The Second Summer of Love began in 1988, with the rise of the nightclubs Shoom, Future, Trip, and The Haçienda. It was the start of the rave scene in the UK. These five DJs were inspired to start these events after holidaying on Ibizain the summer of 1987 with their friend Johnny Walker. Ibiza was where acid house music first became popular in Europe and the after-hours nature of the club scene emerged. In the early stages of the Second Summer of Love, the events and parties were often held in empty warehouses across the UK and were essentially illegal. Vague flyers around towns and cities advertised events and information travelled by word of mouth between clubbers who were obliged to party incognito. The symbol of the time became a smiley face after the London crowd picked up the design when it was posted on one of the flyers from the third Shoom party. Water and Lucozade were a common feature because of the dehydrating effects of marathon dancing due to MDMA use. Clubgoers wore baggy clothing to combat the heat inside the clubs, and staff handed out ice pops.
Music
was typical of the Second Summer of Love. The music was characterised by the "squelching" bass produced by the Roland TB-303 and loud repetitive beats. It originated in Chicago and took on new qualities when it came to Europe. Songs from the time period include "French Kiss" by Lil Louis "On & On" by Jesse Saunders, "Mystery of Love" by Fingers Inc., "Love Can't Turn Around" by Farley "Jackmaster" Funk & Jesse Saunders, "Back to Life " by Soul II Soul, "I've Lost Control" by Sleezy D, and "Your Only Friend" by Phuture. Moving the Second Summer of Love from underground events to overground, large raves was Wayne Anthony at his warehouse party called Genesis in Aldgate, East London as well as the huge outdoor Sunrise raves organised by Tony Colston-Hayter and Paul Staines. There was also a secondary soundtrack of psychedelic indie rock and indie pop, particularly in the form of shoegaze acts like Spacemen 3, The Jesus and Mary Chain, My Bloody Valentine, as well as Dream Pop acts like The Sundays, which were influential on later Madchester acts like The Stone Roses.
Significance of drugs
Ecstasy was the drug of choice during the time. LSD was still present, just not as prominently. Mark Moore, owner of a club called S'Express, said: "It definitely took ecstasy to change things. People would take their first ecstasy and it was almost as if they were born again." Violence was uncommon due the feelings of euphoria, love and empathy caused by ecstasy. The drug also increased the enjoyment of the music and encouraged dancing. Nicky Holloway, a DJ from the time, said: "The ecstasy and music came together. It was all part of the package... That may sound a little sad, but there's no way acid house would have taken off the way it did without ecstasy."
