"Freedom To Party" campaign marches in London against the "Increased Penalties" bill. 8,000 people gather in Trafalgar Square to hear speeches from the main promoters, Wayne Antony. Tony Colston Hater, Dave Roberts, Jarvis Sandy, Obsession fm and othe pirate station reps. Amplified music is banned by the Police. Debbie Malone sings "Rescue Me" accapella. MC Chalky White is arrested as Police bring the demo to a close. Obsession fm create a live broadcast and fully cover the protest but the tabloid press make no mention at all! Later that night a warehouse in Radlett is cracked by Weekend World. They are joined by Sunrise, Genesis and Biology for a free party organised in just a few hours. Police road block the convoys and running battles between the Police and ravers trying to get into the building result in it being allowed to continue until 9am.
January
James Perkins teams up with Chris Griffin to hold some nights in Cheltenham called Cage Blackburn's illegal warehouse scene continues to grow with the Revenge and Hardcore Uproar parties.
February 24th
Tommy Smith and Tony Creft's run of Blackburn raves ends in a warehouse at Nelson, Nr Burnley. 200 riot Police raid the party while there are over 10,000 people inside.
On the same day Resurrection in Cobham becomes a disaster when the prohibited rave turns into a riot. Dave Thomas (DJ Bizzle T), Otiz F. Angel, El-Chicano Matt Crushaw & Dirty B are just a few to be arrested.
A few legal nights then follow at Malfoy's nightclub before this too is shut down.
March 17th
Chris Griffin holds the first Perception at the Brunel Centre, Bristol.
June 9th
Brave New World, nr Blackburn Amnesia House are joined by Mickey Lynas (Bambam's brother) and they start to hold nights at the Coventry Sports Connection.
June 22nd-24th
At the Glastonbury festival travellers start hooking up with inner city sounds systems like DiY.
A new and powerful trend evolves with travellers entering the rave scene. With sound systems these events were free festivals. Again a loop hole in the law is exploited.
As these are free festivals the 'Pay Party Unit' has no powers. It's now 'mass trespass' or 'breach of the peace' both difficult to enforce when there are so many people – especially if many are travellers.
July
Increased Penalties Bill is passed. Penalty for organising an illegal event is raised to £20,000 and 6 months imprisonment.
'Introspective' at Longton Leisurebowl.
Sindrome, started by Martin Redmond and DJ Bod becomes the first weekly Saturday night at Shelleys, Longton, Stoke-on-trent. The club up to this point has been 'the local sharon & tracey meat market'. Along side the other residents Unknown DJ and Steve Warner guests on the following weeks include Derrick May , Ritchie Hawtin, Colin Dale, Jam MC's, Neil Macey, Dave Angel and Tony Ross.
After Amnesia House "One Step Beyond" at the Sports Connection a young man from Leicester dies. This is the Matthew in Friends of Matthew - Out There.
July
About 836 ravers are arrested & detained at the Love Decade party held at Gildersome in Yorkshire. This remains one of the biggest mass arrests in British history. Only 8 are actually charged with anything! Police attempt to shut down the Hacienda for a death in the club. After a lengthy court case the Hacienda stays open but has lost its original atmosphere as Manchester's (now called "Madchester) gangsters take over the drug scene.
August 10th
"The rave scene is just a fad. It will be over in 3 months" claims Superintendent Mick Bromwich of the Coventry Police. Years later he has been proven to be a very foolish man.
August 23rd
Amnesia House hold "Sky Blue" their last party at the Sports Connection, Coventry.
September 1st
Pirate radio station Kiss becomes Britain's first legal dance music radio station then sells out completely to commercial pop.
Alex Patterson (later of the ORB) and Jimmy Cauty (KLF) take over DJing in the VIP room at Land of Oz (held at Heaven in London). They play a weird mix of film music and animal noises! Ambient house is born.
Delight at Shelleys in Stoke-on-Trent with resident DJ, the then virtually unknown Sasha. Shelleys rocks to Sasha's blend of techno and rushing pianos every Friday (after it closes so do Knutsford & Hilton Park motorway service stations!).
October
Spiral Tribe (Mark & Alex Harrison, Debbie Giffith & Simon Feeney) hold their first squat party, Detention, at an abandoned school house in London. They take the name (or so the story goes) from a spiral shaped fossil Mark had found.
October 13th
The legendary Eclipse opens at Lower Ford Street, Coventry. Britain's first legal all night rave club. The club is packed all night every Friday & Saturday. December Obsession Fm closes down. After a final bust, Obsession cannot recuperate. The arrests at Resurrection ends in the radio station having a vulnerable administration team and forces the station to end their programme.
November 24th
284 Ravers arrested as the Police raid the Mad Hatters Tea Party in Burnley, Lancashire
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