Vibe Tribe Portable Party Crew… Busted Again…
On May 1st, 1994, we decided instead of going to the Criminal Justice Bill march in London to throw an outdoor party in the Gloucestershire countryside. Vibe Tribe Portable Party Crew were on the move… A day spent running around, trying to find the kit, borrowing speakers, amps, lights and of course the generator. At about 9pm we were sorted… So off we went to Agg’s Hill, Cheltenham (An old Land Rover testing site in the middle of nowhere.) Party, Party, Party… It took a day to prepare, an hour to set up, and only 45 minutes for the boys in blue to arrive!! We were stopped…
The following weekend we did it again, only this time we foiled the fuzz, and had a barn party until the sun came up! So at this stage of the summer VTPPC – 1, Gloucestershire Police -1. To avoid more confrontation we hired a nightclub and threw a party there on 19th May. This was our second legal venture this year and although the party was good, the vibe in a building will never be the same as it is when you’re watching the sun come up.
June was a dry month, spent looking forward to the full moon on the 23rd, another legal gathering. “Midsummer Mayhem” had its moments but the attitude of the inhabitants was far too headstrong. Time to get out. July 9th was to be a celebration, but others had another idea. Tewkesbury Ham, a large field that belongs to the public was to be our venue, there are no roadways onto it so all the kit was carried over the field to the uninhabited side where we started to have a party. 15 minutes later the old bill arrived and again we were finished. The week after a Cheltenham Sound System decides to get permission to do a party in Weston on a beach… They had Police and Council permission, so off we went… The party was on but due to politics only breakbeat pumped through the system… Blag, blag, blag : “You can go on in half an hour.” Mass hysteria!! Gabba in half an hour. I was content to sit in the car park hearing the thump! thump! thump! of car stereos, until, wait, you’ve guessed it… The 2 most respectable Police officers I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet, tell us to turn it off. I hadn’t even got my record bag out of the car…
So, onward ever onward last weekend we came to London. What a day. “Kill the Bill. Kill the Bill, Kill the Criminal Justice Bill.” It puts it all into perspective, thousands of people all fighting for the same thing. It made me feel part of something. As someone who thoroughly enjoys what I do, I can’t understand the sheer small mindedness of the British Government, they should be helping us do what we want to do, as it should not be a crime to do what I do, and to the Police, I look for co-operation and not the Government Army I saw in London. All in all, it’s a shame that the only press from the march was the violence at Downing Street, as this bill will affect far more people than the public thinks. All you can do is make them more aware.
DON’T STOP.
Keep up the hard work.
Party, Party, Party.
Spliffy, 1994
Respects to Mark & Tracy, Mr Boothe, XS, Deadly, Insight, Nick, Kate, Roger, Jamie, Rich, Nod & Nose!! And all the people in Tewkesbury, Cheltenham and Gloucester who’ve come to our parties…