 3 words at the Resistance mighty second birthday party what would they be?

MAJESTIC… FANTOMENAL… IMMENSE!

CATCH JOE RIOT SMASHIN IT @ RESISTANCE MASSIVE SECOND BIRTHDAY PARTY! @ THE OLD FIRE STATION, BOURNEMOUTH!! SATURDAY 21ST NOVEMBER! DONT MISS THIS!

ARENA 1: HARDCORE

Dj SY
DOUGAL
CHRIS UNKNOWN
JOEY RIOT
GEOS CREW
CHUNKY BOYS
JOYRIDER b2b LIL BRI

MC'S

STORM
MARLEY
CASPER
SKATTY
JAY-P
REDI NIGHT

ARENA 2: HARDTRANCE & HARDSTYLE

DJ SLIDEOUT (Germany)
BEN EYE
IAIN CROSS
LOUK
GAZZY'B'
TEFLON
HARDGROOVER & HASHIMI

MC RIGGSY

ARENA 3: RESISTANCE ACADAMY

Random Heroes
Mitch Eb & Prove It
Dorset Dave & Ben Davis
Quiet Storm (tdc)
Sean-e & Tom L
Joel Heaton & Dave Sayer
Dj Burnout

Mc's Monie B, Energised Mc, Noaksy

Ticket info:

Tickets £10 in advance
Door tax £15

Advance Tickets

www.ticketweb.com

Ticket Outlets:

Bournemouth: Frolic 01202 290308
Bournemouth: King Bong 01202 290308
Poole: Treds 01202 666661
Southampton: Tripp2 02380 223982
Southampton: Lucid 02380 233533
Waymouth: Tunes 01305 788880
Bridport: Record Centre 01308 425707
Taunton: Deckhedz 01823 352004
Exeter: Reform 01392 435577
Salisbury: Standout 01722 411344

Interview by Gary Bennett

Photos by TG Promotions & Others!