Liam's Dirtchamber (1/3)

Why does Liam Howlett think he's overqualified to be a club DJ? Why does he reckon Pete Tong isn't fit to wear fat laces? And has he really designed a Japanese garden? Step inside...

WHEN I went to my first rave parties and heard dance DJs I was fucking amazed. I thought they were some kind of joke because all they were doing was beat mixing, which is so easy to do. Some of those guys couldn't even do that very well, so I tell you, I felt totally overqualified." Liam Paris Howlett is sitting at his kitchen table, staring out across his almost finished Japanese garden. His jet black hair, denim bondage trousers and year-round tan give him the look of a punk rocker made good. The TV set over his shoulder is permanently set to Playstation mode with 'Cool Boarders 3' rolling through replays of digitised snowboarding moves. The only other sound in the house is the constant ringing of the telephone. "The difference between me and those dudes is that I had real DJ skills," he continues, referring to early raves at The Barn in Essex, where DJs like Mr C first introduced Liam to raving. "I'm not bothered if that sounds arrogant because it's true. I was overqualified."

Liam Howlett is the Prodigy. Long before Keith, Leeroy, Maxim and original female dancer Sharkey appeared , Liam used the Prodigy name as his tag. When he first gave a tape of his tunes to Keith and Leeroy, the only word written on the inlay was Prodigy. It was a b-boy thing. An open brag that the boy from Braintree meant business. Liam was the "gifted child". It was no idle brag - the Prodigy went on to become the world conquering, multi-million selling, award winning, conservative-baiting rave renegades they are today.

This month, Liam's first mix album, 'Prodigy Presents The Dirtchamber Sessions Volume One', is released. The king of electronic punk is ready to take on the dance DJs of this world, and justify his boasts about his decksterity. But why on earth is the album named after a hardcore gay porn mag? "Ha! I never really thought of that," laughs Howlett, revealing, somewhat disappointingly, that The Dirt Chamber is also the name of his home studio. "When you're on tour, the first thing you do is check the porn channel in the hotel. We sometimes check in under porn star names as well. The studio wasn't named after any porn, though - I just wanted a name that reflected where my head is at creatively. The last place was called Earthbound, but that didn't work for me any more. I've left that vibe well behind me." The Dirt Chamber studio, facing out across the Essex countryside, is a mass of keyboards, effects, wires and decks. CDs and old mix 12"s like Steinski's infamous 'Lesson' series and the superb 'Big Apple Volume 1' are scattered on the floor.

The studio takes pride of place in Howlett's new converted barn. From its black wood walls to its oak-beamed interior, the building provides few clues as to its owner's profession. If Loyd Grossman came looking through the keyhole, he would be confounded; there are no outward signs of showbiz opulence. No platinum discs on the walls, no MTV awards on the shelves. No photos, album sleeves, gig posters or any of the other trappings associated with the music world. "I gave my discs to my dad." Howlett confesses. "I don't need that stuff around to let me know who I am. This place is my escape from the music industry and all the shit that goes with it. When I'm here I want to shut the door to it all."