Islington News: Turnmills last dance, Fatboy Slim, Justin Robertson, Chemical Brothers

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Islington Tribune - by ROISIN GADELRAB
Published: 28 March 2008

Fatboy Slim (right), having a laugh with Justin Robertson

‘The music was untouchable. They wouldn’t go, it just went on and on’

MICHAEL Jackson had his birthday there, Madonna got into the groove on its dancefloor and it was one of the last clubs film star Heath Ledger visited before his death.
But the streets of Clerkenwell will be a little quieter this weekend after legendary nightclub Turnmills – the first club in the country to secure a 24-hour licence – closed its doors for the last time on Easter Monday. It is to be turned into an office block.
After three nights of heavy clubbing, DJs lifted the needle on the final record just after lunch on bank holiday Monday.
Sweaty, emotional clubbers signed walls and wandered into the daylight clutching mementos of Turnmills’ 25 years of partying in Farringdon Road.
Club PR manager Paul Stix, who spent 40 hours in Turnmills over the weekend – mainly dancing onstage – said: “We’re used to not having much sleep but I did overdo it on Friday. It was a truly hedonistic night. I lasted until about 8am. Friends of the club, personal friends and extended family came along.”
The weekend saw The Chemical Brothers, Fatboy Slim, Tall Paul and Brandon Block take to the decks, with Danny Rampling having the final slot from 5am on Sunday through to Monday afternoon.
A week before the event, the £20 tickets were selling on eBay for £122 a pair.
Mr Stix said: “The Last Dance on the Sunday was truly wonderful. I’ve been clubbing for well over 10 years and never experienced anything like this. The music was untouchable. They wouldn’t go home, it just went on and on.”
Mr Stix, who hopes to take home a mirror ball as a memento of the club, added: “After it closed we saw some things were missing. Someone tried to take one sign so the staff had to hide it. People signed doors and walls and we gave out posters. It was incredibly emotional.
“[DJ] Lottie left in tears,” Mr Stix said. “People have been leaving tributes on our website. Islington is going to be very strange, very different. With Turnmills not being there the number of people coming to the area will decrease but I’m sure everyone will cope. The community will be sad it’s going.”

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