Did you know Ibiza Spotlight turns 50 this year? Yes, we've certainly put in the years and the work, which is probably why we're considered the island's most important news and information source.
Along its 50-year island journey, Ibiza Spotlight picked up some colourful characters to join its team for the ride. A mish-mash of people from many different walks of life, whose paths changed course as they became part of the Ibiza Spotlight family.
From DJ and club performer to photographer and website wizard, hotel receptionist to social media manager, body painter to editor and watersports instructor to Ibiza Spotlight owner - the team's been there, done it and are now sharing a little taste of their wild adventures that got them here today.
Back in the day, incoming...
Pete
I arrived in Ibiza by chance in 1997 after meeting someone in London who suggested visiting, while I was on a six-week, round-the-world holiday. She said she had friends who ran a place called the Rock Bar and that I should go and say hi.
The original Rock Bar (upstairs) in Ibiza Town port, in 1997
Well, I did just that, and after a few nights I decided I didn’t need to go anywhere else on this holiday; everything I wanted was right here.
Fun days on Formentera and Kanya beach (near Caló des Moro on the Sunset Strip)
I spent days at Salinas, sipping cold beers and listening to Jon Sa Trinxa playing the most perfect music, going to Pacha and Space back-to-back and then straight back to the beach. I’ll never forget those days. After that, it was time to go home, but the bug had already bitten me, and I was determined to return - this time with records. I was going to become a famous DJ and live in Ibiza! Spoiler alert: that didn’t work out...
Wild nights at God's Kitchen working with Foc i Fum performance group
When I came back the second time, I lived in the countryside between Pacha and Jesus. Spending my days enjoying the quieter campo life and my nights out partying with friends in clubs... I actually broke my leg on this second trip, and was in a cast at all the opening parties and embarrassingly fell down the stairs in Zenith at Pacha on my crutches. Not a proud moment.
Johnny, the Bouncer at the Manumission Hotel
I did have some good DJ memories though, like getting to play at Manumission Hotel one night. Johnny Golden rang me up (after pestering him to play), saying they were short a DJ. I ended up playing all night until closing and having a blast with a full house of amazing party people.
The same happened with MTV Festival 2000; a DJ didn’t show, and I drove all the way back to Ibiza Town from San An to get my records. When I got back, Jill Canney said “You’re on!” and pushed me on to a stage with four turntables and about 3000 people waiting for the DJ. I shakily managed to get the needle onto Danny Tenaglia’s "The Rising Sun". The crowd seemed not to notice my amateur skills, and the rest of the set went down like a dream.
I’ve been here almost 30 years now, and although the DJ dreams faded away, I’m glad they did, as I changed direction, met my lovely wife Cristina and started working with the amazing team at Ibiza Spotlight. Result!
Maria
Enjoying beach days at Aguas Blancas
I grew up in Madrid and came to Ibiza in 2002 for the first time. It was the best summer of my life. I worked as a receptionist at the Calimera Playa hotel, now 7Pines; it’s amazing how much things have changed, but in a nice way. I fell in love with Cala Conta back then because it was, and still is, a little piece of paradise.
Me, my husband, and our dog, Nine, at Punta Galera
Later on, I found the joy of early-morning swims at the more popular beaches, getting there to enjoy them before the crowds arrive. I still do it to this day, and it’s one of my favourite things to do, along with visiting Formentera.
Punta Galera was one of my favourite places because of its peace and tranquillity, and of course the sea - such incredible swimming and snorkelling. I could spend the whole day there without even noticing the time.
My first few years were all about fun and happiness. I met the man who is now my husband, and we went on to have a daughter, now 14 years old! We would go to little coves with our dog, enjoy the sunsets, and eat at great restaurants. I look back on those years with so much affection.
Sven Väth up close at DC10 in 2002, and Mambo back in the day
I have so many stories to tell from my early years, like when we used to go to DC-10, then onto Cocoon, and after getting a few hours of sleep, we’d head to the S’Estanyol afterparty. They were absolutely legendary times.
Over these years, I met so many people who are still my friends today. And, funnily enough, although we all came from different places, we now all live here. And I think that’s one of the reasons why I love my job at Ibiza Spotlight so much. It’s basically what I’ve always done: discovering new places, revisiting the places I’ve loved for years, and showing them to the world.
James
Out at sea, casually being a style icon
That photo was from my first working summer in 1992. No comments about the wetsuit, please - that was the height of 90s fashion.
