We’re now into the second month of 2010 and everyone and their dog will likely be placing bets on which artists will rise and rule the musical map this year. But alongside names like Classixx and Delphic don’t be surprised (well, maybe be a little surprised) if you see the name Mamy Rock up in lights sometime soon. The Mamy Rock moniker comes from UK DJ Ruth Flowers who’s been racking up a reputation at many Parisian nightclubs over the last year, winning over a crowd of admirers for her eclectic setlists. And oh yeah, she’s 69 years old.
Putting other silver-maned veterans like Peter Hook and Francois K to shame Mamy Rock explained in a recent Guardian interview that she fell in love with the wheels of steel after a nightclubbing excursion with her grandson a couple of years ago.
“The bouncers didn’t want to let me in at first, I was quite a lot older than the usual clientele, but once I got inside I hugely enjoyed it. I thought ‘I can do this.’ My husband had died, I was retired, I had the time, so why not?” the electro-gran explained. “You can stay at home, and do nothing but go to an old people’s club and to church for a cup of tea once a week. But you don’t have to do that. If you want to do something then you really can.”
But wait, this story comes even closer to becoming a club version of The Bucket List with word that Mamy Rock is even crocheting up an EP of original dancefloor bangers with the help of young French producer Aurelien Simon, sure to please her brood of adoring fans. And after that, who knows?
“I’ve got no intention of retiring,” the DJ said. “Well, unless I drop dead. And I’d much rather go out with a bang than linger.”
Does Mamy Rock make you wish your elder relatives had some skills behinds the decks? There still could be time! While you wait for your Gran/Gramp to figure out where the headphone jack is take a look at ITM’s big list of the oldest DJs in the game, to see who’s well and truly over the hill.