**new** rare Eclipse, Raindance and United Dance footage!!!

AN ORIGINAL HARDCORE MASTERPIECE

"This One's Dedicated To The Old Skool Crew"

I started out in 1989 attending some of the now infamous 'Summer of Love' raves such as Energy, Biology and Sunrise. I then carried on moving with the times and progressed to the Hardcore events which exploded onto the scene in early 1990.

These included some of the best parties ever to be staged like Raindance (Jenkins Lane), Amnesia, Fantazia and Perception.

It was around this time I started to regularly attend the now legendary 'Eclipse', staged monthly at the Cambridge Corn Exchange. It soon became a way of life and quickly built up a huge reputation as one of the best with it's own army of die hard ravers. All the top DJ's were there, alongside a core of local residents which included original warehouse technicians Pauly C, Doug Osbourne, DJ Lez, Chris Brown, Jo Jo Rock, Unity, Lee Coombs and organiser Stuart Banks - who alongside brother David made it all work. Eclipse ran for over three years between May 1990 and June 1993 and paved the way for the Cambridge/East Anglia scene.

When the scene started to split, with Hardcore going one way and Drum 'n' Bass going the other, I began to go to some of 'new' events appearing such as ESP Dreamscape, Helter Skelter, Temptation and in 1995 Stevenage's United Dance.

As the scene continued to progress, the music started to change with Happy Hardcore becoming faster and harder (Techno-like) and Jungle/Drum 'n' Bass darker (Moody-like) I felt it was time to move on.

Then finally after World Dance NYE 1995 held at the Docklands and falling in love with 'Ken Doh's Nakasaki EP' I got into the House and Garage scene where I found the music at a tempo I enjoyed with an 'old skool' feel.

Superclubs were now the place to be as I went to Miss Moneypennys, Sheffield's Gatecrasher and Progress. Closer to home it was regular haunts such as Club UK and Kink (Ipswich), The Whitehouse in Newmarket and Milky Lunch at the Norwich University.

More recently I can be found at the smaller local clubs and bars in town, but still searching for the right vibe in order to have a good night. So when it comes to the dance scene and clublife there ain't nothin I ain't seen...!!! Peace.

CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL GROOVE II ECLIPSE WEBSITE AT...

www.groove2.co.uk

History - The Full Groove II & Eclipse Story Eventology & Facts The Corn Exchange Profile Club UK & Kink Section The Cambridge Rave Scene Full Flyer & Photo Gallery Memorabilia Collection Event Reviews DJ Biographys & Profiles Video & Audio Downloads Rare Merchandise Forum Nuff Said!!

Big Respect To Dave Banks For Making It All Possible
On Stage At Eclipse - Recorded Live On Saturday 11th July 1992 - See More In 'My Videos' Section - All Videos Feature Original Audio - No Dubbed Rubbish Here :)

ECLIPSE - A BRIEF HISTORY: As the scene in the UK began to grow, particularly East Anglia and the Cambridge area so did the demand for dance parties and raves a like. It was during this time, the late eighties and early nineties that a ‘new generation’ of club culture was born. Progressing and evolving from the acid house events came a new wave in the dance industry that was to take this country by storm.

Influenced by many of London’s well-known M25 parties, Cambridge began to establish and match some of the best-staged parties taking place throughout the land. One of these organisations leading the way was local brothers David and Stuart Banks. These boys got involved in the early illegal scene and together with a group of regular talented DJ’s produced some of the best warehouse raves ever to be staged in the South East.

Soon the Police began to stamp these events out and unless something ‘legal’ was done it would inevitably spell the end of this scene for sure. Thinking ahead Stuart and David decided to approach the Cambridge Corn Exchange management and in time apply for a licence to promote a legal party there. Little did they know that this ‘one off’ event would become the benchmark for the modern rave scene in the region and probably the whole of the country as we know it.

It was on Saturday 12th May 1990 that the newly formed Groove II Promotions launched ‘Eclipse’ onto the scene. The attractions they offered were set to a standard that was to prove unmatched to this day and along with the best in musical entertainment it was to become unbeatable! All the top DJ’s graced Eclipse throughout the time it ran and for many it was ‘the launch pad’ that made them what they are today.

For the next three years Eclipse grew in stature and quickly became a name to be reckoned with. This led to further ventures including big all-nighters, club tours and other events as well as the illustrious ‘Eclipse Outdoor Raves’ which attracted well over five thousand party goers, making it alongside some of the established greats on the circuit like Starlight, Dance Planet and Vision to name but a few!

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