Sterns Nightclub
Encyclopedia
Sterns was a nightclub located at Highdown Towers on Highdown Hill
in Worthing
, West Sussex
. The club lies off the A259 road
just north of Ferring
on the South Downs
. It was a rare example of an early UK club boasting 4 separate rooms with DJs playing Rave
, Breakbeat hardcore
, Jungle music
, Techno
, Progressive House
, Hard House
and Garage
.
Although Sterns had played such music before, the most famous club nights were started in 1991 by a promoter
named In-ter-dance run by the late Mensa. Such was the club nights' reputation that it was credited by a number of artists on their record sleeves, was one of the most well known Rave/Hardcore clubs in Europe
and was regularly visited by clubbers from all over the UK.
.
The main room was called the "Underground", complete with signs in the style of the London Underground logo. This was entered via 2 sets of downwards steps, with the Garage Club in between sets of steps. The Underground was located at the lowest level of the building partially embedded in the hillside in a large concrete bunker. It boasted a massive 30 kW
sound system, incredibly powerful for the space. On the second set of steps the bass was so intense it was difficult to carry out a conversation with someone adjacent to you and for them to hear you without speaking right into their ear. The underground had an impressive array of lighting including a smoke machine, UV and a Laser
.
On busy nights it was common for condensation generated from heat and sweat to collect on the ceiling and drip down onto the clubbers towards the end of the night. 'Sterns Rain'
Other rooms included the Garage room. This had car hub caps on the walls and the DJ's decks were located in the front end of a VW Beetle which had been chopped in half. It also had a chill out
room and small cinema located on the first floor where ambient music was played. The club had an outdoor section with a tea room and seating. There was also the "Top Floor" just after the main entrance where there was another DJ playing and a bar area.
After the club closed down it re-opened as The Mansion House nightclub until 1998 when it was closed again and turned into Highdown Towers, a hotel, a Carvery Restaurant, and a bar with a children's play area
To attend all-nighters you had to sign up for membership of In-ter-dance. At its peak in 1992 In-ter-dance had 25,000 members.
Often the party would continue well after the club closed in the adjacent car park where club goers' cars fitted with sound systems would provide the music.
On the 28 and 29 November 2008 the first Sterns Reunion took place.
, Marmite
, Benson & Hedges
, Perrier
mineral water and the Blockbusters quiz game show with its tag line "I'd like an E please Bob!".
Further information on Flyers:
The early Sterns flyers were printed by Selsey Press Limited, These flyers were usually A5 sized, brightly coloured, double sided handouts, printed on a 170GSM gloss paper used to promote the coming month's dance events. The specification of the flyer was very important, as they often found their way into the hands of people needing a "roach".
There were 20,000 of each design produced and usually four different designs were printed, on one B1 sheet, at a time, to help reduce costs.
In Late 1990, through a chance meeting, at Chaffinches Farm, Birdham, West Sussex ("The Farm" was the home of Interdance, in the early days), between "Jamie 2K" & Mensa, a deal was struck to produce a new format two Colour Members Newsletter, shortly after this Jamie 2K started to print the Interdance Flyer's, through his company Power Leaflets(now Dinky Design).
A large number of designs for the flyers were created by Tony Ladd and David Jackson of Vivid Visual Communications, although there were regular contributions from members; who designed a flyer and sent it to Mensa asking if he would use it on a Sterns flyer. There were also competitions for flyer designs.
Jamie 2K was even responsible for several of the designs, "Raving Mad" & " A Chance to Dance" were his regular contributions, for the Under 18's events.
He also designed personally the "Hole Sterns Pills" flyer which closely resembled the design of a "Holsten Pills" can... This flyer and all the material used to produce it had to be destroyed; as the brand owner of Holsten threatened court action if their request was not complied with.
Highdown Hill
Highdown Hill is a prominent hill in the South Downs, as its name suggests, reaching a height of . The summit of the hill and its western slopes lie in the parish of Ferring in the Arun district, while its eastern slopes lie in the borough of Worthing. It is a popular spot for picnickers,...
in Worthing
Worthing
Worthing is a large seaside town with borough status in West Sussex, within the historic County of Sussex, forming part of the Brighton/Worthing/Littlehampton conurbation. It is situated at the foot of the South Downs, west of Brighton, and east of the county town of Chichester...
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
. The club lies off the A259 road
A259 road
The A259 is a busy road on the south coast of England passing through Hampshire, West Sussex, East Sussex and part of Kent. Part of the road was named "the most dangerous road in South East England" in 2008.-Description:...
just north of Ferring
Ferring
Ferring is a village and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England. It is part of the built-up area of Worthing and is located on the A259 road west of the town. The parish has a land area of 430.6 hectares...
on the South Downs
South Downs
The South Downs is a range of chalk hills that extends for about across the south-eastern coastal counties of England from the Itchen Valley of Hampshire in the west to Beachy Head, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, in the east. It is bounded on its northern side by a steep escarpment, from whose...
