Deep cartel says:
Does anyone remember Lazy House? Classic house music free party crew based at a squat in Exmouth circa 1991-4 They had a very small rig but attracted huge crowds every weekend in the summer of 92. Parties were usually in Devon and they were at Smeatharpe. Dj`s: will, jonny t, aaron, Iain lazy Parties: Blackenstone Rock, Ashclyst Forrest, Chalice Wood, Woodbury Common, and many more Wow memories! I know the framed photo your thinking about and I know where it is now. Yeah it would`ve been mighty force and if I ask nicely I should be able to scan it, this was the first lazy party I attended. I`ve got two mixes, Lazy House vol 1, and Blackenstone Rock (bad quality). I also remember the backdrop which read lazy house-One Family. Diy dj`s often played and spawnee possee dj`s like Tigger and Justin. There is a brief account of a lazy house party with some pics on dj riddlers website. In 1993 a certain member of Lazy House wanted to be a dj so swapped the tiny rig for some decks.Some members of Lazy House including Will and Dom (spiral) and Lorien then formed “Sign On” and continued doing smaller parties throughout 93 which also evolved into Sketch (pawlette manor) . It`d be really nice to get a page up as they`re not anywhere on the web and they were some of the best parties of the time. By the way Smokescreen are still going! As are we and we sometimes have jonny t and will play in many of the same locations…. Dj will the simon dk of Lazy House…
freepartypeople says:
Thanks for the comment, deepcartel, I had been intending to write something about Lazy House. You’re dead right, absolutely classic parties 
The problem was, and this is a bit embarrassing, your parties were SO FUCKING GOOD, that my memories of them are a bit scatty.
I remember… forest clearings, great music, snowballs, a low canopy, shouting next to a river, our car having to be pushed through a ford ‘cos it broke down but we didn’t really care, leaning on my friends’ arm thinking it was a car window, massive convoys and meeting places, racing to get to the party site before the cops (I recall seeing a couple of guys sprinting across a field with decks shoved up their jumpers )
etc etc.
I lived in Dorset at the time and didn’t drive, so I’d just clamber into someone’s car on a Saturday night and see what happened. I don’t know any of the locations of the parties I went to.
We enjoyed these because they were local, and because they were a welcome break from the facelessspiraltechno we’d all been following slavishly, although I have to say some people at the time HATED house music. The scene could be insular even back then.
The first thing I ever heard about Lazy House was when we visited a shop in Exeter (Mighty Force?) and saw a framed photo of a party. We asked the guy in the shop and he told us ‘Lazy House’.
UPDATE: Some dates that I do have a record of: 10/10/92 near Exeter, 8/5/93. Also an event on 8/11/92 called Upfront, where there were two marquees, one of which contained the Sketchy Crew sound system, full freepartypeople report here.
Mark (mharridge8787) says:I have a ‘Lazyhouse’ tape but I cant be sure of its origin. Its mostly late 80’s chicago house. I went to a party in a squat in Bloxham near Banbury, Warks on NYE 93/4 (i think) which I was told afterwards was a lazy house party… but having just learnt they were based in Exeter this seems unlikely. Was anybody there??
‘anonymous’ says:
Dutch Barrels/snow balls/china whites the strongest pills I`ve ever done. I`ve heard they were 140mg of mda made in a former eastern block country in ex government labs. Jaw chatter and eye wiggle for 12 hours…Also do you remember pcp and k pills called m25`s/crackerjacks/ lose it pills?
mistychelle says:
wow the memories,i share them too,anyone know where arrone(probably spelt wrong and ian smith think it was ,i had such a crush on arron). apres exmouth pavillion on to the lazy hose squat,fab,give anything to go back there for a night ..anyone have pics or mixes from those crazy nights???/ thanks to the lazy house crew for the memories i shall hold 4ever
July 7, 2007 at 11:06 pm |
yeh man its good to see lazy house remembered on the net. the first partys are
the most magic. I had a real good time being involved in puting them on and it
was quite new and fresh at the time. The good old days of fighting the old bill over the genarater.I still look back and have a chuckle to my self because we did
pull of some pretty havinit partys,with people comin from all over the place.
Deep cartel carry the vibe forward respect to them.
August 16, 2007 at 3:38 am |
I loved doing the parties, setting them up with lots of different people. most of us from exmouth, as the lazy house was a real house, that was situated off exeter road. Where us lazy people lived and all helped to take the system on the road, along the way we teamed up with everyone who came along to the parties from everywhere. it was good as we didnt need one person to say they were the organiser, as we all were organisers and the police never knew who to blame for them. we where very stealth and always made the mad rush to the most difficult places to find, as soon as 12, in a back of an nice old van with a log burner in that kept us warm. throughout the night alot better than the flash cars lol.
