This year, Amnesia becomes the latest Ibiza super-club to celebrate its fiftieth anniversary.
After first opening its doors in the summer of 1976 (just like a certain other island business...), Amnesia has firmly etched its name in clubbing folklore. Not only locally, but on an international scale.
This remarkable milestone, both Amnesia's and our own, has put us in a reflective mood.
Like the old saying goes, "if you can remember the '80s, then you probably weren't there!"
But, of course, many of us were there. And even if our chemical-addled brains might not have retained quite as much information as they should have, some patchy memories linger - and they make for some great (if sometimes incoherent) stories.
We asked the thriving online community on our forum to share their favourite memories from Amnesia in years gone by. And, as resident jester Buckley was quick to quip, "I see what you did there!", we'll be the first to admit, it's a complete oxymoron. Enjoy!
macdonsj
Moderator
"My first visit was in 1998 for Cream. Trance was reaching its peak and Nick Warren and Paul Oakenfold had the packed Main Room in complete rapture. All my favourite tunes blasted out, the first exposure to the megatron (wow!) I danced all night long.
I had gotten deep into dance music via a Cream Essential Mix that featured Warren and Oakenfold, so hearing a full six hours or so of that was everything I had hoped it would be."
"My last visit was in 2009. I finally got to enjoy a Cocoon night on the last night of my friend's stag do. Sven Vath and Mathias Kaden absolutely tore it up in the Main Room. I climbed up to an elevated area and danced my legs sore.
As was the norm, I left by myself (as I never want to leave early) and found myself standing the taxi queue in blistering sun, checking my pockets to discover I had little cash left.
Luckily, the chap next to me was heading my way so shared a taxi which he covered the fare for all the way (thanks unknown person)."
IbizaJames1980
Active member, joined October 2011
"In 2009, I saw Armin van Buuren at his Armada night. I didn't move from the pillar on the right of the Main Room all night.
His final tune at 06:00 was the original mix of Café del Mar by Energy 52. It just felt like a very special moment. I walked out with a huge smile on my face. As I walked to get a taxi, I saw Armin, told him what a moment it was and shook his hand."
CasaNegron
Well-known member, joined August 2017
"My first trip to the island in 2003: Amnesia was my first club night in Ibiza.
I had only been on the island a few hours and didn't have a hotel to check into until the following afternoon. My plan was to party all night and sleep on the beach the next day. It was a foam party and lived up to the hype."
Amnesia's wet n' wild La Espuma foam party
"Back then, Amnesia had a no-camera policy. Nobody had camera phones yet. I had to leave my digital camera at the cloakroom (checked in like a coat). They were expensive back then and I was sceptical I would even see it again.
When they returned it, I turned around and snuck a quick picture of the inside (blurry, of course). I quickly ran to the parking lot with no idea how to get back to San Antonio. It felt like an eternity waiting for the bus to arrive."
Bucko08
Well-known member, joined June 2016
"I wouldn't know where to start with all the times I've been there...
One unexpected night was when Magdalena's Shadows party at Cova Santa got washed out. Spent hours in a bar sinking drinks and deliberating what to do, before getting news it was being moved to Amnesia.
Flew to hotel to get changed and arrived at Amnesia to find the DJ booth being facing sideways and Solomun playing. Was a top night musically. We mingled with so many people that night. It just had such a great atmosphere, I think in part due to the unexpected circumstances."
W_I_C
Clubbing Editor, joined February 2011
"One of the early ones that sticks in my head is my first Cocoon - its closing party of 2013.
My tastes weren't so refined at the time. A year earlier, a friend had tried to convince us to go as we watched the sunset at Café Mambo, but we ended up going elsewhere for some commercial nonsense I wouldn't entertain now. But anyway, twelve months later, there I was, giving it go.
It was like an awakening. One moment I will never forget was seeing my mate Dean lost in the music and dancing on top of the bar in the Main Room, being actively encouraged by the bar staff - it just wouldn't happen today!"
"The big track that summer was Gotham by Ten Walls (this was before he committed career suicide by posting a homophobic rant on social media). I knew that it was in Sven's record bag, but despite waiting for it, it never came.
Then, as we were leaving and walking out into the car park, he played it, so we went racing back inside. I never looked back after that experience. I was a Cocoon convert and remain one to this day. Makes me wonder what would've happened had I gone in 2012?
Sorry, Hannah. You were right."
We hope that reading a few of these might have triggered some of your own dormant memories. Don't worry too much if you can't remember anything. All that matters is that you lived in the moment. DANCE TO FORGET!, as the instruction goes.
We'll be publishing part two in the coming weeks.
For a comprehensive list of every party taking place at Amnesia during its fiftieth anniversary, click here or visit our party calendar to search by date. Let's make some new memories (or not!)