. It was a rare example of an early UK club boasting 4 separate rooms with DJs playing Rave
Rave music
Rave music may either refer the late 1980s genre or any genre of electronic dance music that may be played at an electronic dance party such as a rave. Very rarely, the term is used to refer to less electronic related genres glam, powerpop, psychedelic rock and dub music parties...
, Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore
Breakbeat hardcore is a derivative of the acid house and techno, of the late 1980s and early 1990s, that combines four-to-the-floor rhythms with breakbeats, and is associated with the UK rave scene.-The rave scene:...
, Jungle music
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, Techno
Techno
Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan in the United States during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988...
, Progressive House
Progressive electronic music
In electronic dance music the term progressive is often used to denote a novel stylistic development within a specific genre of dance music. According to the DJ and producer Carl Craig, the term "progressive" was used in Detroit in the early 80s in reference to Italo Disco...
, Hard House
UK Hard house
UK Hard House or simply Hard House is a style of Hard Dance music that emerged in the 1990s.-Sound:Proper hard house is typified by a set formula of up-tempo house music compressed kick drums, signature style off-beat basslines and the use of 'hoover' type sounds...
and Garage
UK garage
UK garage is a genre of electronic dance music originating from the United Kingdom in the early-1990s. UK garage is a descendant of house music which originated in Chicago and New York, United States. UK garage usually features a distinctive syncopated 4/4 percussive rhythm with 'shuffling'...
.
Although Sterns had played such music before, the most famous club nights were started in 1991 by a promoter
Promoter (entertainment)
An entertainment promoter i.e. music, wrestling, boxing etc is a person or company in the business of marketing and promoting live events such as concerts/gigs, boxing matches, sports entertainment , festivals, raves, and nightclubs.- Business model :Promoters are typically hired as independent...
named In-ter-dance run by the late Mensa. Such was the club nights' reputation that it was credited by a number of artists on their record sleeves, was one of the most well known Rave/Hardcore clubs in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and was regularly visited by clubbers from all over the UK.
The building
Sterns was located in an old mansion on the southern slopes of the South Downs. It was also known as "The House on the Hill". The building was based on three floors and had a number of rooms, the "Top Floor", "Garage Club" & "Underground" each playing different genres of electronic musicElectronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
The main room was called the "Underground", complete with signs in the style of the London Underground logo. This was entered via 2 sets of downwards steps, with the Garage Club in between sets of steps. The Underground was located at the lowest level of the building partially embedded in the hillside in a large concrete bunker. It boasted a massive 30 kW
Kw
kw or KW may refer to:* Kuwait, ISO 3166-1 country code** .kw, the country code top level domain for Kuwait* Kilowatt* Self-ionization of water Kw* Cornish language's ISO 639 code* Kitchener–Waterloo, Ontario, Canada...
sound system, incredibly powerful for the space. On the second set of steps the bass was so intense it was difficult to carry out a conversation with someone adjacent to you and for them to hear you without speaking right into their ear. The underground had an impressive array of lighting including a smoke machine, UV and a Laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
.
On busy nights it was common for condensation generated from heat and sweat to collect on the ceiling and drip down onto the clubbers towards the end of the night. 'Sterns Rain'
Other rooms included the Garage room. This had car hub caps on the walls and the DJ's decks were located in the front end of a VW Beetle which had been chopped in half. It also had a chill out
Chill out music
Chill out music is an umbrella term for several styles of electronic music characterized by their mellow style and mid-tempo beats — "chill" being derived from a slang injunction to "relax."Chill out music emerged in the early and mid-1990s in "chill rooms" at dance clubs, where relaxing music...
room and small cinema located on the first floor where ambient music was played. The club had an outdoor section with a tea room and seating. There was also the "Top Floor" just after the main entrance where there was another DJ playing and a bar area.
After the club closed down it re-opened as The Mansion House nightclub until 1998 when it was closed again and turned into Highdown Towers, a hotel, a Carvery Restaurant, and a bar with a children's play area
The nights
Sterns held regular weekend events. Some started at approx 8.00 p.m. and lasted until approx 2.00 a.m., usually on a Friday. All-nighters were held fortnightly on a Saturday and started at 9.00 p.m. and lasted through until 6.00 or 7.00 a.m.To attend all-nighters you had to sign up for membership of In-ter-dance. At its peak in 1992 In-ter-dance had 25,000 members.
