DJs including 808 State, Dave Haslam, Graeme Park and Jon DaSilv were back on the site of the famous Hacienda nightclub – now an underground car-park – yesterday (May 21st) to help celebrate the 30th anniversary of the opening of the venue.
After closing its doors for the final time in 1997, the club was eventually demolished in 2002, but relived some of its past glories yesterday as seminal Hacienda figures including Peter Hook returned to celebrate a UK music icon 30 years after it opened on May 21st 1982 to a decidedly ambivalent public.
“The idea came about to celebrate the 30th simply because Graeme Park and I thought that we might not be here for the 40th,” Hook told the BBC. “I’m hoping so, but I’m not sure I’ll be in any fit state to rave.”
“We’re even managing to lose a fortune on the 30th anniversary party – because it’s for charity,” he continued, referencing the infamously poor business performance of the club during its lifetime. “I suppose this is our way of having a party and giving something back.”
The first night of celebrations, dubbed X1, will be followed by two further events (X2 and X3) held at Sankey’s nightclub in Manchester on June 2nd & 4th.
Celebrating The Haçienda and FAC51 30th anniversary, the track All Along the Dotted Line by The Photo Kid, and Godley and Creme, will be released for the very first time, along with a brand new video created by ditto. Visit http://www.ditto.tv/dottedline/ to watch it.