Acid house party

An acid house party was a type of illegal party typically staged in abandoned warehouses between 1987 and 1989. Parties played acid house and acid techno music, electronic music genres with a distinct sound from the use of the Roland TB-303 synthesizer.[1] The origin of the term acid house party is disputed coming either from the 1987 song "Acid Trax" by Phuture, or the consumption of MDMA and LSD that were common at the parties.[1]

Setting

Events and parties were often held in empty warehouses across the UK and were essentially illegal. Some of the most famous party promoters included Energy, Biology, Genesis'88, Sunrise, and Weekend World.[2][3] Emerging from Danny Rampling's London club Shoom in late 1987, parties grew in northern cities like Manchester (the Madchester scene) where warehouses had closed throughout the 1970s, and up to 10,000 people attended parties in smaller places such as Blackburn.[4][5][6][7] Vague flyers around towns advertised events and information travelled by word of mouth (as well as the newly popular mobile pager) between clubbers who were obliged to party incognito. For most promoters, keeping entry cheap was a political issue - many of the early parties cost just £1 to enter and prices rarely crept above £3. If police turned up to shut down a party, some would open the doors and let everyone in for free.[6]

Glaswegian DJ Tommy Smith encapsulated the scene's defiant spirit on Granada TV show 'Up Front', hosted by Tony Wilson, during a debate with disgruntled Blackburn residents and Conservative MP Ken Hind. Smith declared that he was not on drugs or alcohol, simply “high on hope” and the phrase entered the clubbers' lexicon and was widely used to market club nights.[5][6][8]

Music

The music was characterised by the "squelching" bass produced by the Roland TB-303 and loud repetitive beats.[3] It originated in Chicago and took on new qualities when it came to Europe.[3] Songs from the time period include "French Kiss" by Lil Louis "On & On" by Jesse Saunders, "Mystery of Love" by Fingers Inc., "Love Can't Turn Around" by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jesse Saunders (featuring Darryl Pandy), "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)" by Soul II Soul, "I've Lost Control" by Sleezy D, and "Your Only Friend" by Phuture.[9]

The catchphrase of partygoers was ‘Can you feel it?’, alluding to the Royal House cry from "Can you Party?".[6]

Decline

The prevalence of drug use at these parties was in contrast to Thatcherism at the time, sparking moral panic. Police raided parties, such as a 10,000-strong rave in Nelson in 1990.[5] In response, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Entertainments (Increased Penalties) Act of 1990 which brought the decline of acid house parties.[6][10] As a result, the time period is often referred to as the Second Summer of Love. Eventually, acid house parties morphed into the rave scene.[11]

See also

Further reading
  • Class of 88 - The True Acid House Experience, Wayne Anthony, Virgin. The book may also be downloaded from the - author's e-group.

References
  1. "View of Along the Lines of the Roland TB-303: Three Perversions of Acid Techno | Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture". dj.dancecult.net. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  2. How property owners can neutralise Acid House parties. By: Daglish, James, EG: Estates Gazette, 00141240, 8/11/2018, Issue 1832
  3. Nickson, Chris (24 April 2010). "The Second Summer of Love". Ministry of Rock.
  4. Matos, Michaelangelo (2017-12-12). "Shoom: An Oral History of the London Club That Kicked Off Rave Culture". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-07-28.
  5. Bainbridge, Luke (23 February 2014). "Acid house and the dawn of a rave new world". The Guardian.
  6. Kinney, Fergal (28 May 2020). "Pills, mills and bellyaches: how Blackburn out-partied Manchester". The Guardian.
  7. "Acid House Flashback". Acid House Flashback. 28 June 2020.
  8. "High On Hope". High On Hope. 28 June 2020.
  9. Savage, Jon (19 April 2008). "Back to the old house". The Observer.
  10. Hill, Andrew (2003-12-01). "Acid house and Thatcherism: Contesting spaces in late 1980s Britain". Space and Polity. 7 (3): 219–232. doi:10.1080/1356257032000169695. ISSN 1356-2576.
  11. Class of 88 - The True Acid House Experience, Wayne Anthony, Virgin. The book may also be downloaded from the - author's e-group.
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