Often the party would continue well after the club closed in the adjacent car park where club goers' cars fitted with sound systems would provide the music.
On the 28 and 29 November 2008 the first Sterns Reunion took place.
DJs and acts
The sheer range and variety of DJs and performers that have graced Sterns is testament to its place in Rave and Hardcore folklore.- AubreyAubreyOf French origin, Aubrey results from the phonetical mutation of Alberic, which is a Germanic given name, meaning "Fair Ruler of the Little People", or "King of the Elves". The name Alberich is the German variant...
- Bazz
- Carl CoxCarl CoxCarl Cox is a British techno and house music DJ.-Biography:Cox grew up in Oldham, Lancashire, before attending Glastonbury High Boys secondary modern school on Glastonbury Road in Morden. Cox began his career as a hardcore and rave DJ in the mid 1980s...
- Cloud 9
- Colin Dale
- DJ Haze
- DJ Kaos
- DJ RapDJ RapCharissa Saverio is a British drum and bass, house music and progressive electronic music disc jockey.-Biography:...
- DJ Sy
- DJ Warren
- Doc Scott
- Donovan Smith
- Dr S Gatchet
- DruidDruidA druid was a member of the priestly class in Britain, Ireland, and Gaul, and possibly other parts of Celtic western Europe, during the Iron Age....
- Easy B
- Easy Groove
- Ellis Dee
- Evil Eddie Richards
- Evil O
- FabioFabio (DJ)Fitzroy Heslop better known by his stage name of Fabio, is a drum and bass DJ and producer from the UK. Fabio has been described as one of the best DJ's of all time. He runs the Creative Source record label.-Biography:...
- Femi B
- GrooveriderGrooveriderGrooverider is a British drum and bass DJ.-Biography:Grooverider began his DJing at illegal raves and warehouse parties in the UK in the late 1980s, and rose to prominence with partner Fabio through his sets at nightclub nights such as 'Rage'. Grooverider was also on the London pirate radio...
- House Junkie
- Hector C
- John DigweedJohn DigweedJohn Digweed is an English DJ, record producer and acclaimed actor.-Biography:John Digweed began DJing around age 4...
- Jon Roberts
- Jumpin Jack Frost
- Kenny Ken
- Krome & Time
- Lenny DeeLenny DeeLeonard George DeStoppelaire , better known as Lenny Dee, was a virtuoso organist who played many styles of music. His record albums were among the most popular of easy listening and space age pop organists of the 1950s through the early 1970s. His signature hit, Plantation Boogie, charted as a...
- Loft Groover
- Luke SlaterLuke SlaterLuke Slater is an English electronic musician, DJ and record producer, who has concentrated on techno since the beginning of the 1990s....
- LTJ BukemLTJ BukemLTJ Bukem is the stage name used by the drum and bass musician, producer and DJ Danny Williamson . He and his record labels Good Looking and Looking Good Records are most associated with the jazzy, atmospheric side of drum and bass music....
- Mark Shepherd
- Mickey FinnMickey FinnMickey Finn may refer to:* Mickey Finn , a drug-laced drink* Mickey Finn , a long-running comic strip* Micky Finn , a fictional character and pseudonym of the 19th century writer Ernest Jarrold...
- MobyMobyRichard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
- Mr Music
- Mrs WoodMrs WoodMrs Wood is a female DJ and record producer involved in the hardbag and UK techno scene. Mrs Wood first came to prominence via her output on the React record label...
- Music MakerMusic MakerMusic Maker may refer to:* Music * Music Maker * Music Maker...
- Mr C (later to find fame in The ShamenThe ShamenThe Shamen were an experimental electronic music band, from 1985–1999, initially formed in Aberdeen, Scotland, as a psychedelic-influenced indie rock act. The founding members are Colin Angus , Derek McKenzie and Keith McKenzie...
) - Neil Vas
- John 00 Fleming
- PhantasyPhantasyPhantasy is an independent record label estalished in London , founded in 2007 by DJ & Producer Erol Alkan. In 2011 Phantasy entered partnership with French electronic music label Because Music...
- Pigbag - This is not the Band but DJ Pigbag (Warren M)
- QuantumQuantumIn physics, a quantum is the minimum amount of any physical entity involved in an interaction. Behind this, one finds the fundamental notion that a physical property may be "quantized," referred to as "the hypothesis of quantization". This means that the magnitude can take on only certain discrete...
- RandallRandall-Places:United Kingdom*Randall Carr, stream in Derbyshire, EnglandUnited States:*Randall, California, former name of White Hall, California*Randall House , numerous locations*Randall, Indiana*Randall, Iowa*Randall, Kansas*Randall, Minnesota...
