international news _ Jonty Skrufff _26th July 2005
Ibiza Revolutionaries Spawned Britain's Biggest Subculture
A new study of British youth cultures published this week has revealed that over six million Brits have at one point been active clubbers or ravers, making dance culture almost three times more popular than hip hop, punk or metal.
"22% of those who grew up during the glory days of dance culture (25-34 year olds) were/ are ravers/ clubbers and although the popularity of dance music has waned, it is still the most popular youth cult among the current crop of 16-24 year olds," the Observer declared. "The popularity of this particular cult might be attributed to its inclusiveness," they suggested.
In an unrelated article in the same issue the Observer listed Ibiza as the number one 'best holiday destination for meeting music makers' and dug out an old quote from acid house pioneer Johnny Walker about his now infamous1987 holiday there with Paul Oakenfold, Nicky Holloway and Danny Rampling, when the quartet discovered ecstasy and house music (or more specifically the combination).
"I remember seeing Paul Oakenfold and Nicky Holloway skipping round the club hand in hand, which they may deny now," Walker recalled, "We came back like disciples or salesmen for that experience."
Danny Rampling returned with similarly vivid memories of the trip, telling Skrufff several years ago of the specific moment he realised house music would change his life.
"As soon as I walked into Amnesia in Ibiza in 1987, that was it, irrevocably, that was 'the moment of change'; everything was complete," said Danny, "That changed it completely and it gave me inspiration to shape the dance scene in the UK. I took back some of that feeling to the UK and then started my own club and the rest is history," he said.
(Jonty Skrufff/Skrufff.com)
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