The origins of Acid Fever are not universally agreed upon by medical experts; however, there is some consensus that unsanctioned experiments by one DJ Pierre on a failed synthesized bass substitute led to some of the earliest recorded casualties in the US & Britain in the late ‘80s. Since that time, the Roland TB-303 virus has mutated & fused with other emerging musical forms, proving highly infectious to anyone exposed.

To this day, there is still no cure to this aural contagion- researchers into the condition invariably become infected themselves- but exercise for extended periods, such as dancing through the night until dawn, is known to alleviate the symptoms: the most apparent, exclaimations of “bangin!”, ”’avinit!” & “acccccieeeeed!”

Although cases among the Brisbane population have been noted before, the virus appears to have lain dormant for a few years- that was, until an aggressive strain from the UK squat party scene was introduced into the community. The suspected “patient zero”, an English expatriate, has surrendered himself to health authorities & ITM managed to secure this interview…..


ITM: What were your first & formative acid techno experiences?

Operon: Going to Glastonbury in ‘95 was a real eye opener for me. I went as a metal head, witnessed ‘proper’ dance music in its ultimate environment and spent the whole weekend going nutz in the dance tent! Seeing Eat Static headline on the Saturday night was my first real Acid experience- they blew me away! The rest of that summer I was going to illegal Acid parties, getting quite decadent really. Before I knew it I had decks and was spinning acid trance at illegal parties all over southern England….. Mental Stuff!! After all that you need to floss your brain cells; it was good to come to this country and have a break from it.

ITM: How has acid techno evolved & influenced other genres in that time?

Operon: Acid techno is its own sound basically. It came around in the mid-90’s and the people involved with it were all mates running illegal squat parties in East London. Everyone came from a different background: people like Julian Liberator & D.A.V.E the Drummer gave the sound it’s hard Techno edge, while people like Lawrie Immersion & D.D.R gave it a filthy, discordant Ketamine vibe. These guys collaborate together to create a quagmire of diversity, but it can only be described as F*ckin’ ‘Avin it, London Acid techno!! Recently they all started getting in on the “cooler” purest techno vibe, but they seem to be over it all ready and back to making slammin’ Acid!


Magnified images of a recent strain of the TB-303 virus. Source: Real World Interfaces

ITM: What is your personal attraction to it?

Operon: Simple really- It’s Fackin’ ‘Avin it!!! Well, it’s not just a form of music- back in the UK people see it as a way of life. We were all at the front line….. it’s completely underground, survives purely because of illegal raves. Another term for Acid Tech is ‘Squat Rock’; all the dudes doin’ it were punk rockers in the 80’s. It’s an anarchist thang you know: “F*ck all you politician c*nts and pigs, we’re on this spot of land and were not budging till the riot squad arrives!!” At this one party a farmer came down with his shotgun, the whole “get orf moy laaaaand” thing….. some naughty ravers had nicked his tractor, he was well pissed! laughs That’s what I love about Acid Techno!

ITM: What varieties of acid techno will be represented by the DJs at the forthcoming Acid Fever party, and what are their backgrounds in the genre?

Operon: We all stand in a different corner with our influences to acid techno. Shadrach obviously has all his minimal techno experience behind him, so he will be tending to the more grinding tech-acid. Tranceducer and Custa coming from the rave’ier side of tings, playing shit like DJ Choci and VCF records- good for ravers, extremely intense and energetic- whilst I will try and mix it up a bit, providing more of an ‘Acid Techno through the ages’ kind of thang….. lot’s of 303 classics like Lochi’s London Acid City and Dom’s Acid War.

ITM: Is there anything else you would like say about acid techno, Acid Fever or the Brisbane Electronic music community in general?

Operon: With the Acid Fever party in August, there are a number of things Shadrach and I want to achieve with it. Basically there has been no exposure to Acid Techno here in Brisbane for over 4 years….. Pip and the Acidisco crew were dabbling in it, but that all went down to Byron. With the seething Raver community here, we feel acid techno will bridge an important gap between Ravers and Techno purists. Acid techno is extremely underground, raw and driving, but at the same time is fast, energetic and extremely rushy! We feel it’s something which can appeal to anybody who likes hard dance music. We’re gonna be tenacious with Acid Fever, we wanna get it going monthly and provide something truly fresh and unique to Brisbane’s dance community.


Projections estimate this latest outbreak of Acid Fever will reach fever pitch at the Underground Bar of the Elephant & Wheelbarrow, Fortitude Valley on Saturday August 9th. http://www.inthemix.com.au/whatson/listevent.php?id=8478