- Rat PackRat PackThe Rat Pack was a group of actors originally centered on Humphrey Bogart. In the mid-1960s it was the name used by the press and the general public to refer to a later variation of the group, after Bogart's death, that called itself "the summit" or "the clan," featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean...
- RattyRattyRatty may refer to:* Ratty , a heritage railway in Cumbria, England* Ratty , a character in the novel The Wind in the Willows* Ratty Puppet, a groundhog hand puppet in the television show X-Play...
- Rhythm Doctor
- Rok One
- Rock & Vibes
- Ronnie BiggsRonnie BiggsRonald Arthur "Ronnie" Biggs is an English criminal, known for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, for his escape from prison in 1965, for living as a fugitive for 36 years and for his various publicity stunts while in exile. In 2001, he voluntarily returned to the United Kingdom and...
- SashaSasha (DJ)Sasha is a Welsh DJ and record producer. Sasha began his career playing acid house dance music in the late 1980s...
- SlipmatSlipmatA slipmat is a circular piece of slippery cloth or synthetic materials disk jockeys place on the turntable platter instead of the traditional rubber mat....
- Spencer T
- Swan-E
- The ProdigyThe ProdigyThe Prodigy are an English electronic dance music group formed by Liam Howlett in 1990 in Braintree, Essex. Along with Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, and other acts, The Prodigy have been credited as pioneers of the big beat genre, which achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s and 2000s...
- The Druid
- Timmi Magic
- Top BuzzTop BuzzTop Buzz are a British DJ / MC team, which performed at rave events in the 1990s.Top Buzz was originally formed in 1988 by MC Patrick McPhee and DJ Mikee B, playing at house events, before being joined by DJ Jason Kyriakides several years later...
- Dj Twist
- Walterwall
- WaxmanWaxmanWaxman or alternately Wachsmann is a surname which may refer to:* Albert "Al" Waxman, Canadian actor* Daniel Wachsmann * David Waxman, a DJ, remixer and producer* Franz Waxman , composer* Harry Waxman, English cinematographer...
Flyers
Interdance advertised its regular events at Sterns with flyers. There was a very large range of flyers produced and often they parodied well-known brands or popular culture of the time, such as Swan VestasBryant and May
For the Bryant and May series of crime mystery books, see the author Christopher Fowler.Bryant and May was a United Kingdom company created in the mid-nineteenth century specifically to make matches. Their original Bryant and May Factory was located in Bow, London...
, Marmite
Marmite
Marmite is the name given to two similar food spreads: the original British version, first produced in the United Kingdom and later South Africa, and a version produced in New Zealand...
, Benson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges
Benson & Hedges is a British brand of cigarettes owned by the Gallaher Group, which became a subsidiary of Japan Tobacco in 2007. They are registered in Old Bond Street in London, and are manufactured in Lisnafillen, Ballymena, Northern Ireland for the UK and Irish markets.-History:Benson & Hedges...
, Perrier
Perrier
Perrier is a brand of bottled mineral water made from a spring in Vergèze in the Gard département of France. The spring is naturally carbonated...
mineral water and the Blockbusters quiz game show with its tag line "I'd like an E please Bob!".
Further information on Flyers:
The early Sterns flyers were printed by Selsey Press Limited, These flyers were usually A5 sized, brightly coloured, double sided handouts, printed on a 170GSM gloss paper used to promote the coming month's dance events. The specification of the flyer was very important, as they often found their way into the hands of people needing a "roach".
There were 20,000 of each design produced and usually four different designs were printed, on one B1 sheet, at a time, to help reduce costs.
In Late 1990, through a chance meeting, at Chaffinches Farm, Birdham, West Sussex ("The Farm" was the home of Interdance, in the early days), between "Jamie 2K" & Mensa, a deal was struck to produce a new format two Colour Members Newsletter, shortly after this Jamie 2K started to print the Interdance Flyer's, through his company Power Leaflets(now Dinky Design).
A large number of designs for the flyers were created by Tony Ladd and David Jackson of Vivid Visual Communications, although there were regular contributions from members; who designed a flyer and sent it to Mensa asking if he would use it on a Sterns flyer. There were also competitions for flyer designs.
Jamie 2K was even responsible for several of the designs, "Raving Mad" & " A Chance to Dance" were his regular contributions, for the Under 18's events.
He also designed personally the "Hole Sterns Pills" flyer which closely resembled the design of a "Holsten Pills" can... This flyer and all the material used to produce it had to be destroyed; as the brand owner of Holsten threatened court action if their request was not complied with.