London's Horse Meat Disco is dedicated, simply, to "the industry of human happiness". It's the queer party for everyone - homos and heteros, club kids, bears, fashionistas, naturists, guerilla drag queens and ladies who munch. Musically it's a disco behemoth of classics, Italo-disco, oddities and punk funk, spun in the friendliest venue south of the river (the Thames that is). East Village Boys caught up with one of the co-founders, and resident DJ, James Hillard and milked him for a few answers and an incredible mix.

Richard: Hi James, how's it going?

James: Very well, thank you. The weather is being vile so I’ve pulled down the blinds, put the mirror ball on and I'm dancing around the living room in my pyjamas listening to Voyage... It's 3:00 in the afternoon!

R: Please introduce us to the HMD team?

J: That would be myself and Jim Stanton. Hiya!

R: What did you do today?

J: I did the mix you can hear on your website, and drank a shed load of coffee.

R: What's the Horse Meat Disco story?

J: Horse Meat started back in 2004. It rose from the ashes of a previous party. We just wanted to do a gay party where music was crucial, and one that drew on various tribes to make the crowd more interesting. The gay scene in London had become so stale and commercial. We just wanted to shake things up a bit... and play music we loved. All at the behest of Adam Goldstone. A resident of your parts until he sadly passed away a couple of years ago. He was the one who got me and Jim together to throw parties in the first place. I miss him.

R: Where did the name come from?

J: I was cleaning the flat one day and went to chuck out a pile of newspapers, and one of the headlines was "horse meat discovered in salami" although it was partially covered to reveal "horse meat disco". I thought it was a genius name, Jim agreed and the rest is history.

R: Who designed your wonderful logo?

J: Adrian Fillary does all our artwork and he is a genius. He always gets it spot on and the logo is proof of that.

R: Who are your resident djs?

J: Myself, Jim Stanton who I co-promote with, Severino who hails from Mantova in Italy, really is one of the most underrated DJs in London - I’m always in awe - and Luke Howard AKA Filthly Luka. He’s currently sojourning in Rio De Janiero and we miss him so much. Luckily he sold me a load of his records before he left so his music lives on... even if that makes me a toon teef.

R: Speaking of music, what's the HMD music policy?

J: Disco across the spectrum and in all its metronomic glory.

R: Many gay clubs are simply about the chase or cruise but HMD feels more like a social. There is a very friendly atmosphere there. How do you make it happen?

J: I think the music first and foremost, plus mine and Jim’s ability to reach across the tribal divisions in gay clubbing and bring together a great mix of people, gay and straight, who love the music. Being on a Sunday and in a South London boozer helps too.

R: What is the wildest thing you have seen at the club?

J: We did a Mexico inspired party after I visited there a few years ago. We got some piñatas and filled them with bottles of poppers. Didn’t think for a second that when people began to whack the piñata the vials would break. Needless to say they did, and for a while the dancefloor (including myself who was djing at the time) seemed to fall in on itself. The place smelled like a swimming pool for a week!

R: Does it often get out of control? Have you ever had to throw anyone out?

J: I can’t think of any club that hasn’t thrown someone out at some point, but bad attitude and blatent drug taking would do it.

R: At the club you often have some amazing performance artists - which have been your favorites.

J: It's not so much the case that we plan anything they just come down. Our resident naked guy Ernesto is a poet and performer. He’s lovely and always raises a smile to the uninitiated. We miss Booby Tuesday who moved back to New Zealand earlier this year. She ruled the roost as far as I was concerned. Also the gang from the NYC Downlow our traveling gay club that we did at Glastonbury last year. Too numerous to mention but off the top of my head, Le Gateaux Chocolat, Jonny Woo, Janette, and Holestar were my favourites, and always bring the party when they're down at Horse Meat Disco.

R: Last year you did a tent at Glastonbury - are you the first gay club to host a tent there? What was it like?

J: We were indeed the first gay space at a UK festival. It was amazing! For me it was even more special as it's my home village, so coming back and doing what we did had special resonance. The concept came from our friend and regular down at the club, Giddeon Berger, who is an amazing set designer. His idea was to recreate a bombed-out New York tenement terrace with a gay club down a back alley. The effect was incredible, populated with crazy trannies and leather men. It looked like a cross between the film Cruising and Priscilla Queen of the Desert in knee-deep mud. I can honestly say that it was the best week of my life!

R: Who are your fave djs and who would you most like to have perform at the club?

J: I’d have to say Daniele Baldelli. The man is a legend both technically and musically. He’s always an inspiration. When he plays at the club I lose a few pounds because I dance like a loon all night long. We’ve had so many great DJs play at the club I can’t think of anyone else I’d like to have play down there. Danny Krivit, Carl Craig and DJ Spinna would be great at some point.

R: Do you have any celebrities frequent the club... any good gossip?

J: We get a few, but I wouldn’t like to say who. In the ethos of the club's egalitarian policy, everyone who comes down is a celebrity in my eyes.

R: I hear you are a foodie? What are your special recipes?

J: Well I guess being the son of a butcher and an Italian cook I couldn’t not be. I lived in Italy for a year and picked up a few recipes along the way. I can now make an amazing ragu, but I have to start it in the morning and cook it all day. Also I do make a great roast dinner. You can’t do much better than a well hung piece of British beef! I’m all about great British food at the moment and I’m quite into offal.

R: Have you ever eaten horse?

J: I have indeed. Air-cured is my favorite way of eating it, but a good horse steak is gert lush (a little Westcountry expression for you).

R: When can we expect to see some horse meat on the menu in the East Village?

J: Whenever a promoter sticks their neck out and books us - we’ll be there with wigs on!

James Hillard Live at Horse Meat Disco

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Queen Samantha - Sweet San Francisco
Lovefingers - Mexico (Barrio Edit)
DC Larue - Cathedrals
Gepy & Gepy - Body to Body
Dennis Parker - Like An Eagle
Andrea True Connection - Party Line
Wilton Street Band - Don’t You Even Know Who You Are
Dolly Parton - I Wanna Fall in Love
Gregg Diamond & Bionic Boogie - Fess Up to the Boogie
K.I.D - Don’t Stop
Gordon’s War - The Rock is Gonna Get You
Lipps Inc - Funkytown
TC Curtis - Body Shake (Instrumental)
The Mike Theodore Orchestra - High On Mad Mountain
Barry Mason - Body, Get Your Body (Faze Action Edit)
Biddu Orchestra - Voodoo Man (Remix)
Sphinx - Collision (1982 Remix)
Vivienne Vee - Give Me A Break
The Beach Boys - Here Comes the Night
Faze Action - Stratus Energy (Disco Mix)
Cerrone - Supernature
Tantra - Hills of Katmandu
Vivienne Vee - Remember
Patrick Cowley and Sylvester - Do You Wanna Funk
Stephanie Mills - You Can Get Over
Baby O - In the Forrest
Wilton Street Band - Disco Lucy
The Richard Hewson Orchestra - What Shall We Do When the Disco’s Over