Club Filter Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Club Filter, based upstairs at The Lounge bar and nightclub at 243 Swanston Street in the heart of the city, holds the record as Melbourne
's (and also Australia
's) longest-running techno music night, having run every Wednesday night from 1992 to 2003.
Run by two DJs [Jason] Rudeboy (who pioneered one of the earliest underground music nights at Commerce Club, the infamous Class War free raves and then went on to run the BBoy Discotheque experimenting in the original sounds of rap) and Hot Rod (a long-time announcer on a radio show called Tronik Voodoo Exorcism on 3PBS-FM also known as Mad Rod), the night reflected the cutting edge of global styles in techno and club music. Borrowing heavily from the Gay scene, they lent towards the obscure and taboo Performing Arts. The club always regularly had shows and live performances from electro poets to male strippers and drag shows. Early on pursuing a more acid house sound, pre-nascent hardcore techno and drum & bass, then filtering across into the sounds of Detroit, Chicago, New York, Berlin, Cologne, London, Sweden, Scotland, and - of course - Melbourne. Filter's sound also cut across record labels as varied as Djax, Force Inc., Tresor
, Relief, Axis
, Purpose Maker
, Sativae, Mosquito, Nova Mute, Valve
, Drumcode
, Stayupforever, and Pharma.
Dom Phillips, the editor of the UK's Mixmag
, visited the club in late 1995 and referred to it in a subsequent article on Melbourne's underground scene thus: "Filter is a wicked club, one of those long-running midweek specials that are, somehow, always cool... Some things are international."
Zebra Magazine, the dance/nightclub music insert in Melbourne's Inpress
, wrote in 1997 that "Club Filter at the Lounge has virtually established itself as a cultural icon within Melbourne's dance music fraternity."
, Jammin' Unit
, Dave Angel
, Colin Dale, Rob Gee, Biochip C, Khan Oral (Bizz OD), Ree.K, Stacey Pullen
, Lenny Dee
, Space Dj'z, Dave the Drummer and Joey Beltram
.
But just as importantly, Filter set about supporting and nurturing local live talents and DJs, including Terrence Ho (H20), Steve Law (Zen Paradox
), Voiteck, Honeysmack, Andrez Bergen (Little Nobody
), Soulenoid, Guyver 3, Liz Millar, Arthur Arkin, Ollie Olsen
, Scott Alert, DJ Trooper, Nick Dem Q, Ransom, Cara Caama, Lani G, DJ Ides, Dee Dee, Halo Produkshuns, Slieker, Richie Rich
, Zanna, Andrew Till, Eden, Fiery Eye, Dan Woodman, Derek Shiel, Dom Hogan, Toupee, RSK, Miss Krystal, Graham Mono, Juju Space Jazz, Krang, 8-Bit, Ben Shepherd, Katy K, Matt Sykes, MBug and Blimp.
Filter also collaborated regularly with other Melbourne-based labels such as IF? Records
, Psy-Harmonics
, Smelly Records, and Messy Creations.
The success of the night lay mainly in the fact that is was able to regenerate itself constantly as the music world wide did. Often criticized for bringing to the 'scene' trends in music to early, this inevitably helped the club to continue its long reign for over 11 years. The new music was enjoyed by people, of all ages, who were not necessarily into the socially excepted techno that mainstream raves and clubs had to offer, but could now enjoy current world trends before money hungry promoters waited until it was commercially viable before bringing out acts or style jumping to gain credibility. It could also be said that the fact it was a mid-week party, that the club never stepped on anyone's toes and was given the free range it needed to explore diverse avenues of entertainment.
The club closed by mutual consent in 2003.
"Earlier this year a blank stare of disbelief swept over Melbourne’s dance community as news spread that after 11 years and nearly 600 consecutive Wednesdays later, the most enduring club in worldwide electronic music – Club Filter - would be closing forever," reported DJ Ides that same year in an online article at Australian music website inthemix.com.au.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
's (and also Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's) longest-running techno music night, having run every Wednesday night from 1992 to 2003.
Background
Run by two DJs [Jason] Rudeboy (who pioneered one of the earliest underground music nights at Commerce Club, the infamous Class War free raves and then went on to run the BBoy Discotheque experimenting in the original sounds of rap) and Hot Rod (a long-time announcer on a radio show called Tronik Voodoo Exorcism on 3PBS-FM also known as Mad Rod), the night reflected the cutting edge of global styles in techno and club music. Borrowing heavily from the Gay scene, they lent towards the obscure and taboo Performing Arts. The club always regularly had shows and live performances from electro poets to male strippers and drag shows. Early on pursuing a more acid house sound, pre-nascent hardcore techno and drum & bass, then filtering across into the sounds of Detroit, Chicago, New York, Berlin, Cologne, London, Sweden, Scotland, and - of course - Melbourne. Filter's sound also cut across record labels as varied as Djax, Force Inc., Tresor
Tresor
Tresor is an underground techno nightclub and record label. The club was founded in March 1991 in the vaults of the former old Wertheim department store in Mitte, the central part of the former East Berlin, next to the famous Potsdamer Platz, however the history of the club goes back to 1988 when...
, Relief, Axis
Axis Records
Axis Records may refer to:* A record label which is operated by Jeff Mills which releases most of his work* The former name of 4AD, a record label which was started in 1979 as Axis Records by Ivo Watts-Russell and Peter Kent, but quickly renamed when it was discovered that Axis Records already...
, Purpose Maker
Jeff Mills
Jeff Mills is an American techno DJ and producer.-Career:Starting in the early 1980s, Mills, using the name "The Wizard", was a recurring guest DJ on "The Electrifying Mojo" radio show on WJLB...