I had come to Ibiza to work at my godfather’s German holiday club in Es Cana, after telling him I was fluent in German. Guess what… I wasn’t. So my first job there was picking up cigarettes on the beach - smoking was very popular back then - whilst trying to learn enough words of German to be able to teach sailing and windsurfing. Eventually I learned some German, learned to sail and windsurf, and realised I never wanted to leave.
For me, the best thing about Ibiza was and is freedom. Freedom to do what you want, be who you want to be, and live the life you choose.
Hayley
My first holiday to Ibiza was in 1997, which makes me feel a little unwell now that I realise that was almost 30 years ago. This was back in the days when two-week package holidays were all the rage. I was quite young, so we stuck mainly to the West End, which was like a funfair; heaving with people, cheap drinks deals and mischievous behaviour every night.
Outside the doors of Space, overdressed in a ridiculously thick denim skirt
Fast forward a few years, and I returned with a little clubbing experience under my belt and was ready to experience the dancefloors of Ibiza. We spent days at Kanya Beach, watching parades and finding out about club deals, eating cheap baguettes and drinking alcopops to regain our energy for the next night out.
One day we snuck onto a workers' bus for a secret Garlands party at Space. We missed their infamous free punch (if you know, you know), but I remember vividly the sight of people dancing wildly on the open terrace stairs and a man in a devil's outfit shaking his naked bum at everyone. I was in awe! Manumission was as wild as the stories, and Eden was a big hitter back then. It was home to some of our Trance favourites, including Judgement Sundays and Armin Van Buuren.
Finally getting a photo with my hero, in between lounging about on the floor at Eden
Back then you could accost DJs as they left the booth, flashing disposable cameras in their faces for a trophy picture, in between taking a seat on the floor if you needed a breather - you’d be out on your ear if you tried that now!
What a job! Roaming around Eden in a sperm outfit...
That two-week holiday was something I'll never forget, and I still reminisce about it with friends who come out every year to see me in Ibiza now; in fact, some of my oldest friends are from this clubbing era.
It felt like a wild dream that Ibiza could ever become my home, but I returned and went through the many seasons of Ibiza life and many summers of jobs: zoo project body painter, masseuse, cleaner, nanny, and door girl before finding my feet at Ibiza Spotlight. 25 years on, I'm here and living my dream, and Ibiza is still my favourite place to be.
Lissy
My first time in Ibiza was in August of 2019 for my best friend's birthday. We came with hardly any money to our names, just the knowing that Ibiza was our promised land.
We stayed in Marco Polo II in San Antonio and thought it was the most magical place ever. We made friends with everyone in the hotel and barely got any sleep between us. In classic Ibiza style, we missed our flight home, but with the help of our overdraft, we successfully managed another three days of partying.
Ibiza is always a good idea, even if you miss your flights and injure yourself...
We managed to squeeze a lot into that week, but the definite highlight was my first time on the DC-10 Terrace for Paradise. We were the first ones in the club, and we loved it so much that we went back for Circoloco. From Ibiza Rocks for Craig David, to Amnesia, O Beach, Blue Marlin and Pacha for Music On (where I got carried out by four security guards after cutting my foot on the dancefloor), we made memories that will forever be ingrained in my brain. I loved it so much that I’m now in my fifth season living here!
Steffi
1995 was my first summer on Ibiza, working as a rep at Club Punta Arabí, a holiday club for young holidaymakers from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Me as a rep for the excursions in Ibiza Town
I organised day excursions to Formentera and to Ibiza Town at night, and nights out at places like the Foam Party at Amnesia and Manumission at Privilege. I showed them the best Ibiza had to offer and fell in love with the island myself.
Life in balance! Top photo, me at work. Bottom photo, enjoying the inside club at Space
As I could plan my weekly schedule freely, I made sure to have Sundays off so I could go to Space, back then an after-hours club that opened early in the morning. I would spend most of my Sunday there, dancing in the dark main room (the only place on Ibiza where you could listen to Techno and Trance), taking a breather on the open, famous Space Terrace. Here, extravagantly dressed people of all ages partied to happy House under giant fans, the DJs mixing vinyls behind the bar.
But it was not only the clubbing that captivated me. Ibiza enchanted me with the beauty of its landscapes, the very special light that makes all the colours so brilliant, and above all, the tolerance and friendliness of the Ibicencos.
Furthermore, that year I met my future husband here (James, the man sporting the incredible wetsuit) and the rest is history. 31 years later, I’m still loving and promoting Ibiza!
If you want to really go back in time, Ibiza in 1999 .
To know more about our history and journey from print to pixels, check out our trilogy series: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
