Hosts
Steven Minors
Born
25 April 1975 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, 'the biggest county in England'
Family affairs
Married to Deborah with one step-daughter, Kate. Blames most of his neuroses on Only-Child Syndrome.
For the hippies
Steve's a Taurus and, as his coffee mug states, he's 'kind and understanding,
has an easy-going nature but is not easily taken in by false standards; has a flair for handling money and will
find success in a career connected with financial affairs'. Or running a nightclub.
When he's not at London Calling
He's renovating his house, landscaping his garden, or absorbing
VHI, MTV and Channel O ad nauseam while bonding with his bulldog, Trevor. When he gets a gap (Steven that is, not
Trevor), he chucks a tent in the car and buggers off hiking and camping with The Wife to the 'Berg. Has also been
known to win a chess game in three moves and complete a jigsaw puzzle in less time than it takes most to open the box.
What he drinks at London Calling
Castle, Windhoek Light
If not London Calling then
Old favourites like The Doors, music festivals such as Oppikoppi and Rustlers.
Dubious claims to fame
Steven can stand on his toes en pointe, fit his entire fist in his mouth and made his
TV debut on SABC3's The Wedding Show.
More about Steven
Born in the South African equivalent of the 'platteland' in Yorkshire, England, Steven
came out to the republic at the age of six. He grew up in Benoni and attended the Drakensberg Boys' Choir school where he
represented the school in the international choir (although sanctions at the time prohibited any performances more
'international' than Namibia). Steve's high school years are, apparently, a mystery to him. It was during this time that
he discovered and gleefully indulged in the nightlife Joburg had to offer in the late 80s and, if the newspaper reports
are to be believed, it was a heady time. He hit the job-market straight out of matric and, prior to London Calling,
was an effective albeit miserable procurement manager; hence his ability to source anything for half the price. Steven is English
(evidenced by the St.George's cross flag in the garden) but passionately and proudly South African - even more so since his stint
back to UK in 1996 proved disillusioning. Steven is both knowledgeable and fervent about music and his preference is broad and
varied ranging from Faithless, through Morrissey, to Linkin Park and The Smiths, James, Blink 182 and The Darkness.
Deborah Minors
Born
8 June 1974 in Blyvooruitzicht, a gold mine near Carletonville, South Africa.
Family affairs
Married to Steven, has one daughter, Kate and a sister, Karen, eleven months older,
who lives in Australia. Deborah blames her neuroses on Youngest Child Syndrome.
For the hippies
Deborah's a Gemini and denies all allegations of schizophrenia despite being ruled
by the twins. The "Artful Astrologer" (Gramercy Books, 1993) indicates that she "possesses a captivating, childlike
quality; has a dazzling intellect and sparkling wit but is unpredictable". A likely candidate to run a nightclub.
When she's not at London Calling
She's at home redecorating (or at least thinking about redecorating),
reading both trashy and thought-provoking magazines, newspapers and books; lamenting to her beloved labrador, Alice,
that a 15 year-long writer's block continues to prevent her from penning a Pulitzer prize-winning literary masterpiece;
mentoring her daughter on the importance of fairies in the 21st century; or making lists and lists of those lists
(a family failing handed-down from her grandfather). For an adrenaline burst, Deborah heads off somewhere coastal or
mountainous with hubby, Steve, to camp and Be One With Nature.
What she drinks at London Calling
Litchie Brutal Fruits; 'suitcases'; Bells & soda; whatever Steven
says isn't selling so well
If not London Calling then
The Doors, Melville coffee-shops and cafés, Oppikoppie/Woodstock/Rustlers, the sofa.
Dubious claims to fame
Deborah can hula-hoop for 25 minutes non-stop, won an award for drama for a
stirring portrayal of 'Pinnochio' in 1985, can recite the introduction to the A-Team, went to the Doors in nothing but
body-paint and made her TV debut on SABC3's The Wedding Show.
More about Deborah
Deborah is very smug about the suggestion that there's 'gold in her blood'. Born and raised
on the gold mines of the old Western Transvaal, she enjoyed a small-town upbringing and protected adolescence at an all-girls
boarding school in Potchefstroom. Her arrival in Joburg in 1992 to pursue a degree in Politics and English proved an ephiphany.
Cutting her teeth at Bellanapoli's in Hillbrow, Deborah flitted around the Joburg playground like a kid in a candy store.
Bouncing from Le Club to The Doors to the White Horse Inn and later to the techno extremes of Fourth World, World's End and
Reality, Deborah finally came to terms with her inner alternative in the city she now calls home. Deborah's musical influences
tend towards the retro 70's and early 80's thanks largely to the inheritance of her late father's Springbok vinyl collection.
Captivated by the House Music era of the 90's, Deborah still has a nostalgic fondness for deep house "doef-doef".
