Mamy Rock, granny DJ sensation

Posted by paris | paris | Wednesday 24 March 2010 12:42 pm

Her real name is Ruth Flowers, a 69-year-old from Bristol, with pleasant appearance, easily imagining her drinking a cup of tea in her home, near to chimney, planting petunias in her garden or knitting a cardigan for her grandson.

Mamy-Rock-in-Paris

But, fortunately, appearances can be deceptive, and this old lady has become an international DJ sensation, in demand in clubs throughout Europe, especially in France. Certainly, Laurent Garnier, Jeff Mills or Carl Cox must be shaking right now. These prestigious DJ’s have to compete now with a tough rival: Mamy Rock, Miss Flower’s alter-ego. With spiky silver hair and scarlet lipstick, gold bomber jacket, baggy tracksuit bottoms, bling jewellery, and trademark giant black sunglasses, Flowers plays down the new-found fame of her twilight years.

From church choir to DJ deck
Obviously, Ruth Flowers is not an average DJ. Coming up to her 70th birthday, she is a professional singer, but her musical tastes –until now- were more the type of church songs, German melodies and classical pop.
It all began in her grandson’s birthday party. She enjoyed so much with dance music that she decided right there to turn into DJ. Her grandson put her in touch with a French producer, who helped her develop her sound, image and her own style, packed with songs of ABBA, The Rolling Stones and Queen, her favourite band.

“I like to mix the old and the new, so I might put electro alongside an old favourite like the Rolling Stones,” she said, before donning her diamond-encrusted headphones and starting her set. Wherever she plays, the crowd below goes mad and hurl themselves around to the throbbing bass, intermittently yelling their approval.

By now, Ruth has not intention of retiring, so I advise you to look up musical events in Parisian clubs, in order to find Mamy Rock behind the decks, playing her set and making you to dance all night long. And when you say stop and you can only think about your warm bed, I hope you choose one of many you can find on Apartments in Paris, the best way to stay in the city.