Second Summer of Love

Setting[edit]

Consisting of multiple London clubs, the Second Summer of Love began in 1988^[1] . The clubs that featured much of the action were Shoom and Future^[1] . These were maintained and organized by Danny Rampling and Paul Oakenfold, respectively, whom were both inspired after taking a trip to Ibiza^[1] . Ibiza was the location of the emergence of acid house music and the basic club scene. In the early stages of the Second Summer Love, the events and parties were underground and illegal^[2] . They traveled by mouth to people that enjoyed the anonymity. The symbol of the time became a smiley face after the London crowd picked up the design when it was posted on one of the flyers during the third Shoom party^[1] . Because of the dehydration effects of ecstasy and MDMA, people emphasized the presence of water and Lucozade, an energy drink made by GlaxoSmithKline, were beverages that people consumed^[1] . Ice pops were a commodity. Hana Borrowman, a frequenter to the Hacienda club, said:

Just when the hallucinogens were kicking in and the dance floor was so full with smoke you couldn't see or breathe, they'd hand out ice pops to everyone^[1] .

People also wore baggy clothing to combat the heat inside of the clubs^[1] .

Music[edit]

Acid house and electronic dance music were the types of music during the Second Summer of Love. Main properties of this form of music include deep and crushing bass^[2] . It originated in Chicago and took on new qualities when it came to Europe^[2] . Songs from the time period include "Mystery of Love" by Fingers Inc., "I've Lost Control" by Sleezy D, and "Your Only Friend" by Phuture^[3] . Moving the Second Summer of Love from underground events to overground, large raves was Wayne Anthony at his warehouse party called Genesis in Aldgate of east London^[1] .

Significance of Drugs[edit]

Ecstasy and MDMA were the drugs of choice during the time. LSD was still present, just not as prominent as the usage of ecstasy. Mark Moore, owener of a club called S'Express, noted:

It definitely took ecstasy to change things. People would take their first ecstasy and it was almost as if they were born again^[1] ."

Users were often strayed away from violence due the feelings of euphoria, love and empathy caused by ecstasy^[2] . The drug also increased the enjoyment of the music and encouraged widespread dancing throughout the clubs^[2] . Nicky Holloway, a DJ from the time, explains:

The ecstasy and music came together. It was all part of the package... That may sound a little sad, but there's no way acid house would have taken off the way it did without ecstasy^[1] .

Legacy[edit]

There was never a pronounced end to the Second Summer of Love. The scene of the events just evolved into something else that contained a much larger audience and became less underground. As it continued into 1989, the focus on large scale parties in warehouses.