Favourite bands include Queen, James, New Order, OMD, Faithless and Paul Oakenfold.
Gregg Anderson
Born
26 March 1978, Kensington, Joburg, South Africa
Family affairs
Gregg is a loser. He still lives with his parents. No one else will have him.
For the hippies
Gregg is an Aries and as such is described as "possessing a pioneering spirit, driven
by a need to win and hungry for new experiences", such as running a nightclub.
When he's not at London Calling
Gregg, like a true South African, is out on the fields playing rugby
or football, and represents Joburg in waterpolo. He enjoys fishing and once he actually caught one. Gregg is deeply
committed to his Cairn Terrier dog, Geordie, who never drinks his beer.
What he drinks at London Calling
Windhoek Lager
If not London Calling then
The Doors, Radium Beer Hall and The Keg and Crow.
Dubious claims to fame
Chief Executive of the Poontang Clan (No more information available).
More about Gregg
A Joburger through and through, Gregg attended school at the famous Jeppe High School
for Boys and matriculated in 1995. It was during his high school years that he was introduced to the nightclub life of Joburg
and he frequented spots like Le Club, Pumperknickels and The Doors (where he was bounced regularly until a fake ID was
acquired in return for a rare South American lizard). The Square Barrel and Digger's Grill in Bruma were also popular
haunts but, unfortunately, all have close down.
Thank God for London Calling. Gregg is a big fan of good music and enjoys a wide variety from ska, punk and 80's, through to reggae.
Favourite bands on his list are Stiff Little Fingers, The Clash, Madness, The Stranglers, Sex Pistols,
The Jam, The Specials and The Cure.
Stewart Carson
Born
12 June 1976, Irvine, Scotland
Family affairs
Big sis, Janey, Mum, Marion and Dad, Colin - all of whom live in Philadelphia, USA.
Currently single and more intent on 'perusing the menu rather than selecting a main course'.
For the hippies
Stewart is a Gemini which brings to two (four?) the number of Gemini partners. This
means twice the trouble or double the chaos (depending on your perspective). As per the Mix & Match Astrology
(Apple Press, 1997) Stewart is, "Clever and persuasive; life is one big adventure. New experiences are hard to resist
and curiosity leads him down some fascinating roads", notably those that lead to London Calling. He needs a "positive
mental challenge to prevent boredom", such as running a nightclub.
When he's not at London Calling
For many years, Stewart has been committed to batting a cock about. A shuttlecock, that is. Twice South African badminton
champion and ranked 60 in the world doubles class, Stewart spent the greater part of his adult life pursuing the 'higher,
faster, further' accolades of Olympic athleticism and, in August 2004, represented South Africa at the Athens Olympics.
What he drinks at London Calling
Windhoek Lager - the hangovers aren't as harsh - and Black Label.
Spirits and shooter are evil and wicked and won't be consumed (unless there's nothing else going of course).
If not London Calling then
The Doors, badminton courts in Europe, Asia, Africa, America, Australasia
Dubious claims to fame
Stewart has been violently ill following excessive alcohol consumption on a
number of trains across Europe. Once his Mom even helped clean up afterwards. He has an inexplicable compulsion to
pour beer on dance floors across the world - and to then dance gleefully around in it. Contrary to Scottish tradition,
Stewart believes it's Jockey or Nothing beneath his kilt.
More about Stewart
Born in Irvine, Scotland, Stewart lived in Saltcoats until he was five years old.
His folks made the great trek to South Africa in 1982 where he lived in Kempton Park and attended Aston Manor Primary
School until the age of 12. The Carsons then moved to Benoni where Stewart completed matric at Wordsworth in 1993.
As a typical lost and what-do-I-do-now? 17 year-old adolescent, Stewart took a year off to ponder the meaning of life
and what it has to offer, and then registered at Wits Tech to study, appropriately, sports management and marketing.
One day he aims to actually complete the course. Always the intrepid globetrotter, Stewart relocated to the US in 1997
where he lived until 1999, returning then to South Africa for a holiday. The holiday continues... Stewart first sampled
Joburg nightlife at Bellanapoli's in Hillbrow and wiled away the hours at Rockafella's in Benoni (mainly because he had
no wheels to get anywhere else) so, similarly, most weekends were spent at Harvester's and Froggo's. Later on,
when a-friend-with-a-car became the New Best Friend, Stewart would stop in at Le Club in Joburg for a crate of happy
hour and then move on to The Doors, formerly in Marshall Street. When The Doors moved to Edenvale, Stewart became -
and still is - a regular fixture. He moved to Cape Town in 2000 to pursue badminton interests retrned to Joburg - and
London Calling - permanently in September 2004. Stewart's travels have exposed him to a plethora of music yet his
preference remains alternative. He favours artists such as Big Country, Madness, the Clash, Runrig, The Cure and New Model Army.