Sunday, May 23, 2010

The Biology Event - Acid House 1989 (original footage)


This Biology event was held in Watford and totally illegal as was any Acid House event. I was actually involved in the management of the first open air Acid House in the UK. The meeting point was a pub called The Game Bird and i remember arriving with Biology promoter Jarvis in the pop band Bros limo. The pub owners were a lovely older couple though slightly freaked out by the surprise appearance of thousands of vehicles. Venue address or meeting points were rarely given to anyone that didn't need to know and the owners of this pub just didn't need to know.

Jarvis and i both introduced ourselves to the couple promising to leave security at the pub and assuring them that the masses of people congregating around their property were completely harmless. Public persona was so important for us when dealing directing with members of the public, especially when their first impressions of Acid House and party promoters were negatively impacted by the lies printed by the national press. So for sensible promoters who could foresee a future for bigger better and legal events, every liaison was handled with respect.

You see, it was important for the government to completely demonise Acid House because once branded and connected with serious crime such as drug dealing to teenagers, gangsters and even rape. The public outraged by newspaper headlines or tv news pieces would fully support all efforts to eradicate such behavior.  This meant a blind eye is turned while the government forced law enforcement agencies to treat promoters such as Genesis as enemies of the state.

This event was a milestone because it was illegal and unlike all our other events the actual stage was erected over 5 days so the police could've stopped it at anytime. Worried that we could be arrested if we fronted the event earlier in the evening we didn't roll up until the party was underway. After dropping Jarvis off i returned to the pub in the limo and picked up the pub landlords to show them the site. I handed them over to one of the female members of staff and had a mad old night which didn't finish until Monday A.M...

The full story of this event is in my book Class of 88 - The True Acid House Experience (Virgin)

2 comments:

martin andrews said...

Great book m8, Gives a great account of what was going on behind the scenes in them days.

oddball said...

I still have my Biology membership card from 88/89, number 008038. It is down to my best mate, Mr Simon B, that i have this. I recall the evening we visited a house, possibly that of one of the organisers, in a North London suburb, to pick up our membership. Sunrise, by The Beloved, was the tune of the moment
cheers Si