**new** rare unseen Eclipse and Raindance footage!!!

AN ORIGINAL HARDCORE MASTERPIECE

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...

• 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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Event Name: Eclipse

Event Promoters: Groove II Promotions (David & Stuart Banks), Unit 6 , Coral Park Industrial Estate, Cambridge, CB1 3EA

Event Venue: The Corn Exchange, Wheeler Street, Cambridge City Centre, CB2 3QB

Venue Capacity: 2000 of East Anglia's Maddest Ravers!!!

Ticket Price: £11-18 + Booking Fee

Running Times: Monthly from May 1990 to June 1993. Usually 9pm till 6am

Main Room: Original Hardcore

Resident D.J's: Stuart Banks, Gappa G, LTJ Bukem, Pauly C, Lez, Jo Jo Rock, Doug Osbourn, DJ Unity, Ian Stratton, Trimma, PH1, Mutley, Tony Ford, Lee Coombs, Treble D

Regular Guest D.J's: Ray Keith, Phantasy, Ellis Dee, Slipmatt, Kenny Ken, Jumpin Jack Frost, Evil Eddie Richards, Randall, Carl Cox, Seduction, Jam Master Jay, Swan'e, Fabio & Grooverider

Resident M.C's: Ron Jon & Madness

Guest M.C's: Daffy (Original Eclipse M.C.), Contagious, Lipmaster, Conrad, Mad P, Robbie Dee, Screech, Mr C, Juiceman, Bassman, Jay J (SL2) & Funki C

Level 2: Progressive & Alternative

Resident & Guest D.J's: Brandon Block, Marc Bennett, SW1, Tim Biggs, Nicky Holloway, Chris Brown, Tony Petchell, Jools

Sound & Lighting: Awesome 30k Turbo Sound, State of the art lazers, Usual array of flowering strobes, Pulse lights, Arclines and Roboscans

Visual Entertainment: Full colour projectors with live video scratching, Large UV backdrops, Giant rotating cubes, Massive inflatables, Sexy on stage dancers

Security: H Team (Firm but Friendly)

Key Events: May 12th 1990 (First Eclipse), May 11th 1991 (1st Birthday - 6am Licence Granted), Dec 31st 1991 (New Year Indoor Fireworks), Apr 25th 1992 ( Introduction of Open Stage), May 30th 1992 ( 2nd Birthday Bash - The Eclipse Laser Battle), 24th Oct 1992 ( Jo Jo Rock - First Female DJ), 15th May 1993 ( 3rd Anniversary), 19th June 1993 ( Dreamscape - Last Eclipse).

Who remembers those wicked choons??

THE ECLIPSE ANTHEMS - PLAYLIST

Liasions D - Future FJP, GTO - Pure, D Shake - My Heart The Beat, 2 Xtreme - Xtremity EP's, Homeboy Hippie & Funki Dredd - Total Confusion, Bitin Back - She's Breakin Up, Zero B - Lock Up, All In One - Mama's Kick, Anthill Mob - Antology, Avenue - Ice Cubes, EQ - True Devotion, Frequency - Kiss The Sky, Doc Scott - Surgery, Cybersonic - Technarchy, Chaos & Julia Set - Scud Beats, Ragga Twins - Hooligan 69, Reel 2 Reel - BTA Vol 1 B3, Babylon Timewarp - Durban Poison, Seduction - Hardcore Heaven/You And Me, Cleptomanics - Postive Feedback, Destroyer - Senses, FXU - The Scheme, Badman Presents NDX - Come With Me, Break Boys - My House Is Your House, Cappella - Everybody, Between The Grooves - Compression, Cartouche - Feel The Groove, Alex Lee - Take It, Prodigy - Your Love, Blame - Music Takes You, Exodus To Paradise - Roket, Invisible Men - Indulge EP, Jonny L - Hurt You So, Hedgehog Affair - These Are The Sounds Of House, Top Buzz - Livin In Darkness, Mad Ragga John - Bad Boy, Project 1 - Smokin, Psychotropic - Hypnosis

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