31st December 1992/1st January 1993 New Year’s Eve: DiY/Eze Love free party in Bath, Avon

This report was sent to me (together with lots more) by Mark (mharridge) aaaaaaaages ago. Thanks Mark, and sorry it took so long!

UPDATE: Here’s a tape of the party, in 2 halves, enjoy!

DJ_SIMON_DK_-_DIY_1992.12.31__a_.mp3

DJ_SIMON_DK_-_DIY_1992.12.31__a_.mp3

Incidentally, this party belongs to the long list of great parties I never made it to. Some of my friends went and had a whale of a time. Anyway, here’s Mark’s account of the night:

New Years Eve daytime having a smoke at Holmer’s house with Mr Wyer and one other(?) plans were made to head for the party that night Bath way. I called two other mates, Woody and Spence, and the mission was on. So, after waiting for Woodie to finish his washing up shift at the Jade restaurant we set off just after 11pm in Spencer’s white 405.

Before long we were hammering down the m5 and come 12pm the obligatory champagne made its appearance. After a quick refuel, we set off again reaching the party around 2am(?). Anyone who was out that night will remember it was absolutely freezing! The party though was in full swing and I remember being impressed by the t-shirted and sweaty bodies inside the marquee compared to the freezing people outside.

We soon realised that there werent any E’s on site – or so we were told and decided to plump for some hash and acid instead. This we did, scoring off a nice little ice cream van parked nearby. The night passed in acid, champagne and slate confusion and the rising sun showed the whole area to be wreathed in fog which was confusing many people by the looks of it. We made the brave decision to go and try and dance so after Spencer’s neatky executed 3 point turn and a close encounter with a large hairy pig we were inside the tent. All I remember is dancing with a insane grin on what appeared to be a 45 degree slope. Anyway, a good time was had by all

31st December 1992/1st January 1993 New Year’s Eve: Spiral Tribe free party in Uxbridge, London

freepartypeople says:

Thanks again to Amino Clang for another wonderful Spiral Tribe party report:

It was New Year’s Eve and it was already late when we left Dorset. The drive up to London was full of techno (the driver had a new mix tape from Aztek), but quite quiet and quite calm really. I had been wearing my “Lazer Spex” (y’know those glasses that makes everything look like it is surrounded by rainbows?) all the way and so when we finally found the car park where the convoy was gathering I was already in the zone.We were still in the car at midnight, so I dropped my pill there and then (well we were almost there and it was New Year’s). When we got to the party I stumbled out of the car, split a trip with a mate and wobbled off into the warehouse past some big lookin’ fellers who were trying to get money off munters, I don’t think I ever paid a penny, but then again I can almost guarantee that I didn’t have any!

What a venue! It was a nice big warehouse full of people, PLENTY of bass and quite a lot of UV light. I walked straight up to the front of the room and I knew we had made it because there were hundreds of Spiral Tribe stickers stuck up behind the decks (the ones with a big smiley SP23 face givin’ it double peace signs). Ah, home at last!

We found a spot and settled down to a hard night at it. Most of my night was spent dancing, juggling, wandering about with a lighter in one hand and a Vicks inhaler in the other, my Lazer Spex never came off, my smile never left my face and I spent a wonderful night wobbling about meeting new people, grinning and raving (“Alright mate? What’s your name? Where you from? What you on?” – I blame these years for the major troubles I have trying to remember people’s names). The night is still a bit of a blur for me to be honest, but that was just the way it was!

In the morning (well the sun had come up anyway) I have a few more lucid memories:

1. I remember sitting watching one of the lights as it shone on the wall trying to work out how it made the patterns that it made. I don’t think I ever really got it, but I do remember that there was an oil projector (totally 60’s psychedelia man!) and a crazy sort of spirally light that made patterns a little bit like a spirally spider on the wall.

2. I remember really getting into dancing when there was a bit more space on the dancefloor in the morning. I remember being absolutely wiped out, but the driving beats just kept coming and no matter how much I wanted to sit down, the music just kept me going. The more I danced the more energy I found and the more ferociously I danced. The music was fuckin’ bangin’ and I think it was a female DJ with a skinhead who was playing the most mental hardcore industrial techno you could get (my personal favourite).

3. I remember lots of people coming up to me and saying “See you at the next one mate”, “Lovely to meet you”, etc. I swear that I did not recognise any of these people, but I had been quite the friendly raver the night before, so I just politely said “Bye then!” and went about my raving.

4. I remember rumours flying about the place about somebody firing a gun. Don’t know if this is true because I certainly never saw it, but I heard the rumours.

5. I remember eventually being told that we were leaving. I have never been very good at leaving a party and despite my protests and my general lack of understanding I got into the car and off we went (“But why do we have to leave?”).

About 7 years after this party I met my girlfriend (of 9 year now) and the reason we first got together is because we discovered that we had both attended this same Spiral Tribe party and possible even met each other or at least saw each other or raved next to each other. Neither of us remembers the other one, but Spiral Tribe definitely brought us together… almost 10 years after the party.

Her story is considerable more cosmic than mine (involving missing lifts, missing the last bus home, having no money at all, but finding a purse with enough for a bus fare in it, meeting up with some strangers who were going and eventually making it to the party. I will try to get her to write it up, but no promises).