|
|
| Feature |
|
| They call it ACID |
|
|||||
| Interview | ||||||
| Adrian: Could you give the readers some background as to your connection with the Acid House scene? Gordon: I was 21 in 1988 and loved the whole Acid House scene - the music and the atmosphere at the parties was unique. I was lucky enough to get to know some of the DJs and promoters, so as a budding filmmaker I got to film at some of the early Acid House Parties. I always knew I wanted to do something with this footage and after 10 years of working in Television Documentaries I decided to put the material into a film, that was 1998, it took me till 2009 to finish it. Rocky: Initially I was a punter, going to clubs like Shoom, Future, Spectrum and The Trip in 87/88. I Started DJing with Diesel in June 88 at a night called Trance, at Barbarellas in Greenford and it all kind of snowballed from there... Dave: Basically, the main founders of the scene (Andy Weatherall, Terry Farley, Gary Haisman, Paul Oakenfold, Ian St Paul) all met at my flat in Shepherds Bush to discuss graphics for Boys Own and the clubs Future and Spectrum. Also the 'Raid' club which Pete Tong first started playing in '86. You could almost count on one hand who was clued up on this emerging scene at the time. You seem to have rounded up many of the originators within the House and Balearic music scenes from all over the globe - how did you put that together, and was there anyone you really would have loved to add? Gordon: We managed to track down and interview over 60 of the Acid House pioneers for the film. There are obviously people I would have wanted in the film that aren't there and some came close, like Grooverider who I finally found a path to just before he was put in prison for being naughty in the Middle East. Also, Graham Park, whose car broke down on the way to the interview and had to turn back. Given an unlimited budget I might have gone to the States and got more there, but you simply can't include everybody and I think the story tells itself well enough with who we got. |
How did you put together the concept for the film, and could you describe what that is? Gordon: The concept for the film was always - 'The Emergence of a Youth Culture'. This was always the most interesting thing for me; what elements are there and what are the catalysts that create it. It was that narrative line which I stuck to whilst editing, although I had much very interesting peripheral material. It's 20 years since the explosion of Acid House onto the music scene, however as early as 84/85 those monotonous beats could be heard in downtown Chicago, what effect do you think it's had on culture today? Gordon: Acid House was the birth of Rave and Rave culture has spread right across the globe. In the beginning I would ask the Americans if it really did come from here and they re-enforced the fact that although House Music and parties were happening in other places it was on a small scale - the culture was born here in The UK. Rocky: I think, that like Hip Hop before it, House is now just part of the mainstream. Every other advert has a House track in the background. Its still alive and kicking as far as a culture in itself goes. You only have to venture out in London any given weekend to hear some amazing new House being played by young, new DJs. Dave: I cannot begin to emphasize with how much that beginning has formed the present scene, and music world we inhabit today. Dance, house, techno, ambient, minimal, drum 'n' bass, acid, and grime you name it-it all stems from there. Plus never underestimate the influence of the underground Gay scene... after all that's where it started. My brother is gay and took me to Heaven in 83 - musically that scene was way ahead of anything the straight world was listening to. |
|||||
|
||||||
 |
||
| Beinghunted Home Current Affairs Archive Features About/Contact |   |
 |
