Steve Lamacq

Infobox Radio Presenter
name = Steve Lamacq


imagesize =
caption =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1965|10|16
birthplace = Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom|deathdate =
deathplace =
show = Steve Lamacq on 6 Music
station = BBC 6 Music
timeslot = 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Weekdays
show2 = In New Music We Trust
station2 = BBC Radio 1
timeslot2 = 9:00 – 10:00 p.m. Mondays
show3 = Steve Lamacq on Radio 2
station3 = BBC Radio 2
timeslot3 = 11:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. Wednesdays/Thursdays
style = Disc Jockey
country = United Kingdom
prevshow =
web = [http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve_lamacq Steve Lamacq on 6music] |

Steve Lamacq (born 16 October 1965), sometimes known by his nicknames Lammo (given to him by John Peel) or "The Cat" (due to his ability as a goalkeeper), is an English disc jockey, currently working with the BBC radio stations Radio 1, BBC 6 Music and now BBC Radio 2 on a Wednesday from 23:00-00:00 before Janice Long.

Early career

He was born in Bournemouth, then moved to Hampshire. His family soon moved to Essex and he grew up in the Halstead area in a village called Colne Engaine. Lamacq's journalistic career began as a junior reporter at the "West Essex Gazette", after studying Journalism at Harlow College, Essex. In similar fashion to other music journalists who started fanzines during their teenage years, Lamacq started one called "A Pack of Lies".

It was during his time at "NME" that he began DJing on XFM, when it was still a pirate radio station. He formed a record label in 1992 with Alan James and Tony Smith, called Deceptive Records. Their most successful signing was Elastica. Most of the label's releases shared a punk- pop sensibility. Deceptive Records folded in 2001. Lamacq has written an autobiography, entitled "Going Deaf for a Living".

In 1991 Lamacq was unwittingly involved in one of the most infamous events in British rock music of recent times during a post-gig interview at the Norwich Arts Centre with Welsh rock band Manic Street Preachers for the "NME". After repeated attempts by the bands co-lyricist Richey James Edwards to convince Lamacq that they were "for real" (the Manics had been making outrageous statements in the music press), Edwards gave up and carved "4 Real" into his forearm with a razor blade. The publicity this created nearly single handedly launched the "Manics" into the superstar bracket. The editorial meeting in which the story was discussed, was recorded for a BBC Radio 5 documentary, "Sleeping With the NME" which later appeared as the b-side to the Manics' single "Suicide Is Painless" (Theme from "M*A*S*H").

Between 1995 and 1997, Lamacq could also be seen occasionally on BBC 1, co-hosting Top of the Pops with fellow Radio 1 DJ Jo Whiley. He even flew solo on the job on several occasions.

Radio 1

Between 1993 and 1997 Lamacq presented the "Evening Session" with Jo Whiley, and then on his own until December 2002, when the programme was cancelled. Colin Murray served as a temporary replacement for six months until Zane Lowe's contract with the London station XFM ended in June 2003, where he took up a permanent position. Lamacq presented the indie radio show "Lamacq Live" every Monday evening until 18 September 2006. The show ended as part of a makeover in Radio 1's schedule, in order to present a "younger image" to Radio One Listeners.. "Lamacq Live" began in late July 1998. Colin Murray effectively took over his slot, but Lamacq still presents documentaries for the station and will be hosting John Peel night later this year. He now also presents Radio One's "In New Music We Trust" slot every Monday night from 9 to 10 p.m. Tim Westwood, Huw Stephens and Pete Tong present the same slot Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays respectively. Lamacq was reunited with Whiley to recreate The Evening Session on the latter's show on 28 September 2007 as part of Radio 1's 40th Anniversary celebrations.

BBC 6 Music/Radio 2

Lamacq's homepage on the BBC's website described "Lamacq Live" as "the UK's most influential indie radio show". He also has a [http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve_lamacq/ programme on the BBC's digital station] , 6 Music, which was on Sunday afternoons, but from April 2005 he has presented the daily teatime show on 6 Music, taking over from Andrew Collins, where he still remains. In addition to this, from April 2007, he also presented a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, every Wednesday night from 11.30pm – 12.30am, where he plays his choice of music and introduces listeners to emerging artists. Since April 2008 the show is now broadcast between 11.00pm and 12.00am on a Wednesday night. In 2007 he deputised for Bob Harris on Saturdays from 11pm-2am, who had to receive treatment for cancer.

Lamacq is arguably the most famous fan of Colchester United.

Lamacq can also be noted as being the compere on the main stage at the Carling Reading Festival Weekend on several occasions.

External links

* [http://lamacq.co.uk/ Lamacq Central - Home page with related links]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/steve_lamacq/ Steve's 6 Music show homepage]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.deceptive.co.uk Internet Archive of Deceptive Records website]