Slammin started for me at about 6am on Friday when I had to get up to go and catch the bus, a very tasty journey and arriving at about half three to be greeted by Peter, Kev and Thx... After quickly hoping straight on the train and then getting busted for not having a ticket as soon as we got off, I could tell that this was gonna be one hell of an interesting trip. We first headed to the bank for me cause I had come to London totally broke and without a ticket, hense the reason why I was in 'oh shite' mode, after blagging and being successful we went back to Kev & thx house and met up with Charm (scarry) and Viking (sound) before heading back to Kings Cross, where we basically met half of the meetup crew.. shouts to Maxim (with dodgy green hair), Bug (looking pissed as a fart), KRS (dido), Caine (with an unusual attraction to his smiley) and the rest of them who I just can't put names to. On seeing the venue to me (cause it was my first time) I was quite suprised, it looked like a pub and there where already plenty of ravers down there, so we just kinda got in the cue and waited like little lemons.. and boy was it cold... Got in quite fast, about half nine-ish and the security team where nice, so we just kinda got rid of our bags and did on as quick as we could into the hardcore arena, I really felt quite sorry for Breeze cause really he came and went and only saw about 40 ravers who at this point wheren't even dancing.. I got a whistle and decided to explore. Bagleys was a funny lay out really and you found quite a lot of people not having a clue where say the techno arena would be (which was where I intended to set up camp) and Mark E-G was in there playing music which was about as loud as my 40w stereo, he was still jumping around like a mad bastard (no change since Hysteria then) and everyone was sort of hugging around him trying to hear what the hell was on.. suddenly there was an explosion and the sound went thru the roof, we all just cheered and started chanting 'MARK E-G!! MARK E-G!!' I guess big shouts go to the sound crew here, I stayed for as much of his set as I could before wandering back outside where it was freezing as hell for the meetup, I got some chips to warm me and and then I went round suprising everyone who sorta went 'shit wow.. gawd.. you turned up'. We all then headed back into the hardcore arena, where Force and Styles where suprisingly pullin off a pretty decent set, it wasn't as cheesy as usual so I stayed and stomped for about 30 minutes before gettin me face painted and heading back down to see the end of Mark E-Gs set. And on came Clarkee who started it off nice and hard with his usual blend of hard acid techno. Before I knew it, it was time for *another* meetup and photo time.. S-Scape and his obsession with a camera, big groupie shots (can I destroy then?) - maxim looking completely fucked, Pete also, Kev with a big grin (nothing new), Caine still humping his smily, bug looking really ill, KRS probably looking normal (heh.. mongy), Pi0 looking really laid back and cool, Joe looking particually short (I thought it was a myth), the fake Chedda (oi oi), Darkcyde looking grinny and Andy who gave me a informative lecture about army life (big respect).. I'm sure there as more of you but you know.. I'm trying to remember.. heh I then headed off with Darkcyde who managed to get us backstage (cheers) where I met Brisk (grin and punch), Dougal (pulling anything female with a pulse) and Vibes (who was really friendly.. init) after that it was back downstairs with KRS for the last 15 minutes of Clarkee, where who would turn up but the one and only Sharkster.. who got the same chanting treatment as Mark E-G. Like I've said before, no-one can rock a crowd as good as Sharkey when they MC.. and I stayed with a huge grin and stomped somewhat heavy (not good when your travel lagged.. heh) as Ribbz came on, I managed to grab 20 minutes with Sharks who was very friendly I must admit *g* and we both got on very well (maybe too well eh. KRS? I aplogise for any explicit views you encountered.. tee-hee), I also met Johnny Go Mental who deserves shouts here, before heading up for a break again into the hardcore arena where Sy and Unknown had the whistle posse and horns crew going balistic. We then headed outside to find everyone sat in like sub-zero temperatures in a circle all talking and Caine still heavly attracted to his smiley (I do worry about your obsession with it.. I mean you where getting a bit too close.. hehe) I then decided that my legs where starting to pack in and I needed a break, so I grabbed about 20 minutes before Sharkeys set before stomping back in to hear his blinder.. first hour was bangin, actually so was the second hour but I somehow fell asleep for 10 minutes in it cause I was totally knackered from my travels to get to Slammin (10 hours on Friday), big ups to KRS for waking me up again and then I stomped (or tried to) for the last 45 minutes before the techno arena was cut off 10 minutes early to get rid of all us mad bastards... I headed off met Sharks again, and a few of the others before going to see Johnny Go Mental again and then loosing everyone (help!) and having to head off to the station by myself, before seeing Sharkey once again and saying goodbyes (heh.. well...) Then I prepared for my next journey home which took about 9 Hours.. bloody hell! Overall, top night.. great laugh.. banging! - Justin Vinyl (justinbennett@easynet.co.uk)
