Acid Pioneer Gerald Simpson on 'Voodoo Ray' the first British acid house hit and best-selling indie single of '89.

"I STUMBLED across the idea of buying cheap machines from second hand shops. I picked up an 808 for £150 and a 303 for £50. By 19851 had a set-up making freestyle hip hop. A friend of mine called Graham Massey was a student at a local recording studio called Spirit. The first thing I did in the studio was 'Voodoo Ray'. I decided to keep it separate from my work with Graham and Martin [Price] which was now becoming [early rave band] 808 State. I took it down to Legends, a Manchester club that had an amazing sound system, and it sounded brilliant. I didn't expect anything from it, though; I was still working at MacDonald's, living on promises from 808 State and 'Voodoo Ray'. But it got to the point where I wasn't allowed to work on the till any more because people kept recognising me. I decided I'd better leave and get myself some management!"

[Author: Mixmag]