78. United Nation - Three Decades of Drum & Bass; movie review

UNITED NATION - THREE DECADES OF DRUM & BASS
Cert 15
92 mins
BBFC advice: Contains very strong language, drug references

Respect to Terry Stone.
There you go - four words which I never thought would be written on everyfilm.co.uk
Stone and his movie pals have been my bêtes noire for the last decade. I have groaned each time films starring him have emerged because I have known exactly what was coming.
Yes, he has appeared in the litany of badly acted, lowest-common-denominator London crime gang flicks.
However, I was unaware of Stone's alter-ego, Terry Turbo - the man behind the One Nation rave parties which changed the face of music in the UK and now across the world.
And after watching a documentary about the rise of the drum & bass genre, I really have to doff my cap to him.
Stone's story, as told in his and Richard Turner's documentary, is far richer than any of the characters he has played in those crummy East End movies.
It chronicles how raves emerged in a late 80s love-in and then degenerated into violence the early 2000s.
I was surprised at the different angle it presents on drugs, particularly Ecstasy, identifying more clearly than I have seen before how a peaceful movement became one where party-goers needed bullet-proof vests!
United Nation: Three Decades of Drum & Bass is entertaining, showcasing the best dance music but also shocking.
There are no-holds-barred interviews with DJs who made their names thanks to Stone and a celebration of what became an entirely multi-cultural phenomenon.
I have to admit the style of music jars with me. I have tried it out at Glastonbury but perhaps wasn't in the mood for it to resonate.
However, I have witnessed thousands having a good time and their heroes, DJ Fresh, Andy C, Sigma, Hype, Ragga Twins, Adam F, Sasasas, DJ Rap, Grooverider, Fabio, Jumping Jack Frost, Nicky Blackmarket, Ray Keith, DJ Brockie, Rat Pack and more tell their stories here.
Stone was a council house kid from a broken home who made it big and was one of the few to prioritise safety for those who attended his gigs. Indeed, some of the more entertaining tales are from his enforcers.
He comes across as much more likeable fella than I imagined - indeed, by his finale I was such a convert that I had wished he had been able to translate these enthralling real-life stories into his gangster movies.

Reasons to watch: The story behind a whole music genre
Reasons to avoid: A fair bit of repetition among the tales.

Laughs: None
Jumps: None
Vomit: None
Nudity: None
Overall rating: 8/10

Did you know? Terry Stone first became involved in 'flyering' (distribution of flyers) for the rave scene before being asked to become involved in a club in Aldershot.

The final word. Terry Stone said: "It’s great to go back in time and do a film/documentary of this music revolution, this has never seen before content will have your eyes-peeled and jaw-dropped."

Share this post