Gary Aspden uses rave scene for new adidas clothing range

Darwen-born Gary Aspden has launched his adidas Spezial A/W18 collection, which takes its influence from Blackburn’s rave scene during the late 1980s and 1990s.

Mr Aspden, who has used East Lancashire as a foundation for other clothing lines, said he filmed in a variety of spots in Blackburn, including View Studio in Whalley New Road, the King Street Shell petrol station and Imperial Mill in Gorse Street.

Youngsters from Blackburn took part in the film.

Mr Aspden said there was nod to his past in the clothing range, with the ‘Sett End SPZL’ t-shirt named after a pub which was where many of the ravers would meet.

He said: “I was at the first Blackburn acid house night in a basement club called C’est La Vie in September 1988.

“I later went to the Sett End club regularly and attended most of the Blackburn parties afterwards, which in hindsight had a massively positive impact on my life.

“Thirty years on we wanted to celebrate this brilliant story of our town and culture through the adidas Spezial range that I curate and design.”

Thousands of ravers from across the country would come to Blackburn to listen to acid house music in abandoned mills and warehouses.

Part of the film was shot at Imperial Mill, home to the Lancashire Saw Company.

Stephen Quinn, who works at the mill, said his boss, Steve Bentley, let Mr Aspden film there.

He said: “Gary is a friend of mine and I heard he wanted his new film to be shot in Blackburn and I thought the mill was a perfect place.

“It looks exactly like the old mills and warehouses we used to rave in during the 90s, and this year is the 30th anniversary of when it all kicked off in Blackburn."

A Lancashire Telegraph article from November 1988 said an ‘evil’ club craze had surfaced.

Mr Quinn, who started attended the raves in his late teens, said: “It was a great time to be alive.

“It was part of our growing up and it was what we did. Everyone had a great time.”