DJ Big Shot hits the big time - FitzRoy
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DJ Big Shot hits the big time

Published: April 12, 2019

Over 30 years ago, Stephen McLaren decided he wanted to be a DJ,  now there is no stopping ‘DJ Big Shot’ as his passion for music pays off.

Stephen – aka DJ Big Shot – lives at Coleshill Road Supported Living Service in Birmingham, and is a member of Nationwide, a forum where FitzRoy residents and tenants have their say. Stephen said:

“I decided I wanted to be a DJ when I got a sound system for Christmas in 1985. That day all my grandad’s friends came over and I played music for them. They really enjoyed it. I also played at a party for FitzRoy’s 50th anniversary. For my 50th birthday, my keyworker got me a universal CD player with disco lights on the speakers. It’s really loud!

“I have been with FitzRoy for over 12 years and have enjoyed every moment of it. I regularly attend the Nationwide forums and especially like it when ‘Bad Man’ [Stephen has nicknames for all of his support workers] takes me to Milton Keynes for our forum, I enjoy talking about Coleshill Road and listening to other people’s services.

“For the last few years I have been playing at the local Labour Club, I’ve DJ’d there about 10 times. Recently, I heard about another club that needed a DJ. A support worker recommended me, and now I play there every two weeks. I take four speakers, two CD players and an amplifier in the van and my keyworker sets it all up for me. I also take a lamp because it’s quite dark in the club. I play a bit of everything. I like to play ‘Exodus’ by Bob Marley. I love reggae music. At the moment I like Dua Lipa and Smokie’s ‘Living Next Door to Alice’. I have over 700 CDs! I feel good, I feel like I’m getting better and better and I am achieving my biggest dream of all.

I’d like to be a famous DJ. I want to meet the Jamaican DJ, Kilimanjaro, and challenge him to a ‘sound clash’! I wonder what he would say!

“My advice to people who love music is if they wanna start, go for it and don’t stop following your dreams, music makes us all happy people. It makes you dance and it loosens up every muscle in your body.”