THE HISTORY OF AMNESIA
The house where Amnesia now stands was built at the end of the 18th
century. Five generations of the Planells family lived within its thick, whitewashed walls. They cultivated the land and built a mill out of stone.
During the first half of the 10th century the poor that came to beg,
received bread, cheese and dried figs.
The first foreign visitors to come to the island arrived towards 1950.
They were drawn to the island by rumors of its mysterious legends
and its breathtaking untouched nature. In 1954 people like Aristoteles
Onassis or Rainier of Monaco were startled by the beauty of the Pitiusan
coves. Ibiza then discovered tourism and began to prosper and grow.
However during the sixties the ones to really enjoy the island were the
hippies. They were the first to transgress. Idealists from all over the
world chose Ibiza or Formentera as their paradise to live in peace.
They listened to music, enjoyed the nature and smoked.
In 1964 the Rolling Stones spent a couple of days on holiday in San
Antonio. By now the island had more than five thousand hotel
occupancies. Europe convulses in May of 68 whilst the film More,
with music by Pink Floyd, filmed and inspired in Ibiza, presents the
island as paradise for drug consumption.
In March of 1970 the Planells family decide to end their long life in
the country and move to a flat in town. They sell their 'finca'
(country house) and the house to Maria Fuencisla Martinez
de Campos y Munoz (a widow from an aristocratic background).
This is when the most recent history of our discotheque really begins.
The island begins to enjoy a freedom unheard of in the rest of Spain.
The house soon to become Amnesia turns into a meeting point for
idealists and counter-culturists. The hippie's play in live bands and
amongst their friends, they dance till dawn, prepare vegetarian meals
and ecstasies with The Doors whilst smoking and experimenting with
LSD. They touched the heavens, organized art exhibitions and many
other events.
In 1974 a young man born in Madrid, with a degree in philosophy
came on to the scene, his name was Antonio Escohotado.
He arrives on Ibiza looking to start a new life. He is soon to be the
new apostle for the new drug experimentations.
On Nov 20th forty years of dictatorship end.
Franco dies and Juan Carlos the 1st is proclaimed king.
One fine day in May 76 Antonio makes a deal with the landlady
of the house and she rents it to him for 20.000 pesetas
a month. Now all that was left was to christen the discotheque.
He thought hard about this until he came across the name,
The Workshop of Forgetfulness. He wanted to express that when
people go out at night it is to forget their problems and indulge in
an unknown world far away from ordinary routine. The next day
he realized that just one word from Greek etymology explained
it all. This of course was Amnesia and that is how the islands most
authentic discotheque was born.
The summer of 78 Bob Marley gave an unforgettable performance
and 'new wave' begins to blossom whilst 'Saturday night fever'
shows its premiere release. Disco music heiress to the Philadelphian
sound, eclipses into rock and the rhythm at the disco's start a new
hedonist way of life. That year a manufacturer from Madrid named
Gines Sanchez takes over Amnesia. This seams was achieved by
other promoters during negotiations on the island. This is when a
decade of ups and downs begin, during which unexpected closings
of the discotheque are intertwined with glorious summers with the
crowd at its most and in full on competition against the other
discotheques, such as Ku (now Privilege), Pacha,
Glory's and Lola's (these last two no longer exist).
In the 80's a young Basque initially linked to Ku is become the
leading character in the most famous events in the old house
in San Rafael. The person in question is Prontxio Izaguirre who
brought fresh ideas to the nocturnal life and brought Amnesia
to spread its fame throughout Europe.
Almost in a breaths take the music changed from Led Zeppelin
to Bowie, from Springstein to Madonna and from Donna Summer
to Prince. The discotheque went from egg-carton soundproofing
to a new, captivating and powerful sound. This is when dance music
began and new trends and fusions. The line is faded between pop
and funk. Hip-hop is born along with break-dance and rap. Free style
in mixing is permitted and house is about to take over. The Ibizencan discotheques introduce the magic of open rooftops and the original
Balearic sound emerges and dj Alfredo Fiorito is the man heard.
The most important changes came from the hands of MFC at the
beginning of the 90's. The Berlin wall comes down and house music
becomes international. The night of the 22nd of June 91 is still
remembered to this day on the island. It's another day in history for re-openings. Thousands of young people invade Amnesia, labeling
the beginning of the last most fruitful times in this temple of sound.
The clubs of Ibiza start to become famous worldwide. Although due
to neighbors complaints the authorities oblige them to cover the
dance-floors, which had traditionally functioned in the open air.
Nevertheless Amnesias expansion is unstoppable. From four bars
it grows to sixteen, from thirty employees to more than two
hundred in mid summer. These include waiters, spectacular go-go
dancers', security, light-jockeys and office workers amongst others.
In 1999 the UN claims Ibiza cultural heritage. The island reaches
one hundred thousand habitants and the label Amnesia extends
from magazines to records, cloths, etc. Its fame grows like its
foam, that foam that names one of its most important performances.
Today in the 21st century who hasn't heard of parties
like 'Cocoon Club', 'La Troya Asesina' or 'Cream'? Disc-jockeys
like Sven Vath, Paul Van Dyk, Dj Tiesto, Danny Tenaglia,
Laurent Garnier or Carl Cox are just some of the legendary
stars to have passed through the dj booth.
Likewise the list of rich and famous that have been to the
disco during their summer holidays is endless... Naomi Campbell,
Puff Daddy, Dolce & Gabbana, Bono, Boy George, Elle McPherson,
George Michael, Valentino Rossi and Calvin Klein...
the gods of fashion and beauty.
One of the secrets to its success lies in the quality of its sound.
Today the discotheque has one of the most advanced sound
systems (Expanded Amnesia Technology) due to the dynamic
electronic process. Its function is to analyze and submit
frequencies that provoke the human body to feel sensations
that compare to having a sound massage... enjoy it!
J.T. Ibiza 04.
Check out videos of Amnesia!
Club Amnesia
Sven Vath live @ Amnesia (July 2006)
DJ Mar-T live @ Amnesia
Amnesia (girls/foam/Cream)
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