Alan Thompson - After midnight with a touch of delirium

DTPM is a clubbers institution for many, but for Alan Thompson it's more than that, writes Stuart Evans

What happens when you drink too much alcohol and discover that your body seems to shake for reasons that remain hard to fathom-

The riddle to the above teaser sits somewhere in between the acronym of DTPM. Delirium tremens equals the shakes, whilst PM, as most would know, equates to post meridian.

The riddle becomes a lot clearer once the aforesaid sentence is broken up and examined.

You get the shakes (DT), which normally occurs around the midnight hour (PM). Welcome to the world of DTPM.

Launched at London's swanky Villa Stefano in October 1993, DTPM was one of the first clubs to introduce the now famous Sunday clubbing concept to Europe's clubbing capital.

After continuing to sell out venues all around London, DTPM found a new home in 2000, settling at another London super club, Farbic.

DJ Alan Thompson has been there since DTPM's inception and ever since he left his residency at London club Trade and moved towards sunnier climbs, his reputation seems to have increased.

"DTPM was a catchment for Trade," he explains.

"As Trade used to finish at midday, people used to stay on but want to carry on partying. So, DTPM started purely for the people who wanted an afternoon club."

It has been said that attending a DTPM is an education in clubbing.

If that's the case, then is DJ Alan Thompson the teacher-

He laughs, "No, I wouldn't say that. Clubbing is about taking all of the elements and making them right. From security to promotions, it all adds to the clubbing experience."

It was in January '05 that Thompson, now based in Sydney, teamed up with promoters Fag Tag to bring home his vision of starting a DTPM club down under.

"The guys in London had always wanted to expand that brand, so it was the perfect opportunity to do it," he explains.

Choosing a venue proved to be the biggest problem. It took a while for Thompson and co to find a suitable venue to recreate the DTPM feel.

"We wanted a club just like the one in London."

He continues, "That's why we settled on Tank (Sydney), it had everything and reminded me of Farbic in London."

The DTPM crowd are an eccentric mix of gay-friendly polysexual riotous music loving people who love their nights out.

He says that clubbing in Australia is different to the UK because of the people and the UK's sometimes stale music scene.

He adds that the Australian crowd can appear more "up for it", but states that both countries have vibrant music scenes.

With his still fresh in the mind Ministry of Sound Clubbers Guide cd readily available, Thompson, along with Australian dj Ariel, has turned his hand to mixing the soon to be released compilation from DTPM.

For this cd, Thompson's added a bit of spice to the old rivalry between Australia and the mother country by including the versus tag to proceedings.

DTPM - London versus Sydney promises to be a battle supreme.

Thompson agrees.

"I thought that by adding two different djs from varying continents we'd be able to see the different styles between the two djs."

It makes for an interesting concept, one which is reflected in the respective dj's selection.

As a resident at DTPM for over a decade, Thompson's standing to mix the cd was more of a requirement than a choice.

Thompson's a djs dj, and his persona is immense; he is regularly voted in dj magazine's top 100 djs in the world.

His style is one funky house, which the cd reflects with cuttings of dance floor anthems such as Soul Central's reworking of Strings of Life and Michael Gray's recent crossover, Weekend.

Whilst some may turn their nose up at some of the more radio friendly records selected for inclusion, Thompson says that he's not fussed.

"A good record is a good record - that's my philosophy."