I mentioned months ago that I'd dig out some of the flyers from raves I used to go to over 20 years ago. Well, joy of joys, I finally located them. I'll post them up but to start with here's my favourite with a good story attached:
The Sunrise MidsummerNights Dream was at White Waltham aerodrome & the largest rave to take place up to that point (1989). It was absolutely brilliant & remains the best rave I ever went to. I'm also proud to say that as far as I'm aware my wife & I were the only people to turn up on a motorbike. I'm glad we did cos the roads surrounding the area were almost completely blocked by cars abandoned by ravers who legged the last bit of the journey over the fields to the venue. We saw hundreds parked up on the hard shoulder of the M25 too as we made our way home in the morning. Luckily we were able to squeeze our way out & got home a good deal earlier than most of the car drivers.
It was incredibly well organised & there was a team of 20 or so dealers working the floor wearing colour co-ordinated tracksuits so as to be easily identifiable. The music was outstanding (check the DJ list), the lights & lasers were good & tbh I can't fault it in any way.
So on the following Monday when we made it into the Evening Standard you can imagine how overjoyed we were. I think the article is just about legible, I hope so. Anyway we're there in the picture (circled) though you wouldn't know cos it's too dark but I know it's us cos we were sat in that exact spot & I even remember the bloke taking photos at the time.
According to the blurb we were 'biting the heads off pigeons' in our drugged out frenzy earlier in the evening & people were dancing naked & openly having sex. (Er, the last bit is actually true, I saw at least 3 couples shagging. Heh!)
This was the biggest rave so far & questions were asked in Parliament. It eventually led to the Bright Bill & the Criminal Justice Act's inclusion of a ban on gatherings with music 'of repetitive beats', a particularly mean spirited piece of legislation (remember that?).
So there you go. A piece of history & a very fond memory for me. Anyone else go to it?
I'll post up some more flyers when I get round to scanning them.
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