THOUGHTS
INTERVIEWS
CLUBS
RECORDS
EDITOR
ADVERTS
LINKS

Its was getting easy. Yes I was travelling down the A12 motorway again to London, in my car. I was looking out for the familiar sites such as a favourite advertising hoarding, or that special sign, just to make the journey more interesting.

During my cosy car journey, I was listening to my favourite Radio sports station - Radio Five Alive on the BBC(England). This time I wasn't listening to a RadioPhone in that they often hold. This time we were being treated to a live Soccer match. It was between - Brighton Hove Albion and Leicester City (Friday, 20th December, 2002)

From what was being described by the Radio commentators, it was a tight and competitive game. No one was giving an inch, or asking for any quarters either. Brighton needed the points to ease their position near the foot of Division 1. Whereas Leicester needed to make sure that they kept up the pressure to maintain their push for promotion from of Division 1.

To make matters worse for the players, and even more so for the commentators who were covering the match. It was "Foggy" we were told, was all around the stadium. This added to the drama of the game, as the commentator was once and a while, citing the wrong player due to the conditions.

The deadlock between the 2 teams was finally broken late into the second half of the game as Leicester City's, Brian Deane headed home the only goal of the match after a well worked frew-kick that came good.

Such was the intensity of the game that I didn't noticed that I reached the outskirts of London. As I had reached Gants Hill, the game ended Brighton Hove Albion 0 v Leicester City 1 I went through the usual routine of parking up at Gants Hill Car Park.

I made my way to a nearby late night Conveinance store, and bought a few Chocolate bars for my underground tube journey ahead. Eventually after making sure that my coat was done up properly. It was cold outside I can tell you. I made my way for Gants Hill, tube station, which was dull and empty. In fact there was no one there. I had to use the machine operated, ticket dispenser to get a tube ticket for my journey to Elephant and Castle.

Finally, after waiting for about 5 minutes down on the Underground tube platform, the tube arrived that would begin my journey to Elephant and Castle tube station, in South London. As there was no one within my carriage. I began to look for any discarded newspapers that had been discarded. I was in luck, someone had left behind a paper called the Metro, which at least gave me something to cast my eyes along whilst travelling.

The tube soon filled up some with a few people along the way, as it headed for its destination. These were Business looking people, elderly couples, and a few full of life teenagers who jumping from seat to seat in what appeared to be a stupid game.

I changed at the Bank Underground tube station, with no problems. There had been no hold ups or delays along the way so far. All I had to do was to get on to the tube that would now take me the Elephant and Castle, and I would be there.

And after about a further 5-minute journey on this particular tube carriage, the automated public announcing system sprung into action and blared through the train that we were approaching Elephant and Castle station. Yes by the way it did say, "Mind the Gap"

I was on my way. But I still got my directions to Gaunt Street all wrong. I knew something was not right, but I was determined not to ask anyone the correct way to get to Gaunt Street and the Ministry of Sound. Eventually, I to say, "sod it", to my pride, and ask someone that knew the way there.

I asked a young couple who was passing by, on how to get to the nightclub called the Ministry of sound. They pointed out to me that I was going along the wrong way. I was on the wrong side of the street for starters, and was heading away from it!

I felt embarrassed, yet I still thank them in the same breath. I quickly jumped across to the right side of the street, and headed back down for the Ministry. I soon saw the street sign stating Gaunt Street. I quickly turn left and then there it was. Those Wrought Iron gates and that logo - which meant the Ministry of SoundI looked down at my watch, and it read 10:20 p.m.

There was a few people already milking around and looking as if they were ready to go in, or were waiting for friends before they officially went into lining up and being checked by the Ministry of Sound bouncers.

I took a few photos of the out side of the club before entering in. Then I decided to go and state my case.

"Hi..My name's Carl Brown, from Ipswich. I'm on Kelly guest list. She said that I could come in as a VIP tonight to over Smooth."

"Sorry can't hear you. What did you say?" replied the bouncer..

I repeated what I said again to him.

"Oh please stand over there. I will go and get someone to talk to you."

Another person who had been behind me, pushed forward, and was greeted warmly by the same bouncer. Who let him go past without a hearsay.

Eventually, after about 5 minutes. I was ushered forward to meet another bouncer. He was bald and quite oldish looking, but had a more friendly and a more approachable manner about himself then the previous bouncer.

"Who said that you could come in here. What is it that you are doing", he asked?

I explained the whole scenario to him again, which he was nodding his head as I was doing so.

"Have you got a card of this person to show me what she does for the club?"

The bouncer saw the I was getting exasperated, and added, "I'm sorry Son, but we have to check things like this out!".

I showed him the card that Kelly had given to me as few weeks earlier. He looked at it as if was a passport. Really!!

"Okay, yes we know Kelly. Please go over there, and they will explain what they will do to you".

I was ushered over to a small portcabin type, like shelter, in which a tall looking, black man was already inside it. He gave me a marble, and then my hand was marked with this ultra violet pen marker on the back of my hand. I was told to hold onto the marble until I got into the queuing area.

