Dick & Dom: Growing Old Ungracefully
By Danni Levy
They were the kings of Saturday morning carnage — the lads who turned “Bogies!” into a national sport. Two decades on, Dick & Dom have swapped custard pies for decks and drum & bass, causing chaos from _CBBC t_o Camp Bestival.
Loaded caught up with them for a pint-free (sadly), chat about golf-club bogies, tequila retirement parties, and why they swapped JD for cashews on their rider.
The Golf Club Bogies Test
Loaded: Did you ever shout “bogies” on a golf course?
Dick & Dom: “Never did. Should’ve, really. But shouting bogies at golfers wouldn’t shock anyone cos they hear it all day. We did yoga studios, art exhibitions… Primrose Hill yoga was brutal. Dead silence, everyone zen, and we had to break it. Yogies. The Glasgow library one was savage too. Old bloke nearly had a coronary.”
Loaded vs. The Bungalow
Loaded: Loaded mags under the bed or The Bungalow on telly — which came first?
Dick & Dom: “Same chaotic era. Late ’90s, early 2000s. They nearly called it Dick & Dom in the House, then switched to The Bungalow — perfect. We had the odd Loaded mag about… but honestly? More MixMag. Into DJing even then. Free CDs, mate.”
From Pies to Basslines
Loaded: Better buzz — making families laugh or blowing a roof off a club?
Dick & Dom: “Dropping a big tune. Easy. But we love dads telling us they laughed harder than the kids back in the day. Families watching together — that meant a lot. But yeah, dropping that first track… nothing beats it.”
DJ-Booth Bogies
Loaded: Modern-day bogies?
Dick & Dom: “Drum & bass. Drop it mid-set and the crowd goes, ‘What?! Dick & Dom on D&B?!’ It’s the same shock as bogies. We usually slam in a Pulp Fiction remix — “Pulp Friction” — goes off hard.”
The Third Bloke Fantasy
Loaded: If you could add a third member to the act?
Dick & Dom: “Danny Dyer. No question. Imagine him MCing over our set. Dick, Dom & Danny. Sorted.”
Growing Old (Un)Gracefully
Loaded: What counts as “ungraceful” now?
Dick & Dom: “Still love a party — just not past 10 p.m. Daytime raves are perfect. Went to one, drank too much tequila… in bed by 10. That’s our ungraceful retirement behaviour now. Twice a year, max.”
Too Far? Never.
Loaded: Did producers ever tell you off?
Dick & Dom: “Never. Our producer Steve was anarchic but knew the line. We were never reined in. These days, only told off if we’re late to a club. If The Bungalow was on air now? Cancelled in ten minutes.”
Hungover Dads & Selfies
Loaded: How many dads sneak selfies at gigs?
Dick & Dom: “Loads. Festivals are full of them. At the 20th anniversary Bungalow tour, we realised how much it meant to people. Dads, mums, even grandads… selfies everywhere. Still never been bought a pint, though.”
Da Bungalow: Over-18 Edition
Loaded: What would a grown-up Bungalow look like?
Dick & Dom: “We did it. Took it on tour, 18+ crowd, absolute riot. But we didn’t change a thing — no swearing, no adult twist. If you changed it, people would be disappointed. Best left as it was.”
Musical Punch-Ups
Loaded: Ever clash over tunes?
Dick & Dom: “Never. We’ve always loved the same music. Back in the ’90s, we had vinyl decks in the flat and mixed all night. Our sets now just get harder and faster — 130 BPM to 180 by the end.”
Blame It on the Banter
Loaded: Do you feel responsible for British banter culture?
Dick & Dom: “Yeah, people tell us all the time. We’ll take it as a compliment. Nothing wrong with anarchy — we all need a bit.”
Perks of the Job
Loaded: Backstage perks then vs now?
Dick & Dom: “Back then: vodka, Jack Daniels. Now? Four beers, Coke Zero, crisps, cashew nuts, bottle of wine. Rubbish rider. But hey — cashew nuts are perks, right?”
Message From 2003
Loaded: What would your younger selves say now?
Dick & Dom: “We wouldn’t believe it. Playing Camp Bestival, huge crowds, people going mad. It was always the dream. 2003 us would say: 'Damn it. Get in!’”
Which Era Wins?
Loaded: Do blokes stop you about Bungalow chaos or club chaos more?
Dick & Dom: “It’s 50-50. Bogies is daily — someone shouts it in the street. But more and more are talking about our sets now. They don’t expect it, then they see us behind the decks and go: ‘What?!’”
Midlife Crisis, or Cure?
Loaded: DJs instead of Lycra or a motorbike — crisis or cure?
Dick & Dom: “Retirement hobby! Dom did the sports car at 35. But DJing now is our crochet. Our gardening. Except it’s bangers in a club. Dick & Dom in the care home. Dick & Dom in the mortuary. Lovely.”
