May 25, 2000 14:08

THANK YOU FOR THE MUZIK!

[a]NME[/a]'s sister dance publication throws a celeb-packed, beat-fuelled shindig in London...

NME's sister dance publication MUZIK celebrated it's fifth birthday last night with a beat-fuelled shindig in the salubrious confines of THE END nightclub in London.

The dance music industry was out in force to celebrate the event, with three rooms of DJ's including Seb Fontaine, Adam Freeland, Erick Morillo and Dave Clarke spinning the vinyl, while American progressive trance producer BT had people being peeled off the ceiling with a rare live set.

All the guests playing offered their services free of charge to celebrate the birthday of the magazine. Cult drug smuggler Howard Marks, fresh from a trip to Amsterdam with Californian rappers Jurassic 5, was strutting his stuff on the dancefloor, trademark joint in hand, while Faithless' Sister Bliss and ex-Underworld knob twiddler Darren Emerson were relishing the opportunity to catch up on the clubland gossip. "It's just like going back to the old school," grinned a happy Emerson before finishing off another vodka and coke.[/b]

Mr C, formerly of The Shamen, now a slick tech-house DJ and co-owner of The End, was in high spirits, having just signed a lucrative American licensing deal for his End Recordings label, while Renaissance resident Dave Seaman rocked the AKA Bar with classics like FSOL's 'Papua New Guinea' and The Clash's 'London Calling'. "It's been ten years since I played that record out!" gushed a happy Dave, fending off cries of 'You're Dave Pearce, aren't you!' from an inebriated punter, while the Fat Lads from Global Underground looked on in amusement.

The Wall Of Sound posse were also out in full force. DJ Touche, of Wiseguys fame, in particular was living up to his beer advertising reputation, while managing to tell nme.com, "It's wicked in here - they're playing all the best songs, and the hormones are raging! I'm a really grinning drunk!" As, indeed, was everyone else.

See next month's issue of Muzik for a full report and photos.