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The Hacker: I Don't Do Drugs But . . .

Author: Jonty Skrufff
Saturday, November 13, 2004
French electro-tech star producer Michel "The Hacker' Amato chatted to Skrufff this week about his new album Reves Mechaniques and revealed that he's never looked back since quitting drugs seven years ago.

"I think once you've done drugs once, you know how they feel so even if you don't do them again you know how other people are feeling when they use them," said Michel.

"I understand when I see people getting high, it's OK. I don't think it's not cool, it's just their thing and I'm OK with that. When I started doing them myself the idea was about losing control and now I want to, more or less, keep control," he added.

"I just drink nowadays. Champagne and vodka are OK for me."

The electroclash pioneer sprang to fame in the late 90s collaborating with his old rave friend Miss Kittin, enjoying a massive club hit with their anthem to hedonism Frank Sinatra, though stressed his own experiences were far from excessive.

"I was never a big user, I don't want any misunderstanding but the reason I stopped was because I saw some people around me starting to have a few problems and getting a bit weird, and it became a bit frightening," he admitted.

"And I always hated the day after; it's horrible. The night is fun, it's great and everybody is crazy but not the day after, then two days after it's a complete nightmare," he continued.

"On Monday afternoon you're all alone in your flat thinking "Urrggh, what's wrong with me-' I hate that feeling and that's why I don't do drugs any more. I stopped six or seven years ago.

The Hacker's new album Reves Mecaniques is out now on Goodlife/ PIAS
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