EPISODE 3
OVERCOMING DRUG ADDICTION AT THE HEART OF IBIZA CULTURE
LEGENDARY BRITISH DJ, BRANDON BLOCK
Brandon Block is a legendary DJ, responsible for irreverent performances with Alex P at Space in Ibiza. He’s also faced the worst of drug addiction and recovered admirably.
Finding his start in a local pub in Harrow, his journey’s filled with extraordinary highlights, controversy, and the kind of personal reformation we can all learn from.
Brandon joins me to go Off Script on his superstar DJ career, how he overcame addiction with just 2 weeks to live, and the daily obsessions we should all avoid to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.
This episode covers
Brandon’s huge influence on the Ibiza scene
Being given 2 weeks to live, and overcoming addiction
Our own small scale battles with obsession over materialism
Outrageous stories from Brandon’s DJ-ing career
Ty Temel
Ty Temel Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ty_temel
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
“So I was 12 years old and the older kids took me under their wing. I went into that house room at lunchtime, Disco Northwick, and there were people doing the robot. It was all proper shuffle dancing, jazz funk. It was proper, and I learned my trade. The dance, my love of black music, my love of dance music, my love of soul music.”
7:00 - Brandon Block
——
“The distractions are incredible. How the young are supposed to study intently escapes me, and my hat's off to them for doing it. With these bits of technology, which we carry and rely on, the world is in your hand.” - 9:30 - Brandon Block
——
“Fundamental, instinctual behaviours of humans; we want stimulations and quick fixes, which is instant gratification. That is why drugs and alcohol generally tend to work, or chocolate, or sex, or whatever else.” - 10:30 - Brandon Block
——
“I was young, not the age you want to be puffing the strongest. I mean, my mates used to do it as well, so I realised there was peer pressure.” - 19:50 - Brandon Block
——
“My doctor, my mentor, my psychiatrist is quoted in my book saying ‘I never met anyone who could take so much coke and still stand up’. He gave me two weeks to live when I went to see him eventually.” - 23:45 - Brandon Block
——
”We'd never had an open-air club, ever. It was the first one in the world. There was no such thing as an after-hours until Space created it.” - 33:55 - Brandon Block
——
“I let go of the fear of living without drugs. That's what had held me in place, the fear of the unknown and what it was going to be like without them. I let go of that fear, and as soon as I got over that fear, I was able to go and find help.” - 39:50 - Brandon Block
——
“Every human is an addict, it's part of our nature. It's just what we get addicted to. It's the quick fix, and it's the covering up of what's driving us mad.” - 50:10 - Brandon Block
——
“Give a kid a mobile phone or iPad for two weeks, games and everything, and then take it away. See what the effect is. See how much they cry and crave those little notifications.” - 53:00 - Brandon Block
——