RavinEye Magazine. issue #48. August 2012

​

Dizstruxshon’s 20th birthday (The last ever Dizstruxshon)

Every so often the rave scene throws up an event with gargantuan significance. Dizstruxshon were celebrating their 20th year in the hardcore business, which in itself is noteworthy, but this would also be the last Dizstruxhson event ever. With a birth in 1992, there are few events around today that are older than the Full Effex team’s; and of those events, not one can claim to have promoted events constantly over the last two decades without a rest. This truly was the end of a substantial chapter in hardcore’s history.
The impact this event has had on a plethora of ravers over the years, especially within the northern scene, was clear to see leading up to the event. Performers and ravers alike left emotional messages across the social network world. It was sad for me on a personal level too; as the first rave I ever attended was Dizstruxshon, back in 2000. ‘Diz’ events, along with Helter Skelter, were usually the cassette of choice in my Walkman as a young kid at school and it was also the setting for the highlight of my very modest DJ ‘career’, when I was given the opportunity to play at The Baths Hall. Dizstruxshon created memories I’ll never forget and I’m sure the same can be said for anyone who had ever been involved with the promotion in some way or the other.
The line-up for this monumental party surprised me at first. Despite the big names booked, I was expecting nothing but headlining national and international artists. Then Dizstruxshon’s intentions became clear. It would’ve been so easy to fill each arena with headliners from start to finish, which they’ve done in the past, but this was a very special party and the idea behind the line-up for the last ever event was to stick to their roots. 10 of the 13 original Howden era artists were given a slot and; with the likes of Topgroove, E-Spy, Ade-J, Easy D, Vorny, Hooley and Simz playing alongside old favourites such as Sy & Unknown, Vibes, Stu Allan, Joey Riot, Marc Smith, Scorpio, Billy Bunter and Kurt; this line-up smacked of Dizstruxshon.
The night in question had everything I have come to expect from this northern giant. Stilt walkers, fire dancers, lasers and three arenas of some of the finest raving décor in the country (those who’ve ever been to a Dizstruxshon within the last decade will know that’s not simply an idle claim).
To comment on every act’s set would be to take up far too much space in this review, especially when all that needs to be said is that every set I encountered from Stu Allan’s to Marc Smith’s was being enjoyed to the fullest. On a personal level, of course, there were a few sets that stood out enough to warrant their own specific mention. First of all I’d like to express pure delight in the surprise inclusion of DJ Spinner, who wasn’t on the flyer to play. I’m not certain who he replaced but as a big fan of Spinner’s sets for well over a decade, I wasn’t complaining. He provided the dancefloor with some quality bouncy techno, including The Stunned Guys remix of Happymen’s ‘Love is you’ which never fails to get me brocking. Another enjoyable set, also in the Retro-spekt old skool arena, was Vibes’. The West Ham man span classic after classic for the older Dizstruxshon raver. Over in the epic main arena, with its warehouse feel, were Sy & Unnknown who’d opted for a set full of post-2000 slammers. They started their set with Scott Brown’s popular remix of ‘Bring me round to love’ and didn’t hold up as they continued to shower the dancefloor with classics.
Just as they were doing this particular night, thousands of Dizstruxshon enthusiasts over the years have enjoyed Sy’s sets there. He’s been a popular booking choice for Full Effex since the beginning and took the time to share his thoughts after the final event:
“It’s been an honour to have been part of the rave legacy that is Dizstruxshon over the past 20 years. Stu, the owner & promoter, is a top fella, and he’s managed to keep his organisation at the top of the game up in the NE of England for all this time. Respect to that man, and also of course to all the ravers who have supported him and his events.”
As the music wound down and the smoke machine engulfed the front stage, and much of the dancefloor, the realisation hit that there’d be time for just one last track. Stuart; the promoter, who couldn’t possibly have imagined in 1992 the impact his event would have on so many people, was presented with an engraved tray and then proceeded to drop the very last track himself. The record was of course ‘Violet rain’, otherwise known as the Dizstruxshon anthem. The man behind it all had this to say:
“I’ve had the most amazing 20 years of my life running Dizstruxshon. Running such an event has taken me to so many places, and met so many fantastic people along the way. I’ve worked with just about everybody in the UK dance scene, DJs, Producers, MCs, Sound, lighting, laser and other technicians who have all played a major part in what has been one of the main players in the northern dance scene. Of course my biggest thanks goes to every raver that set foot through our doors and paid their entrance fee. These are the people that really built this event. Without them none of it would have been possible. We at Full Effex were merely driving the vehicle that was fuelled by their passion.”
Back at The Dome; the lights came on, the sound petered out and that familiar ear-buzzing daze that accompanies the end of a rave had arrived. This time, though, it wasn’t just the end of the night…It was the end of Dizstruxshon.

​

By
Wedgy

(I spoke to a few people on the night and can’t fit everyone’s quotes in, so check them online with this link if you get the chance.)

http://thelastdizstruxshon.weebly.com/