While James Brown may be known as the "Hardest Working Man in Show Business," Peter Rauhofer may in fact have a more legitimate claim to the title. An examination of Rauhoferÿs schedule, which includes running his Star 69 record label, producing hit records " both full length compilation and 12 inch dance singles, remixing tracks for the biggest musical acts of our time, and DJing at the most famous clubs and parties in the world, would leave many to wonder just how one man can do it all. And do it all so damn well!

While the New York-based Rauhofer, a Grammy Award winner who originally hails from Austria, has indeed traveled the world over, his presence in Chicago has been limited at best with his last appearance here back in 1999. In anticipation of his Halloween weekend appearance at Sound-Bar for the Pumpkinhead party, Rauhofer graciously took some time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions in an exclusive interview.

When, where, and under what circumstances was your first DJing gig?
In 1983, I filled in for the resident DJ at the big club in Vienna called "U4". He was sick. After my set the owner of the club was very impressed and offered me a full time slot.

Early on in your career you used the moniker "Club 69" for your production and remix credits and then named your record label "Star 69." What's the story behind your use of these names? Is "69" your favorite sexual activity?
That's funny! I've been asked that before but I won't get into that now! Actually, the name came about when I was doing "Let Me Be Your Underwear". We needed a name for the artist of the track and Club 69 had that underlying sexual innuendo that we were going for so it clicked. When I started the label I wanted to incorporate the "69" because that's what I became known for. I always thought "Star 69" had a nice ring to it, pardon the pun.

What are the technical aspects to your DJ performances?
My sets are balanced between vinyl and CDs so I need Technics 1200 turntables and Pioneer CDJ 1000 CD players. I prefer the Urei or the Rane knob mixer but it's not a deal breaker.

During your live DJ sets, do you find yourself using lots of the current technology, spicing things up with added sound effects and looping? Or do you create and vary the mood and energy through song and track selection?
I'm pretty old-school. For me it's all about the track selection. I will have my re-edits here and there of tracks to make them fit into my set better but most of the time I mix on the fly. At Roxy I know exactly what works so I don't really have to plan it too much which is great because it just happens naturally. I stay pretty true to my sound wherever I spin but if I know the crowd I'm spinning for likes something different I like to let them have it.

Which 2 tracks are with you the majority, or all, of the time when you go to a gig?
My remixes of Depeche Mode "It's No Good" and Madonna "Impressive Instant"

What has been the highlight DJing moment of your career?
One highlight for me every year has been the Victory Party, which is the closing party for Gay Pride in Toronto.

What's the one club and/or party that you've never spun at, but is #1 on your wish list?
Studio 54 circa 1978!

In addition to Live @ Roxy 4, which is coming out later this year, what's really special that your fans here in Chicago should be looking out for in the near future?
The long awaited and much anticipated full length release from Chicago's own Suzanne Palmer!

Note: Peter Rauhofer will be DJing the Pumpkinhead Party at Sound-Bar on
Sunday, October 31, 2004.

More interview questions with Peter Rauhofer at: