The First, Second & Third Decade | Thunderdome 2022

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD

Aug 24, 20234 min read

I am a Thunderdome, baby, so why don't you kill me? If you know what I'm referring to, you are a Thunderdome freak too! But in all seriousness, I am a massive Thunderdome fan, and it all started back in 1993 for me. For ID&T it started in 1992, and guess what? It's been 30 years since, and to celebrate this, last year, they decided to give the fans something special. Something that I could not even see on the line-up. If you've been, can you let me know when these three ten minute timeslots occurred?

And I know I am late to the party. These videos have been on Thunderdome's YouTube channel for quite some time, and already gained massive view numbers, and a lot of positive feedback from those that watched them, and those that were actually there. The event itself had positive feedback, but it came with a killer line-up, one that would put a huge smile on everyone's face! Unfortunately I couldn't go, as the tickets sold out so damn quickly1

Ophidian, Marc Acardipane, Nosferatu, Mad Dog, Promo, Dione, Panic, Catscan, Evil Activities, Bass-D, Buzz Fuzz vs Lady Dana, Rob & MC Joe, The Outside Agency, Dither, Angerfist vs Tha Playah, DRS, Drokz, The Viper, Endymion, Weirdo, The Darkraver vs Gizmo, Ruffneck, Vince, The DJ Producer, Detest, I:GOR, and the list goes on. If you aren't slobbering like Homer J. Simpson, you aren't Hardcore enough.

But today it's not about those sets, which you might find on YouTube too, but it's about the celebration of three decades. As said, it all started back in 1992, and in 2022 they celebrated three decades of Thunderdome. Three ten minute timeslots of pure passion, pure Thunderdome. The videos are truly astonishing. Ravers just embracing the three decades, and what music came out of the scene between 1992 to 2002, 2002 to 2012, and 2012 to 2022. No one behind the decks, people just raving their arses off. Yes, mobile phones are in sight, but you have to record this special moment in history. We won't be able to witness something this great for another 9 years!

These are special videos, and deserve more views. Acknowledge the importance of Thunderdome, and what they have done and achieved.

The First Decade | Thunderdome 2022

Moby - Thousand w/ Catscan - Cr8tiv Counter (Lyrics)
Diss Reaction - Jiieehaaa
Turbulence - 6 Million Ways To Die
Darrien Kelly & Scott Brown - Geleihoofd
Marshall Masters - Stereo Murder
Dr. Macabre - Poltergeist
French Connection - French Connection
Tony Ronald - Help (Vocals from Charly Lownoise & Mental Theo - Wonderfull Days)
Bodylotion - Happy Is Voor Hobo's
Cybernators - No Out Of Here...
Chosen Few - Name Of The DJ (DJ Buzz Fuzz Remix)
Masters Of Ceremony - Hardcore To Da Bone
DJ Paul Elstak - You're A Hardcore Hooligan
DJ Paul Elstak & Teenage Warning - Brohym
3 Steps Ahead - In The Name Of Love

The Second Decade | Thunderdome 2022

G-Shock - Demons (Promo Remix)
Promo - Patterns In Chaos
Promo - King Of Pain (Mashup)
DJ E-Rick & Tactic - Meet Her At Thunderdome
DJ Bike - Bike's Drum
DJ Sim - Simbiosis
Catscan - WO III
Meagashira - Through Inner Core
The Stunned Guys & DJ Paul - Thrillseeka
Unexist - Attack
Noisekick - Ik Haat Trance!
The Outside Agency - Backpack Wisdom
Mad Dog - Welcome Down

The Third Decade | Thunderdome 2022

Nicole - Een Beetje Vrede
Angerfist & I:Gor - Gangsterizm
Alien T - Hammer Of The Devil
Art Of Fighters - Fuck You!
Endymion & The Viper feat FERAL IS KINKY - Raging In The Dancehall (The Outside Agency Remix)
N-Nitral - Crispy Bassdrum (Bombsquad Remix Edit)
Noize Suppressor & Mad Dog - Bassdrum Bitch
Furyan - Bass Journey
Mad Dog - Reset
Cryogenic - Basskick Paradise

Three decades. Time has flown by, hasn't it? Did they realise back in 1992 that they were going to create something that would stood the test of time, and would still be appreciated decades later? Or did they think it was only going to be a one off, being pleasantly surprised there was a craving for more, and now 30 years later, it is still going strong?

These three videos will raise another question to those die-hard fans: which decade do you prefer? Are you an early OG, a Millennium fanatic, or a present day raver? To me the answer isn't as simple as you might assume, but the 90s and the Millennium years have been the greatest years for me, but in the end you only have to choose one decade, and to me it's 1992 to 2002. The music was, to me, the best of the best.

But before we dive into each set, let's focus on the video itself. It is GREAT! I seriously love how it has been recorded, and what an ode to the gabbers! You could not give the gabbers anything more than this. 30 years of Hardcore, and they loved it. They screamed their heads off when the music kicked in, and especially when certain songs came on.

But which song of each video is my favourite? Shouldn't come as a surprise:

The First Decade: Marshall Masters - Stereo Murder The Second Decade: DJ Sim - Simbiosis

The Third Decade: Cryogenic - Basskick Paradise

There's a few songs in these sets which I do not like, but they were part of the decade. And I also question certain songs: I thought 'Simbiosis' and 'Meet Her At Thunderdome' were released in the 90s, not noughties?

But the experience had to be amazing. This was one of those moments you had to be there, to fully capture the power behind the Wizard and the music that came out of the early 90s, that still continues to this day, and still makes thousands of gabbers happy.

Thank you, ID&T, for giving us Thunderdome, and for three decades of smiles. Smiles for miles!

And also thanks for opening the set with Moby - Thousand. What a track!