#konspiracy

Forget The Haçienda, Konspiracy Was Manchester's Wildest Acid House Night Out

For many, Manchester's Haçienda is a symbol of a time when nightclubs still had their edge, a memorial relic of the halcyon era.

Given that, it might come as a surprise to some that back then, many of the city's clubbers regarded Tony Wilson's storied venue as a middle class alternative to the genuine underground Manchester experience.That experience hasn't had films made about it, or been the subject of countless TV documentaries. Instead, it's quietly sunk into the annals of hedonistic history.

Konspiracy was the brainchild of DJ Chris Jam, who was half of legendary acid house duo the Jam MC's, and one of the few acts from down south to gain the Madchester seal of approval. 

The club was only open for nine months, but burned brightly during its brief lifespan.

Konspiracy soon attracted punters from all over Manchester. Many of them headed there after being turned away from the Haçienda because their face didn't fit. "A lot of kids from places like Miles Platting and Ancoats, who weren't seen the as the right type, wouldn't get into the Haçienda," Chris told me. "Your more middle class kids would go there, though not exclusively, as the main gangsters were all in there too, but the Haçienda definitely didn't let a lot of people in."

Chris' club was more inclusive, providing a space for those who were a bit more on the rough-and-ready side to be themselves. Clubbers also preferred it because both the music and the decor were darker than the city's nightlife giant. The trippy, otherworldly vibe was accentuated by UV lights and alcoves, flashing dancefloors and Dali-style artwork. "It was like Aladdin's cave," says Darren Partington of acid house group 808 State, who DJd at the club. "It had all these little places where you could get lost. It was a weird and wonderful place."