Just to correct eatstatic's entry...

The venue of Altern-8s infamous, afterhours "gig on the back of a truck in the carpark outside the club" stunt was indeed Shelleys, but the actual location of the club was Longton (Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. England), not Stafford. It was Altern-8 themselves that were from Stafford. If I recall correctly the boys got quite a severe ear bashing (which is an understatement of great proportions) from the local constabulary who weren't amused by the legendary open-air performance!

I have loved Altern8 since their 1st release. Whilst sounding like they were taking the piss at the rave scene they managed to pull off some very credible classics. One of their best known stunts was to pull up outside Shelleys night club in Stafford (england), in an articulated truck and do a 30 minute set of all their tunes, whilst filming for one of their videos. Sadly they have pretty much gone off the scene, but I had a chance to see them DJ at the emporium in Coalville (England) last week and I felt like an 18 year old again.....! Old skool rooles!

Altern-8 was definitely the top act on the UK dance scene in the early 90's. They caught me with their amazingly wicked basslines, rave stabs and cool samples, so simple programing but it hooks you so deep. "Mask Hysteria" is the only record I ever managed to completely wear out, I couldn't get enough and still cant. I just don't praise them because of nostalgic reasons but they were very good producers, that's why the tracks still sound tight today. During that time much of the music was about experimenting which caused many tracks not having a long life but Altern-8's classics still works. I find that their early works have a Detroit-ish sound but also later, check out "The 1st Of May" for some lethal basslines and Detroit vibes. Respect and love to Altern-8, they still make me wanna dance!

Altern 8 started doing PA's at clubs again a few years back and I'm pleased to say that I've seen the legendary rave duo play twice over the past three years. The line-up on stage consists of Chris Peat and Mark Archer (each behind a giant yellow "A" and "8"), their own MC and a breakdance crew. Of course, you can't tell if it's really Peat and Archer beneath the black hoods and infamous yellow (traditionally Vicks-coated) dustmasks but personally I'm not fussed - it's just great to hear a set of all their classic tunes, complete with shameless fat rave stabs & basslines and even more shameless samples lifted blatantly from early techno, house and electro. :) They typically play the likes of Evapor-8, Infiltrate 202, Hypnotic St-8, Frequency, etc (all sadly overlooked by old skool deejays these days so it's especially wicked to hear them at a rave again) and last time I saw them we were also treated to a more recent D&B remix called Infiltrate 2002.