There are very few actual bona fide legends in the world of dance music. Freddy Fresh is one of them. His career spans three decades and he is about to release his Surrounded By Funk album, Here he defty deflects the piercing journalistic arrows of the ATL funkbot.

ATL: Hi, and how the hell are you today?
FF: Very well thanks.

Let's get started then. First musical memory?
Playing a toy piano 1967 or so.

Ever played Ireland and if so where, when and how was it for you?
Too many times to mention. Cork, Galway, Belfast, Dublin (Kitchen) at least 20 times in all. Love Ireland.

What prompted you to get fully involved in dance music?
Trips to New York and Bronx 1984 the energy in the New York radio and dance scenes then later tinkering with synthesizers.

Last piece vinyl you bought and is it going to finally pop it's wee plastic clogs soon?
Bombstrikes Breakbeat Volumes and yes I play them out quite a lot - they are great bits.

Best clubbing experience?
Playing Moscow, Colombia, weird and unique places like that.

Your house is on fire, you can only carry one piece of vinyl or CD out, what will it be?
Funny you say that as my house did actually burn down in 1997� Probably my Ultimate Breaks and Beats Octopus editions (long story).

Non dance music, what are you listening to at the mo?
Tresspassers Williams, Manual, Boards of Canada, Robin Guthrie, Signal Hill, Tycho, Rory Hoy, Maps, Day One Symphony. Ulrich Schnauss... I Live for this music as it's my drug.

Do you have any famous DJ mates and if so who, and what are they really like? Go on you can tell us...
Well mates or acquaintances? I know every famous DJ and have been fortunate enough to have played with them all one time or another from Jeff Mills to Fat Boy Slim. Mates? Maybe Krafty Kuts when he's not lost on tour otherwise I'm really quite a loner and spend most of my time with my wife and daughter when I'm not in the studio or working on my rap book.

Stuff Ministry and all that crap, what is really the best club in the world?
I loved many of the London clubs like Fabric, The End etc... or the Kitchen in Ireland but have had some great experiences in unknown clubs like Barbe in Bogota, Colombia recently.

Your criminal record - whats the worst piece of music ever played out?
Maybe some real cheesy big beat rehashings like twist n shout on any given day garbage is brilliance and vice versa.

Who is the best DJ in the world and why?
The unknown DJ that practices all day for no one and has the adrenalin and passion to play his heart out for the 10 people and sweat and play 50 records in a 2 hour sweat because his desire is so strong to share the best moment of those 50 records if even to play just a the best minute from each record. The "real" DJ, the unsung hero.

And when will we see you again then?
Off to Europe again this December am always around and about.

Right, gis your current top 5 and then clear of out of it we have work to do y'know...
Various by the following Artists:
Bombstrikes (Various UK White Labels)
Mike Gates - Fall Back - Howlin 12"
Qdup Foundation (Various)
Big Wu (Various)
Choquib-Town (Colombia) Various