What does it take to carve out a decades-long career in one of the most unpredictable industries in the world, while still reinventing yourself along the way? In this episode of When I Grow Up, host Paul Glazby reconnects with an old friend and legendary DJ, Anne Savage, for a conversation that's equal parts nostalgic, insightful and wildly entertaining.
Anne's story begins in the unlikely setting of small-town England, where a musical childhood of violin lessons and family jam sessions somehow evolved into late-night club culture. She takes us back to her first band rehearsals in a cold warehouse, the moment she discovered acid house at a Blackburn rave, and how she hustled her way into her first residency at the iconic Angels in Burnley, even running lights, flyers and cloakrooms just to be near the music.
From there, Anne built a reputation across the UK and beyond, long before the "hard house" scene was recognised. She recalls playing eclectic sets of techno, progressive, Italian disco and early house before the Tidy Girls moment catapulted her into the global hard house spotlight. Anne explains the “sliding doors” decision that changed her life, saying yes to a Tidy Girls EP offer that almost didn't happen, and what it was like to watch a genre explode around her.
Paul and Anne swap outrageous stories from the 1990s and 2000s touring circuit: marathon road trips, wild after-hours panels, unforgettable gigs like the Millennium Dome with 46,000 people under one roof, Dance Valley in Holland, and some hilariously chaotic travel misadventures. They laugh about changing DJ names, lost shoes, pitch-shifted vinyl sets and why you sometimes had to fight to keep your own records from being played before your set.
But Anne's journey isn't just about clubland. She opens up about life beyond the decks, from embracing her love of motocross and supermoto racing (including winning a British mini-bike championship and competing in the Scottish Supermoto Championship) to her passion project: a PhD in researching hearing safety for DJs. She talks about overcoming a devastating crash, balancing adrenaline-fuelled weekends with gigs, and advocating for tinnitus awareness so the next generation of DJs can protect their hearing.
This is a warm, funny and inspiring catch-up between two long-time friends who helped shape an era of dance music, but are still finding new ways to challenge themselves today. Whether you're a club kid, a DJ, or just love a great story of resilience and reinvention, this episode will have you grinning, reminiscing and maybe even dusting off your old vinyl.
Listen to When I Grow Up wherever you get your podcasts.
Share your thoughts or favourite gig memories with us on Instagram @wigu_podcast
Follow the show to catch future conversations with the icons, dreamers and risk-takers who prove there's no single path to success.
#WhenIGrowUpPodcast #AnneSavage #PaulGlazby #DJLife #HardHouseHistory #MotocrossRacing #CreativeJourneys #ElectronicMusicLegends #ClubCulture #MusicIndustryStories