As someone who works in the technology industry for a living, I have sometimes avoided the introduction of a new technology tethers, thinking that my Blackberry, cell, Yahoo and AOL IM, email and others might be enough. But when the chance to chat with Superstar DJ Keoki ( www.myspace.com/superstardjkeoki) arose and he wanted to conduct the interview via Skype, I added another resource to my tech toolbox and spent over an hour online talking to one of the most influential DJs of our time. Keoki took time out before a grand opening slot at the new Orlando club Rhythm and Flow to discuss music, his personal life, and the impact that he continues to have on music 22 years after coming onto the scene.

Lucas Mast, Eventvibe: So what brings you to Orlando?
Keoki, Superstar DJ: I am here helping to open a club in Orlando called Rhythm and Flow which is going to be a great addition to the scene here. I am going to bring it—they won't know what hit them when I go on…

LM: Seeing you on camera reminds me how many tattoos you have, many which have been featured on your albums. Any new ones?
K: I see my body as a canvas and I am constantly getting new ones. This one here (repositions himself on camera) was done by this hot little skinhead who I met at the Chateau Marmont in LA with his homemade tattoo gun. I never know what I will get next, but the landscape is constantly evolving.

LM: Your album Ego Trip and your mix CDs were some of the first that got me into electronic music. What are you working on now?
K: While I will always work on my own stuff, the thing I am really excited about is my band Sex Ferrari ( www.myspace.com/sexferrari). I really wanted to put together a band and a had a lot of the equipment that we needed, since I made some good money on my records and contrary to popular opinion I did not blow it all on useless shit. I put together my producer Todd Sanders and Kevin on guitar— just like a modern Archies-- and put together a 40 minute set for Freakfest in Moscow a few years back and people went crazy! We are still trying to sort out some stuff, like how we are going to distribute the music and getting a new drummer, but I am pretty excited that this is going to be something new and unique. When we played in Russia, where Marc Almond played before us, I did not record the vocals—we just improvised them on stage and were able to play five solid tracks. Keep checking MySpace for more information…

LM: You were one of the pioneers of the Club Kid era during the 90's. What is life like now?
K: Life has been very good to me. I would not have traded my experiences for anything—I met some amazing people, I was able to make some good money doing something I loved, and even today I am still musically relevant. I never thought that I'd be sitting here 22 years later looking back at all I have done. As I get older, I think I get a bit more particular in what I do and how I am treated, and if something does not feel right I just won't do it.

I have also become more of a music snob. I will trade files with other DJs I meet around the world, but I work hard to find the tracks I use and don't just give them out to anyone. People like Junior Sanchez and Tommie Sunshine continue to impress me, and I will always consider Dave Aude to be both a talented producer and one of my mentors. I used to walk into a record store and tell them to give me everything on the top of the charts, knowing that people would go wild for it, but after a while I got bored with music—everything sounded like shit. Not until "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass" by IF and Fischerspooner's "Emerge" did I get revitalized—like THIS is real music! Now I still go record shopping but I am super picky and I will come out with 4-5 records instead of 30.

I am also in the process of burning all my vinyl to wave files and figuring out what the fuck I am going to do with the 60,000 pieces of vinyl I have stored in Hawaii. Maybe I will donate it to charity or sell it on eBay. Think anyone would want to buy the Disco 2000 collection from me? eBay is so crazy—I sold a Depeche Mode "Strage Love" remix for like $400 since only people who were Billboard charters and friends of the band had copies—I'll even sign it if people want me to! I think the only thing I will hold onto are my copies of Saturday Night Fever…

LM: I noticed that you have done a series of "Party Monster" parties. How does everything that went down sit with you now?
K: When Angel was first killed by Michael Alig and there was the confusion about who actually did it, I found out who my real friends were since several people thought it was me. I have come to terms with it now—I loved Michael for who he was, but still thought what he did was so fucked up. I stayed away from the interviews with Howard Stern because I did not want to be famous because my ex-boyfriend chopped up someone's body and just helped promote the movie when it came out because Randy [Barbato] and Fenton [Bailey] , who produced Party Monster were friends socially with Michael and I and I wanted to help.

Today it is crazy to see the cult status that Party Monster [book, movie, and documentary] has become— almost like a modern day Rocky Horror Picture Show. It is crazy how much money people are willing to pay to have me and people like James St. James to show up and entertain this new generation of club kids. But there was this one party, I think it was in Philly, where they had legs hanging from the ceiling and even I thought it might be too much. But that was my life, and since James St. James documented everything, it seems to come up even today. As long as people pay me, Party Monster will live on. But I wish that they had The Rock play me instead of Wilmer Valderrama, who made me look like a sidekick suck-up, instead of a real member of the scene.

L: I met Michael Alig following his incarceration for an article I did for BPM. Have you stayed in touch with him?
K: Wow—I think he is actually out—or getting out soon. He and I have written long letters—30+ pages usually—and he will always have a special place in my heart. We did everything together when we met—party, hold hands, travel, wake up together. I knew that someone was going to die and selfishly I am just glad it was not Michael or myself.

L: You are playing closing weekend of Pride in San Francisco at Supperclub. Any thoughts about San Francisco or Pride in general?
K: I have a relationship with San Francisco going way back in my career. One of the last memories that stands out was a party called Revolution I played at The Endup just after there was an ownership change. I faintly remember Jeffree Star ( www.myspace.com/jeffreestar) trying to get in, although at the time he was like 17 and drinking a martini. I think that bitch actually kicked me out of the DJ both that night!

Although I don't typically do just gay events, I am always willing to show the support and love to the community, especially that in San Francisco. My set will be my style, I am not going to change my style because it is a pride event, but I am sure there will be some surprises.

L: So where do you call home now?
K: Las Vegas—it is one of the few cities where you can do anything at any time of the day. Want to grab a drink in the morning with some friends or keep the party going all night, Vegas is the place. July 6th I am starting a residency at Barcode—an afterhours set that will start at 5 am. Earlier in the night I will be doing a set at the Icehouse that will go until 3am. So if you like my music, you can see me all night! I really hope it takes me back to the time I spent at the Limelight—a home away from home where I would show up even if I was not playing.

DJ Keoki will be performing at Flawless Entertainment's Official San Francisco Gay Pride Afterparty: Detention at The Supperclub

Click here for more info and tickets !!!