I made my way over to the entrance of the Ministry and already ahead of me were people handing over their coats and other particulars.

After showing my hand under the Ultra violet light, and handing in that marble which they gave you. I made my way through the entrance doors of the Ministry of Sound. And I was there.

Already there was a sizeable crowd, which seemed to be made up with more females then males. And females from all shapes and sizes within groups.The bar area and the bar staff were already whizzing around trying to meet the demands of the thirsty clubbers.

A few girls were already dancing on the nicely positioned boxes so that they could show off their latest gyrating dance moves to the ever-growing crowds inside the club.

I decided to take in the moment, and let my eyes do the walking. The DJ, within the DJ Bar area of the club was concentrating heavly on his mixing. Most of the tunes that he was playing was only getting a half hearted cheer from the ever growing crowds. He wasn't alone in the DJ booth however. He was joined by 2 other person, who were nodding their heads to the rhythm of the music. Occasionally, ever so often. One of them would move a hidden microphone to his lips, and mumble something to the crowd. I later learnt that we were inside the DJ set of DJ Swerve.

Sweat, seem to be dripping down from DJ Swerve face and baldhead. He was being made to work tonight, as most of the crowd were still not dancing...

He was dropping the chart toppers such as Mistikal's "Danger", and the silky smooth soul tracks such as "No more" by Rough Endz...

Eventually, he was starting to get a response from the crowd that he desired. Yes, I was in the bar area of the club, and this was where the music of RnB was going to be stationed for the night. I noticed at the other end of the nightclub, it was roped of for now. It was explained to me by a near by punter, that would be opening at around 12 mid-night.

In that part of the club known as the "Box area". Dj's such as Masterstepz, Norris the Boss Windross, Karl "tuff enuff Brown and Matt "jam" Lamont with Mc's woulde be performing...Yes that is where the UK Garage fraternity would be letting lose.

It was around 11.00pm that I decided to use the pass that I had been given by Kelly to go upstairs to enter the VIP room, just to sit down for a moment.

I made my way up to the top via the steel spiral staircase. I was met by the same formidable, looking women, whom I met the last time I was here. At least she recognised from the last time. She even smiled at me! I still had to show her my hand, which had been marked with the Ultra Violet pen, and a special marking to go with it to be allowed through.

She un-did the rope and let me past. Only to put some other couple/s behind me through the same procedure. As I entered the VIP room, I noticed that the same girls who where serving me about 3 weeks ago from this very same spot.

We all recognised each other straight away, and smiled.

"Hiya. Your back here again. Are taking pictures of our club?" asked the black bar girl.

"Yeah I 'm up here again". Can't get rid of me can you?" I replied.

"I take it that you will be drinking Red Bulls all night??.. she countered.

"Whatever gave you that Idea"..I said with a smile.

She made here way right to the back of the drinks cabinet, and pulled out a single can of Red Bull. She handed it over to me, and stated,

"That will be £2.50 please"...

"Are you going to take any pictures of us", uttered the other tall, blond looking girl..

"Yeah, why not. Get together then?"

Within a few minutes, these 3 girls were huddling together so that they could feature within the photo. I took about 2 shots of them just to make sure that at least one good one could come out and I could use within the report.

I made myself at home on the comfortable sofas within the VIP lounge. You could just about hear the music that was coming from downstairs.One of the girls that was behind the bar decided to singing along with the classic Faith Evans track, which was written by the late Notorious BIG - "One more chance".

As time passed more, and more people were entering the VIP room. It was getting just as packed as it looked downstairs.

Time must have just flew by because, when I looked at my watch next it read 11:45pm. I felt it in my bones to go and gain a look over the balcony, just outside the VIP room. As I looked over, I mutted to myself, that its going to be roadblock. Most people whom had turned up where dressed smart, but casually mind you. The girls dressed chic, and looked dainty if it could be said.

You could feel the passion from the crowd/s even whilst you were up here in the balcony. People were pushing past people, others were giving others, glaring looks at people that just rushed past and didn't say sorry. Many other were simply "getting down", creating a little circle around them as they did so.

Some of the dance moves that where being performed were ex-rated, but boy could they dance. Once or twice within the nights excitement and the constant good grooves of the music. It created a wave of people pushing into one another. You got pushed from pillar to post to be honest. The DJ, had to restore order once or twice, by stopping the music in mid flow to warn people to calm down.

At around 12:15am, I decided that I had had enough of looking around at the pulsating dance floor below, and wanted be apart of it.

Reaching the final step of the steel spiral steel case downstairs, I was thought maybe this wasn't a good idea after all. The places to manoeuvre ones self easily through the club wasn't easy. It was a case of finding the best route to your destination within the club, and doing it as fast as possible.

I must have said 50 sorry's as I finally made it to the DJ booth again with the Bar area of the club.

Please Click on this link below to read the rest of the report

This is copyrighted. If you would like to use the text or any of the images please contact Mr.Carl Brown(Ipswich, England)to do so.