August 17, 2007 at 8:04 am |
Absolutely remember it, Forest clearings etc sums it up beatifully, Also remember Ian Lazy House Smith. Is the big man still about?
Lazy House were luvd up parties I will always remember fondly let me know if anything lazy is still happening.
September 17, 2007 at 12:39 pm |
Hello lazy House Crew I remembered coming down south to party with the Tredegar lads and some of the Freebass Crew and the laugh we had pissing about with Micky, Legy, spanish, big Phill, plugger, etc in tow. How is Jonny T, the last time i saw you was in newton abbot? how you keeping. Fancy a Lazy Freebass house get together.
September 25, 2007 at 4:39 pm |
I remember the first time I went to the Lazy House proper in May 1992 towards the end of its life. I remember DJing in the front room & Lazy Lisa giving me a trip! It got a bit more difficult to mix as my set progressed!!
I’ve been with her pretty much ever since!
The party’s moved into the countryside after everyone was evicted from the house- sites like Haldon Hil, Ashclyst Forest, etc etc…..
Its funny coz the name came from the band ‘Lazy House’ who lived in the squat beforehand!!!
Hi Jonny have to meet up soon!
In answer to Hammy,-Ian Smith’s life has changed a bit recently he was managing the Amber Rooms in Exeter but I think he was sacked & works in Oddbins in Bristol????
October 5, 2007 at 7:49 am |
This is brilliant! I have just been loving reading the stuff on this site! Bringing back so many amazing memories.
I used to work at the tiergarten in bath with vanessa. Most of us from the club went to a majority of the lazy house parties and all the festys mentioned.
such good times!!!
Dom and Lisa how the hell are you both?
man that was funny reading about you and lisa meeting up. I remember that night!
Anyone know what mike pants is up to? Messy sketchy funny days. Those m25s. Tattoo shop next to your apartment and the bright idea jim had to tat himself after a large night out.
Striped trousers!
October 22, 2007 at 6:08 pm |
Hi Leon,
Mad to see that you left a message mate!
We’re both fine thanks -haven’t seen you for years!!
Those were the days eh??
What you up too?
Email me:
Cheers mate!
http://www.myspace.com/domspiral
October 26, 2007 at 8:00 pm |
ohh my god!!!! have been looking for this site for ages! how i loved hornblotten house (there were toadstools and everything!!) or maybe i was just too messy! i was prob bout 17 at the time! ha ha! remember having the best nite, also did castlemorton, smeatharpe, lechlade, loads of dirty parties, bath somerzet etc!!!! wish i was there now xx
November 3, 2007 at 6:31 pm |
Maybe a reunion party is in order, everyone has still got their tunes and we have a nice rig.
November 4, 2007 at 10:35 am |
parts of our lives we would never wont to change, very fond memories if i could remember them, travelling miles on a sat afternoon to set up for sat night was all part of the buzz, happy times, i was with the yeovil posse that had the sounds PRIME
November 15, 2007 at 5:00 am |
A reunion would be awesome!! But please, no M25’s I don’t think my body could take them again.
November 18, 2007 at 2:39 am |
a lot of scatterd dreams or am i confused with memoreys wat ever they were i owe a hugh gratitude to all the wicid lovely people thatever graced these scenes alwaysand forever justin .:O)
November 18, 2007 at 2:45 am |
It`s bin so so nice to read all these responses that we`re gonna oraganise a reunion free party with our rig and as many of the original dj`s and party people we can get together….Get in contact with as many lazy bastards you`re still in contact with and let`s do it…..
Email deepcartel@yahoo.co.uk
November 25, 2007 at 5:40 am |
oh man! I would so come to that!! But i am now living in Los Angeles and that would be a hell of a drive and a pretty lonely convoy for me! But i shall put the word about! It has to be done!
November 27, 2007 at 12:33 am |
proper party’s. one of the couple i remember was in a quarry in the vale of glamoran. I’d come back from a holiday in the south of france , been driving for nearly 26 hrs and went straight to the party. we’d been lissening to the only tapes we had in the car for the previous two weeks, which were one of Aaron and the other of Bazil. so it seemed fitting to just carry on.
my kid’s now grown up still knows the tapes as the french tapes when I put them on.
I’m hosting them on soulseek – user zog, or search for lazyhouse.
