Speculation that Paul Oakenfold left LONDON superclub HOME to return to CREAM, the LIVERPOOL club where he made his name, has been dismissed this morning (May 19).
A spokesperson for Cream told nme.com: “There’s no chance whatsoever. Seb Fontaine is our resident and is contracted until the end of the year. Paul will be doing some dates and playing Creamfields but that’s it. I think his reason to leave (home) had more to do with increased demands on his time in the US.”
An Oakenfold spokesperson added: “The reason he left was simply because he had so much on this summer and he felt it wouldn’t have been fair to play one week and not the other.”
Since Oakenfold‘s announcement on Wednesday night (May 17), rumours had been escalating of a rift between home boss Darren Hughes, a long-term friend of Oakenfold. One dance insider said that the pair had appeared to avoid contact during this spring’s Miami music conference, and Oakenfold‘s decision not to take on the role of Director Of Music at the club also led to speculation on his long-term future.
When asked if a breakdown in relations between the the pair lay behind the departure, Oakenfold‘s spokesperson said: “I know he and Darren go back a long way, but I can’t say anymore than that.”
home have yet to announce Oakenfold‘s successor for the Saturday night residency.