In 1988, a new cultural youth movement, known as Acid House, swept across the UK. Was it born out of the disaffection of Thatcher’s Britain? Was it down to the new musical styles emerging from Detroit and Chicago? Or was it just all about The Drugs? Whatever it was, everyone wanted in on it, and before long, it felt like an entire generation was raving in a field with their hands in the air, dreaming of a Promised Land where we would all be Free.
Kate Magic was a teenager in those early heady days of acid house, and once the initial euphoric rush had subsided, and everyone had gone back to the job of integrating those experiences into regular life, she always wondered, what really happened then? Why was that time so pivotal for millions of us?
In 2007, she set about interviewing a wide spectrum of people who were in London between 1987-1992 and were caught up in the scene. This podcast is a collection of some of those original interviews and some new ones with some of our Acid House heroes.
Femi Fem is a DJ, producer and founder member of The Young Disciples. Femi was heavily influenced by The Paradise Garage, and was one of the key people who brought that NY House vibe over to London.
Jazzie B is a Dj, producer, and founder member of Soul II Soul. Although not directly acid house, their nights at the Africa Centre were about the same spirit of love, peace and unity, and their anthems Fairplay, Back to Life and Keep on Movin were staple tunes of every good party.
Phil sadly transitioned in 2021, a huge loss for our community. He was a DJ and producer who contributed massively through his music, his parties, and his love for the scene and the people in it.
Norman is a DJ and founder of Good Times sound system, with his brother Joey Jay. Theirs was the sound system brought in for the legendary Shoom parties which helped to kickstart the acid house phenomena.