, Sativae, Mosquito, Nova Mute, Valve
Valve Records
Valve Records is an Australian record label, releasing a wide range of alternative artists both local and international. The label was created by Paul Curtis in 1994 to support the local bands he was managing...
, Drumcode
Drumcode Records
Drumcode Records is a Swedish techno label founded and managed by Adam Beyer. The first record was released in 1996 and since then the label has featured mostly Swedish producers...
, Stayupforever, and Pharma.
Dom Phillips, the editor of the UK's Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
, visited the club in late 1995 and referred to it in a subsequent article on Melbourne's underground scene thus: "Filter is a wicked club, one of those long-running midweek specials that are, somehow, always cool... Some things are international."
Zebra Magazine, the dance/nightclub music insert in Melbourne's Inpress
Inpress
Inpress is a free weekly tabloid-sized music magazine that is released in Melbourne, Geelong and Mornington Peninsula areas of Victoria, Australia...
, wrote in 1997 that "Club Filter at the Lounge has virtually established itself as a cultural icon within Melbourne's dance music fraternity."
International and local DJs and live acts
International DJs and live acts played a key role in the club's development. Among them were Claude YoungClaude Young
Claude Young Jr. is a techno DJ from Detroit. Known for his mixing style that includes scratches, juggles and cuts, Claude Young has played in clubs all around the world....
, Jammin' Unit
Air Liquide (band)
Air Liquide is a German electronic band which is composed of Ingmar Koch and Cem Oral which was formed in 1991 in Cologne, Germany.-Discography:* Neue Frankfurter Elektronik Schule * Liquid Air EP...
, Dave Angel
Dave Angel
David Angelico Nicholas Gooden , better known as Dave Angel, is an English techno musician.-Early years:Angel was born in Chelsea, London in 1966. He is the son of a London-based jazz musician, and the elder brother of rapper Monie Love...
, Colin Dale, Rob Gee, Biochip C, Khan Oral (Bizz OD), Ree.K, Stacey Pullen
Stacey Pullen
Stacey Pullen is an American techno musician based in Detroit.Pullen was raised in Detroit, where he became interested in electronic music early in his life. He began working on the Detroit techno scene in 1990, studying with Derrick May and working with him on business ventures. He used the...
, Lenny Dee
Lenny Dee
Leonard 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...
, Space Dj'z, Dave the Drummer and Joey Beltram
Joey Beltram
Joey Beltram is an American DJ and record producer, best-known for the pioneering recordings "Energy Flash" and "Mentasm"....
.
But just as importantly, Filter set about supporting and nurturing local live talents and DJs, including Terrence Ho (H20), Steve Law (Zen Paradox
Zen Paradox
Zen Paradox is an electronic music artist, primarily involved in the production of techno as well as other more experimental electronic sounds, from Melbourne, Australia. It is the principle name under which Steve Law records and performs electronic music. He also uses the names Mr...
), Voiteck, Honeysmack, Andrez Bergen (Little Nobody
Little Nobody
Little Nobody is the electronic music production alias of Australian musician and writer Andrez Bergen.-Background:An expatriate Melburnian, who currently resides in Tokyo, Japan, Bergen is also an author and photographer, as well as a music, movie and anime journalist for the Daily Yomiuri...
), Soulenoid, Guyver 3, Liz Millar, Arthur Arkin, Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen
Ollie Olsen 1958, Melbourne, Australia) is an Australian composer, synthesist and sound designer who has been producing and performing rock, electronic and experimental music for the past thirty years...
, Scott Alert, DJ Trooper, Nick Dem Q, Ransom, Cara Caama, Lani G, DJ Ides, Dee Dee, Halo Produkshuns, Slieker, Richie Rich
Richie Rich
Richard "Richie" Rich, Jr. is a fictional character that debuted in Harvey Comics' Little Dot #1, cover-dated September 1953. Dubbed "the poor little rich boy", Richie is the only child of fantastically wealthy parents and is the world's richest kid. He lives and works in an expensive mansion and...
, Zanna, Andrew Till, Eden, Fiery Eye, Dan Woodman, Derek Shiel, Dom Hogan, Toupee, RSK, Miss Krystal, Graham Mono, Juju Space Jazz, Krang, 8-Bit, Ben Shepherd, Katy K, Matt Sykes, MBug and Blimp.
Filter also collaborated regularly with other Melbourne-based labels such as IF? Records
IF? Records
IF? Records, established in Melbourne, Australia in 1995 and based in Tokyo, Japan after relocating there in 2001, was a live gig and rave party organiser in Melbourne in the 1990s and one of Melbourne's first independent local electronic music labels....
, Psy-Harmonics
Psy-Harmonics
Psy-Harmonics is an Australian independent record label specialising in electronic music.When Psy-Harmonics began in 1993 it was the first local label to explore the sonic possibilities of the techno / trance sound...
, Smelly Records, and Messy Creations.
The success of the night lay mainly in the fact that is was able to regenerate itself constantly as the music world wide did. Often criticized for bringing to the 'scene' trends in music to early, this inevitably helped the club to continue its long reign for over 11 years. The new music was enjoyed by people, of all ages, who were not necessarily into the socially excepted techno that mainstream raves and clubs had to offer, but could now enjoy current world trends before money hungry promoters waited until it was commercially viable before bringing out acts or style jumping to gain credibility. It could also be said that the fact it was a mid-week party, that the club never stepped on anyone's toes and was given the free range it needed to explore diverse avenues of entertainment.
The club closed by mutual consent in 2003.
"Earlier this year a blank stare of disbelief swept over Melbourne’s dance community as news spread that after 11 years and nearly 600 consecutive Wednesdays later, the most enduring club in worldwide electronic music – Club Filter - would be closing forever," reported DJ Ides that same year in an online article at Australian music website inthemix.com.au.