Vince Vega on Blackburn Raves, Hacienda Nights, & Happy Mondays Tours
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- Опубліковано 5 лют 2025
- In this in-depth conversation, I sit down with Vince Vega to explore his incredible journey through Manchester’s rave scene, from his early experiences of the iconic Hacienda nightclub in 1988 to becoming the tour DJ for The Happy Mondays. Vince shares his first unforgettable rave night at The Thunderdome, where he dropped acid and danced the night away, leading him to a life dedicated to Manchester’s underground party culture.
Vince recalls the secret Blackburn Raves in 1989, detailing how he and his friends would follow convoys of cars to hidden warehouse parties. With the police chasing them down one-way streets, they felt like they were on an adventure. These illegal raves were a turning point in his life, introducing him to the highs and chaos of a scene that was just beginning to explode across the UK.
As the rave scene grew, Vince spent nights at The Hacienda, Thunderdome, and eventually, new venues like Shelly’s in Stoke, where Hacienda DJ Sasha had relocated. He describes how Shelly’s became a refuge from the growing hostility of Manchester clubs, attracting a fresh crowd eager to embrace the new sounds of acid house and rave.
We discuss how Vince went on to meet Bez from The Happy Mondays and how he became their tour DJ by default, entertaining crowds between sets during their reunion tour. Touring the world with the band, Vince was amazed to see how far Manchester’s rave and music scene had spread, with people from Chile to Russia embracing the sounds that defined a generation.
Vince reflects on the charm of the early rave scene, where it wasn’t about famous DJs but about the music, the people, and the collective experience on the dance floors. We also dive into the darker side of the scene, including how tabloids demonized acid house and how government crackdowns on illegal raves pushed people back into nightclubs.
We chat about the evolution of Manchester’s music scene, from house to indie, and how clubs like South Nightclub and Lazy Lil’s offered fresh energy with diverse music. Vince also shares his experiences with his radio show, Sting FM, and how the rave community continues to evolve, even in today’s more commercialized festival scene.
From the highs of The Thunderdome to the global reach of The Happy Mondays, this conversation is packed with memories and insights into Manchester’s rich music history.
#ManchesterMusic #RaveCulture #HappyMondays #Hacienda #Thunderdome #AcidHouse #BlackburnRaves #UndergroundCulture #1980s #1990s #UKRave #DJLife #PunkToRave #SashaDJ #IllegalRaves #TheHappyMondays #ClubCulture #ManchesterScene #HouseMusic #IndieMusic
Loving these videos Paul , keep em coming kid!! X
Thanks mate , a couple of big face to face ones are being done over next few weeks x
Konspiracy was a crazy place too 😊
It wasn’t open long was it but it was mega while it lasted wasn’t it 😀
Blackburn raves were unbelievable, i never missed one 89, 90, set end, convoys, what a time when i think back it was just unbelievable pump st, Ewood mills , bubble factory, unit 7 , live the dream just to mention a few boomtown
More to come on this subject , keep your eye on my channel 😎
I was at live the dream. Ive got the t shirt. Never witnessed anything like it.
@@leahthefirst I’m hoping to do a video on Blackburn raves soon x
Great stories ... Just skimming the surface ........ Dreams of Santa Anna .......... Classic ...😀
Thanks. More to come on this 😎
Unit 7 was a very memorable night. Good times and memories in the Dome and at Blackburn.
More to come on that subject 😎
When we used to queue at the hacienda sometimes we wouldn’t get in so we used to swap clothes hats tops trainers and then eventually we would get in lol. I loved walking through them plastic sheets into that wall of sound and smoke. We used to dance with foot patrol as we used to be breakdancers so got into Chicago house as we could dance and get down like the breaking days. Then the acid scene came and boom madness
People forget it was hard to get in , loved that you swapped clothes ha ha. Foot Patrol were cool 😎
The hac had a good four year rave stint. Then it went downhill as quick as it had come. Brilliant interview.
@@leahthefirst thanks Leah x
Great interview, I was at a few of the later gigs mentioned, junction 16, Black Grape at granada ace memories. Love your stories Vince 🎶
I bet we stood near each other at Granada gig at some point 😀
Great listen this, cheers. I can relate to a lot from this, and your other interviews, and have learnt plenty of Manchester music and club history from them too. I was a bit younger - started in 1990 at Konspiracy, aged 16. Was an eye opener! Had been listening to House and Hip Hop from late 87 on Stu Allan’s radio shows. Went to The Soundgarden, Solstice 91 (Academy) then out of town to various gaffs. Went to Hacienda first time in late 93 I think it was. It was a ‘Back to 89’ night called Wide. I think there must have been quite a few original heads out, as atmosphere was top, It went right off to Liason D - Future FJP! Like you fellas, was also going indie nights after pub late 90s. Mainly The Venue and Brickhouse. I remember nights being listed in City Life magazine, which did both genres, being listed as “Indie and House” - when read out it sounded like you were saying “Indian House” 😄
Had a top time going out 1990 to 1995, but just wish I was a few years older and could have caught punk as a kid, the early casual football years as a teenager, and house scene from 87/88 into my early twenties - that age group got the proper golden ticket!
Thanks , mad isn’t it to think how we have probably stood near each other in the same venues . My route too was listening to Stu Allan 😀
@@PaulBSceneStories We have no doubt stood next to one another at a bar or shared a dance floor! Shared history. I caught the latter days of the Souled Out show, and another one called The All Night Beat with Stu and Chris Buckley. Then waited with my tape every Sunday for Bus’ Diss and the Garage & House Hour. A musical education from Stu.
@@manalive1623I’m doing one with Russ from Spin inn this week 😎
@@PaulBSceneStories Brilliant! Will be watching for sure 👍🙂
Cheers Paul brilliant video,thanks Vince
I loved doing this with you mate 😎
Monroes the park chorley..
One place I never went but I heard it was good 😀
I remember sting Fm and the dance music you speak of. I was fascinated with radio especially the pirates
They were massively important for unsigned artists
Respect
The Stu Allan show and Spin Inn top 10 were my way of discovering new Hip Hop and then House music 😀
Top lad Vince is. big love Carl MVITA❤
Yeah he’s really easy to talk to and cool 😎
Loved this interview. I had my epiphany at Blackburn too...Lil Louis Blackout 🤯 Looking forward to the next one, is it with Russ?
Next one I’m doing is Steve from Fast Cars. Tuesday Russ. I’ll probably release one of them Wednesday. I’m aiming for one a week so I don’t run out of guests, but - I have some pretty big ones lined up 😎
I remember a stabbing on the dance floor in the Hac it definitely was edgy at some point. We used to go in the toilets and take speed and drop acid 😂 after we would go to the after parties and then I’d drive home to Leeds and sometimes go to blues in chapel town
Yeah there was some dangerous people going in the Hacienda towards the end. I lived in Horsforth when I was a student , Chapel Town was notorious wasn’t it
High on Hope are mega event..... i am be next one in November
Tommy is on at the Frog and Bucket Wednesday if you are in Manchester. I will be there so come and say hello if you come x
Blackburn police had a different outlook than the manchester squad.
I’ve got a big one lined up for the Blackburn raves , watch this space x
One of my favourite Blackburn partys..
The revolution was not televised however these clips of videos from it certainly takes us back for that brief moment
ua-cam.com/video/8cAGWg1iiMs/v-deo.htmlsi=P5jl7qS_9Q7iCpe1
I’ll watch this later 😎
acid man jolly roger
Wow I haven’t listened to that track for many years . I just had to stop what I was doing then and listen to it on UA-cam 😀
Xxxx