December 17, 2007 at 10:59 am |
Best memories. Lazy to the soul. x
December 20, 2007 at 1:00 am |
This site has brought back sooo many memories we ( Grant, Jason, the late Lee Edwards and Max) used to go to many of the free parties, met so many great people…. Fucked if i can remember any of thier names though hehe….
January 2, 2008 at 2:09 am |
aargh! lent a “lazy house” tape to a mate and never saw it again.
haunted for the last 12 or so years trying to find some of the tracks… so it must have been good.. right!!
March 6, 2008 at 7:31 pm |
Remember it all, Upfront at Axminster, Exmouth Pavillions, Lazy House, DIY parties, going in to Mighty Force in Exeter to get tapes and poppers. Miss it all like fuck!!! Anyone remember the legal all-nighter at Escot near Honiton? Got hundreds of flyers for free parties all around the South-West from 1990 to 1992ish. Bring it back like it used to be
freepartypeople says:
If you can scan any of those flyers that would be a welcome addition to the site …
Probably danced right next to you at some of the above
March 8, 2008 at 11:06 am |
some body build me a time machine!! so many wicked memories off my head dancing on a welsh mountain kicking tunes great people what more could you ask for? tipi valley, tal y bont, trefil, too many to mention.
I remeber aaron opening catapult records down stairs in side walk, selling about 2o records, i bought some awesome tunes off him, diy classics!!!
the crimanal justice
killed our culture!!!
rEspect to all people that made it happen, DIY, FREEBASS, LAZY HOUSE, SACRED GROOVES, ADE, GRIFF, BART, GUZZY, RICHIE, SHAUN, ,MARTIN
LOVE TO YOU ALL!!!
April 1, 2008 at 12:30 pm |
The framed picture on the wall of Mighty Force in Exeter was a crowd scene taken in the main marquee at the DiY New Year’s Eve 1992/3 party in Bath. That tent belonged to a guy called Matt with a platinum tooth. Took me until 4pm-ish of the actual day to track him done and give him directions to the site!
April 2, 2008 at 4:32 pm |
messy and sketcky for sure!!!
I used to travel down to Street near Glastonbury from Derbyshire nearly every week with a friend called Simon.
Legendary Days!!! I feel so privilaged.
If anyone still sees 2 ladies called Donna and Ursula, send them both my love.
Peace to all xx
April 23, 2008 at 11:27 am |
Deep Cartel (editor’s note: actually it was me, freepartypeopleperson, who mentioned upfront, but I’ve edited the entry to try and make it clearer
)
The party you descride in Aminster ‘Upfront’ party sounds like a party i went to and helped with. From what I recall it was a guy called Jason’s birthday party. He worked for an Electrics company in Exeter and was going out with a friend Gemma in Ashburton at the time.
It was a pay party, £5 about right………
I remeber it was a blast.
Although I used to go to Exmouth in ye olde days I never atually made it to one of the Lazy house Parties. I did know Simon though.
Took my first pill in Exmouth, what fun…………
May 8, 2008 at 5:24 pm |
Yeah remember (sort of) DiY bash at the Pavilion met some Welsh bloke with some caps called transformers “don’t have more than 2 if ya drivin” F$*& me K i reckon, our driver had 2 needless to say we were going nowhere……Somewhere?…….. convinced some one we met that the car wasn’t nicked and blagged them to drive and ended up round some ones house , Jack playing ,wicked tunes ,finally got it together next arvo great times…..shame i lunched all my mix tapes livin in kernow would love to come to a party ;]
May 23, 2008 at 12:11 am |
The upfront party in Axminster was Jason warren’s birthday party Tinkerbelle. I can remember Max having his own stage to dance on was well funny
say hi to Gemma if you see her I aint seen her in years, not since she split up with Jason.
July 12, 2008 at 1:52 pm |
hi all, about 10 of us from bridport used to start off at the paradise club, honiton then drive all round the countryside looking for an old ambulance full of lazy house crew,leading us to the secret location, a clearing in the woods somewhere or in a feild just off the A303 once a quarry in devon.
remember asking someone for a nice rushy pill when we got there ’cause i wanted to get loved up, only to be sold a lose it pill!! geeza said” they’re strong so only do a half at a time” so after half an hour thought this aint very rushy, so snorted the other half… f@”k me… all the ravers turned into marching soldiers, tanks and all .came to, talking to some psyco therapist, said it was a good insight for his research.. me too. ha ha
still love all the tunez, shine on , passion , suit case at the door ,high – reach the sky , peace and harmony , brothers ans sisters etc.
so thanks again lazy house , great party’s, great tunze ,great people.
hi to all the totnes crew, i must off done all your heads in at some point, billied up, with all my philosophical bullshit, made sence at the time though. remember: stepping stones to our destiny.
