Fantazia Big Bang - Review 2

My fondest memory of going to raves still has to be The Big Bang at the SECC centre in Glasgow, it was my first rave and definitely the best. I heard about it first of all on the late Tom Wilson (RESPECT) show on the radio. I had heard all the Fantazia tapes from other events and watched the videos. Robbie Dee was always my hero on all the tapes he was wicked  and although he was not at this event I had heard tapes of the MC MC at  Helter Skelter and new he was wicked, Although I didn't realise how good he actually was.

My favourite tape of all time has to be Phantasy / SS from Fantazia Summertime Robbie Dee alongside Joe Peng, WICKED.  Anyway back to the Big Bang I bought my ticket the day they were released from 23rd Precinct in Glasgow and I remember thinking how good this was going to be.  All the DJs on the flyer were brilliant, I had tapes of them all. The flyer for the event was a cracker and I had a couple of them on my wall. I was  going with about 15 of my friends although I new a lot more who were going from my school.

We got mini-bus through to the event from Carluke.    I was  only 15 at the time but was right into the rave and drug scene. I remember when I first went in thinking this is unbelievable I could not believe the size of the whole event. The stage was absolutely massive with lasers and waterfalls on it, there was a massive fairground inside the arena and I remember thinking this is going to be a great night.

I had taken an E in the queue before I went in and it was just  coming up on me. I wasn't in long when this massive BANG occurred and the Magnificent MC MC shouted out for the kick off to the event he shouted Noise Noise Noise Noise Fantazia, the whole place erupted and I couldn't believe the atmosphere in the arena. Shades of rhythm were the first PA to come on and as they always seemed to they rocked the place with some old classics like Burning with Ecstasy. Superb. Then came on the old Newcastle Hardcore nutter Bass Generator who always seemed to have a special relationship with the Scottish crowd because of the way he always  rocked Rezerection. As usual he did not disappoint and as always was helped along by the Mc Sneaky Eye.

After that I thought I better chill-out for  awhile and went for a shot on the waltzer what a buzz when you are full of E. Scottish PA Q-Tex have got to be praised for the way they rocked this event and in my opinion they were the best. When they finished off their set with The Power of Love I just remember a big rush running down my spine and looking across the arena, all you could see were hands and lightsticks, AMAZING.

Carl Cox was also a star of the show as he put in another faultless set playing some old classics and as Cox does time and time again bringing in tunes that nobody as ever heard before. MC MC was absolutely amazing when Carl Cox was on as really he was all night but with Coxy he really put on a show for the Fantazia crew I don't know  where he got the energy from. He truly was the lyrical master. The atmosphere inside the arena was special and there was no trouble at all, everybody you spoke to were loving every minute of it.

Ultrasonic came to the stage with a big game plan and although the sound seemed to be turned down by that time they were still brilliant and the magnificent  Obsession was their highlight.  Mickey B was left to finish off the event and he rocked it with a set of old school classics one after the other. It was  a long night and by the end of it I was absolutely knackered. The drugs always help you along but by the end everyone just wants home.

A Brilliant night put together expertly by Fantazia RESPECT I bought the video of the event as soon as it came out and was not disappointed Q-tex performance still sends shivers down my spine when I watch the video to this day.

I had all the tapes and of course the Carl Cox tape is without doubt one of the best tapes ever. A couple of weeks ago I bought the whole evening on CD on the Fantazia website and it was worth  every penny. BRILLIANT.     

Review by Stuart Boyd