You Don't Need a Dick to DJ

by Smokin Jo

Before she became Smokin Jo - the most famous and visible of the first generation of 'superstar DJs' - Joanne Joseph was a young girl growing up in a children's home with her sister. Until her mother returned and whisked the siblings away just before secondary school to a flat on the Portobello Road, her life was devoid of the home didn't allow it, apart from hymns and carols at Christmas.

As she entered the turbulent years of adolescence, Jo found herself pulled towards Soho and the burgeoning underground acid house scene, instantly finding herself at home amongst other artists, musicians and misfits who breathed and survived on dance music and ecstasy. Within a couple of years, in a lightning-fast ascent, Jo claimed her permanent place as one of England's most exciting and revered DJs of the British rave scene. In 1992, Jo was awarded DJ of the Year in DJ Magazine's list of Top 100 DJ's. To this day she is still the only woman to achieve this accolade.

This alternately celebratory and brutal memoir tells a story full of change, growth and determination. It documents Jo's life and loves; her struggles with drink and drugs and journey towards peace and sobriety. It documents the highs and lows of rave culture in an unprecedented way through Jo the elation and euphoria that comes with entertaining an audience as well as the misogyny, the racism, the prejudice and homophobia of the scene, as told by someone who has been at the hard end of these experiences. You Don't Need a Dick to DJ is an extraordinary, moving and unforgettable story from a pioneer and survivor; perhaps the most honest and startling memoir yet to emerge from the club scene.

Genres: Music

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 23, 2024

Reviews

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really interesting account of Jo’s life. I found the first section of the book on her childhood fascinating, surprising and upsetting and the memories that she wrote about really engaged me. Then she took me on a journey through some of the music eras, clubs and tracks that I remember from the 90s/2000s. Such nostalgia! However, a little repetitive at times and lacks depth towards the end. I would recommend to anyone who has enjoyed her music or the dance music scene over the years.

Jo also spends time presenting the struggles of being certain ethnicity and being a female on the DJ scene, which needs attention and she does that well.

Not the most well written book but certainly thought provoking.

[Russell Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I know the author Jo, she used to DJ for me a lot in the 90's at my club night 'Progress'. We always got on very well and I really liked her. I heard about her book and was in two minds whether to read it or not then Mark Moore (another Big DJ) told me he'd read it and thought it was excellent so I thought I would give it a go. Right from the start I was totally gripped. Not only is Jo a fantastic DJ she is an excellent writer. Her character came through right from the start, this is a very authentic, honest at times distressing Life story of one of the best DJs the house seen has ever seen and in my opinion the one with the best name! Jo is both funny and frank. The only problem I faced with this book was it was so stimulating I struggled to get to sleep sometimes after I had been reading! The journey Jo has been on from her early child right up until current day has been an extremely interesting and at times very challenging journey. She gives real insights into how it was to be a superstar DJ in a world of super clubs that were popping off all over the world at the time. Even though I was part of that scene and as well as being a promoter I was DJ and went all over the world too with my own stories, but I learned a lot about what was going on behind-the-scenes that I didn't see from Jo's experinces. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anybody who has any interest in the phenomena that was and still is the House Music scene, but it is also an extremely inspirational book for anyone who is on a recovery journey or who has had challenges in early childhood experiences. I already admired Jo as a pioneer being one of the only females DJs at the time but now having red the challenges she faced prior to getting there has given me the upmost respect for this truly remarkable woman. There were a lot of ups and downs in this book, but overall I found it a very uplifting experience and really enjoyed it! Well done Jo you smashed it!

[Baby Clyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

LEGEND!!!