August 22, 2008 at 9:35 am |
first free party was that party where we had to meet at the 3 counties pub and convoy to the site. went to the blackingstone rock, that new years eve party. the Lazy House also had a rig at Big Love in 93. this was where i found my music. then there the nights at the Burston that i fondly remember, just so blissed out.
September 3, 2008 at 8:07 pm |
I remember DJing at a lovely Lazyhouse party.
Quite a few of the PFP (People From Pepperbox) came down from Salisbury.
I think we’d heard from Mark at Mighty Force that we should visit because you guys had such a good vibe going.
And he was right….!
I met some lovely fluffy party people.
I was invited to do a spot on the decks for an hour or so, I think I ended up playing for 3 or 4! One of the most enjoyable sets I ever played for one of the best crowds.
I dropped Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” over an old acid track and caused mayhem!!!
You guys are some of the best….If you ever do a reunion…..you better let me know!
Love n hugs
Oli x
PFP
Salisbury
September 9, 2008 at 10:34 pm |
whooop! big mention to Sign On, full time mud squelching,back of beyond,shit kicking party vibe… great to read all these posts listing places and names from back then, I got a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye just thinking of generator wrestling at night in the woods!!! Nice to everyone from all those times, bring on the reunion…..
October 8, 2008 at 3:06 pm |
Went to my first lazy house party in Autumn 1993. The party was situated at the top of telegraph hill (just outside exeter). The party was down a long forest track which by the time we arrived was already jammed with cars. Loads of friendly peeps bobbing along to deep, spacey groovy house – top night, what I’d do to turn back the clock and do it all again.
October 10, 2008 at 1:15 pm |
Ah yes lazyhouse, with JT,Anton, Simon, Iain Lazy and his lady (was it tanya?) at festival in france when JT thought he’s been poisoned and started walking back to england (he never made it) but it was mostly the free parties but also pawlet and verbeer manor(s) and the infamous fiddington free parties. Ah yes.
January 21, 2009 at 2:37 pm |
Mental this is, getting back in touch with all of you from so long ago. Yes, the Lazy House parties were where it all started for me back in 1992 after my first pill at a house in March Green. Or was it…see, my memories are hazy indeed….I just remember everyone was so fecking loving and I’d never experienced that before. Simon, Scallops, Lisa, Shawn, Hardcore Helen, Penny, Mike, some that fell off the scene after the house got busted. There are so many of you and I only have one set of photos! Bridget has a part of the wall after it was knocked to become a housing estate. Those parties were just the best, brought out the best in everyone and was the place to be! Wicked….xxx
February 3, 2009 at 5:39 pm |
ah this is mad haha was lookin on the web bout exmouth and found this site about the lazy house…well wierd hearin stories bout it.ha. Aaron is me uncle…wish i had been around then sounds like it was laughs all the way
February 13, 2009 at 8:45 am |
Haha, no way! I went to a bunch of the lazy house, DiY, Sketchy crew etc etc parties 92-94… Moretonhampstead, Street Hill, Podimore, all over Devon and Somerset, it’s a bit of a tall order to remember where the hell we were most of the time though… and I seem to have forgotten the names of most people I met, oops..
Hammy, is that Hammy Hamerton?
Hornblotton House, haha i was there on Aug 1st 1993 I think it was, me and friends were somewhere down near Lyme Regis the night before, little outdoor party in Maisy’s barn, I think one of the guys from Global Communication was there.. we finally arrived at Hornblotton about 7am, proper going off it was.
I’ve been living in California the last 8 years and lost touch with pretty much everyone from those days, shout out if you know me alex [at] alexalcyone.com
May 10, 2009 at 5:40 pm |
My go Alex, how are you my brother, yes it is Hammy Hammerton (Actually spelt Hamaton but no bother the times were so sketchy I had to think for a second myself) Reading these memories is tear jerking but so cool. Love to all and make sure you let me know if there is a reunion
May 10, 2009 at 5:41 pm |
(That was meant to start My God) (-;
May 10, 2009 at 5:42 pm |
By the way Alex get in touch I’m on Facebook
May 19, 2009 at 9:35 pm |
I met some great people at lazy parties and at the squat itself . we used to go after Verbeer manor. still got friends from then today
October 16, 2009 at 12:34 pm |
Does anyone remember the spawnee posse parties around Somerset at the end of summer 92? Circus in Avion. Good parties.