Bedlam sound system
Encyclopedia
Bedlam Sound System was founded in Dalston
, east London in 1992, although was involved in organising house parties as early as 1990 all over London starting in a squat in Harlesden
, North London
. It was a free tekno
sound system
run by Steve Bedlam and four other people and many helpers. The first parties were organised in early 90's and later Bedlam was present at the Castlemorton Common Festival
.
The Sound System then became well known in between the years 1992-2000 performing free parties across the United Kingdom and Europe
.
In 2000 the entire Bedlam Sound System was shipped by sea container to Australia
for a massive millennium
party in conjunction with EARTHDREAM 2000 free tour.
Steve Bedlam now runs a professional sound system company.
high frequency horns. Bedlam utilised large vehicles to transport its equipment, in particular a Volvo
tractor unit and Ford Library bus.
The majority of the Bedlam system was purchased second hand from Audio lease in Tottenham, London. Allegedly these very speaker boxes were part of the original Pink Floyd
system from the late seventies. The speakers got donated to Total Resistance Sound System in 2001 after they lost their rig in a forest fire in Portugal.
Dalston
Dalston is a district of north-east London, England, located in the London Borough of Hackney. It is situated northeast of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, east London in 1992, although was involved in organising house parties as early as 1990 all over London starting in a squat in Harlesden
Harlesden
Harlesden is an area in the London Borough of Brent, northwest London, UK. Its main focal point is the Jubilee Clock which commemorates Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee....
, North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
. It was a free tekno
Free tekno
Free tekno is the name given to the music predominantly played at free parties in Europe. The spelling of the word tekno is made to deliberately differentiate the musical style from that of techno...
sound system
Sound system (DJ)
A sound system is a group of DJs and engineers contributing and working together as one, playing and producing music.-Origin:The sound system concept originated in the 1950s in Kingston, Jamaica. DJs would load up a truck with a generator, turntables, and huge speakers to set up street parties...
run by Steve Bedlam and four other people and many helpers. The first parties were organised in early 90's and later Bedlam was present at the Castlemorton Common Festival
Castlemorton Common Festival
The Castlemorton Common Festival was a week-long free festival and rave held in the Malvern Hills near Malvern, Worcestershire, England in 1992....
.
The Sound System then became well known in between the years 1992-2000 performing free parties across the United Kingdom and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
In 2000 the entire Bedlam Sound System was shipped by sea container to 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...
for a massive millennium
Millennium
A millennium is a period of time equal to one thousand years —from the Latin phrase , thousand, and , year—often but not necessarily related numerically to a particular dating system....
party in conjunction with EARTHDREAM 2000 free tour.
Steve Bedlam now runs a professional sound system company.
Notoriety
In its early days, Bedlam was considered to operate the largest rig on the scene; it consisted of six Courtaudio double 15 inch W bins, Martin Philashave mid units and JBLJBL
JBL is an American audio electronics company currently owned by Harman International. It was founded in 1946 by James Bullough Lansing. Their primary products are loudspeakers and associated electronics. There are two independent divisions within the company — JBL Consumer and JBL Professional...
high frequency horns. Bedlam utilised large vehicles to transport its equipment, in particular a Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
tractor unit and Ford Library bus.
The majority of the Bedlam system was purchased second hand from Audio lease in Tottenham, London. Allegedly these very speaker boxes were part of the original Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...
system from the late seventies. The speakers got donated to Total Resistance Sound System in 2001 after they lost their rig in a forest fire in Portugal.