THE STORY SO FAR…
3rd June 89 Crowland Road Part 1 in a time when raves were no more than parties in large dissused warehouses, Freedom began… two friends with a mission, bringing the parties to the masses was our aim and Freedom was born.
10th June 89 – Crowlands Road, Part II. The word had spread… our first show was a huge success, but only a shadow of great things to come. On the night of 10th June 1989 we changed from dance myth to warehouse rave legends. We started late by todays standard but, in the good old days, people raved til 3 or 4 in the afternoon. We opened the-door to the cheers of thousands of the original mental matey ravers. Those who were there realised this power – this energy had the power to change the system – and it did!!!
December 89 An East London Christmas Day. With so many police raids happening across the country people lost faith in the scene. This was a party strictly for the die hard raver. Time for a break, time to rethink and plan something special.
June 90 East London Factory. After a long break and with a new team, Freedom returned. Hundreds came, followed by hundreds more, to rave true East London style. One by one the raves across London were raided until we were the only rave going on… By 2am we were forced to turn away people. Freedom was back.
July 90 Farleigh Road Studio. Part I & II. With the ring of success in our ears. We turned to find another venue and after much searching we came across the perfect piace. With just 3 days promotion we attracted a large crowd but we knew we could do better. The very next week we went again. 1500 party goers raved all night without a single incident and only a stones throw from the local station.
Bank Holiday Saturday, August 90. Our success had reached the ears of the authorities. We were determined but they were even more so. Busted, raided, stopped. It all amounts to the same thing. It was time to return to the drawing board and plan again.
10th November 90 – East London Dance Studio – Part I We waited for the right time to strike it big time. From meeting points in Essex and Central London, the Freedom massive converged. Thousands came and were satisfied by the thumping beats of the underground. Part II, four weeks later, was more of the same but now the venue was getting a bit hot. Part III one week later saw our rave stopped at 5am by the local constabulary. What a shame… time to move on.
New Years Eve 90/91 Three weeks in the planning (Free Party). Yes a FREE party on New Years Eve while others charged £15-£25 we offered free entrance to our members and £10 for their guests. The first rave ever to be held in the Wonderland Arena. By 11pm the place was packed from roof to rafter – we greased the door to get a few more people in. MC Anomie gave a countdown to the midnight hour followed by the loudest roar you could imagine. On came Jumping Jack Frost and he tore the roof off with his best set to date. Till 7am 2000 plus saw in the New Year at Freedom’s once in a blue moon party.
26 Jan 91 East London, by now established as the heart of London raving, was the scene of the 1st Freedom rave of the new year. Packed in like sardines in a can, the ravers raved unstoppable pleasure al! night long.
Feb 91 With the invasion in the Gulf Freedom held a Peace Party, in an East London Studio, as a symbol of what the warehouse scene stood for. Peace, love, unity and having fun!!
Bank Holiday Easter Sunday – March 91 Many thought Freedom had lost their way, but we came back with an explosion of dance. The 1st ever legal bank holiday Sunday all-nighter. From all over England, thousands came to Marshgate Lane to experience the biggest Bank Holiday Sunday Rave to date. They queued for hours but it was worth every minute’s wait. Everybody who was anybody was there. The creme de la creme of the world’s finest DJs performed to an expectant crowd. A wildly appreciative crowd of over 3000 setting a standard which others have tried to follow.
April 10th 91 The Birmingham Experience was a rave too far? Was it the wrong venue? Who can say. Our faithful followers came from miles around but we learned a lesson and from then on stayed firmly in London.
21st Sept 91 – Wonderland Arena – Part II Freedom returned to London. This was scheduled as a warm up for a much bigger event planned for early October. The crowd loved it and we knew were ready for the big one.
5th October 91 Finally the big one – The time 11pm, 5th October 1991. The place, Michael Sobell Sports Audiodrum. The rave organisations Freedom and Telepathy. The biggest indoor rave ever hosted in Britain. True history in the making.
4th April After a long break, 6 months in fact, the heat had been on and it was time to chill out. Freedom returned in the heart of an industrial estate, at a venue later to become known as the Roller Express and had one Fuck off party that went with a bang.
Bank Holiday Sunday, May 24th 92 – Tasco Warehouse Part I Approached by another organisation who knew our pulling power, Freedom decided to join up with Rush to give our public what they wanted… a bank holiday Sunday bash the way it should be done.
Nov 28th 92 – Tasco Warehouse Part II Why so long? Venues were hard to come by but we finally got a break. Tasco Warehouse Part II created a hype of a kind not seen since the heady days of 89. By 9pm 1300 people were queuing up outside. Then…Calamity! The Blackwall Tunnel was closed at 9.30pm creating 10 mile tailbacks. What had promised to be a great event was only mediocre.
New Years Eve 93 Time to play the ace! Tasco Warehouse Part III – The trilogy. Freedom couldn’t have planned it any better. Tasco Warehouse had now become the best venue in the South East and those who took a chance and went elsewhere regretted it. The flyers were given out… the DJs were booked. The night arrived… the queues were beyond belief. So many expectant ravers Freedom had to open two entrances. The best rave ever hosted at Tasco Warehouse. And there the story ends!
