The UK -1988 - the birth of one of the most long-lasting cultures and musical genres since Rock 'n' Roll itself – Acid House. In two years it was to outgrow the underground clubs of London and see millions of Thatcher’s children dancing through the night and shouting ‘Mental’ at massive illegal warehouse parties and outdoor Raves, attended by tens of thousands, they called it ACID HOUSE.
Driven by a media hate campaign, the British Government acted against this new culture by pushing a bill through Parliament that would outlaw these illegal parties. Millions of pounds were spent funding a special Police Unit, whose sole purpose was to crush this movement, never before has the UK seen such a reaction against a youth culture . In response, the Ravers formed The Freedom to Party Campaign who’s slogan was ‘Let the People Dance’, but by 1990 the police’s tactics got heavy handed and the Government at last won the war against Acid House - the illegal party scene was all but stamped out.
THEY CALL IT ACID is a feature length documentary which plots the emergence of this culture from its musical roots in Chicago and Detroit, to the melting pots of Ibiza, London and North England where these elements were brought together by a small number of DJs, musicians and promoters. Fed up with the 80s society that they were living in, they created the illegal Acid House party scene. Far from being just a culture of music, fashion and drugs, Acid House broke down long-lasting barriers in the UK, bringing together black and white, rich and poor and groups of previously opposing football hooligans. 12 months from its conception it was to bring on board millions of people and through the 90s spread worldwide, with the birth of the super club, massive licensed outdoor Raves, Dance Music festivals and the rise of the super star DJ, many of whom are now world famous.
Narrated by Robert Owens, one of the most distinctive voices of House Music, with a seminal soundtrack compiled by DJ ‘Evil’ Eddie Richards, one of the UK’s foremost House pioneers, THEY CALL IT ACID features over 60 interviews with both the originators and followers of the Acid House scene and the Police and Politicians who opposed it. Featuring unique film from many of the first illegal clubs and parties as well as never-before-seen footage of Police raids as they clamped down on the scene.
The Hippies had 'Woodstock', the Mods 'Quadrophenia' and the Punks 'The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle - 'THEY CALL IT ACID' is the story of Acid House, the birth of Rave, the culture the Government failed to crush!
They Call it Acid - Feature Lenght Documentary 2010
