FRIDAYS AT EGG: DIRTYPHONICS // KOVEN // MUZZY

The Kings Cross we knew 15 years ago is a very different place from the up and coming, regenerated hub it is today. Over a decade ago, Laurence Malice purchased a Victorian warehouse which was surrounded by virtually derelict wasteland, directly opposite one of the London’s worst housing estates looming just a stone’s throw away from the venue’s front door. In the aftermath of our 15th birthday celebrations with Radio Slave, FJAAK, Daniel Miller and lots more, we look back at the evolution of Egg LDN… After developing his legendary Trade brand from the scratch, the purchase of what was soon to be Egg LDN back in 1997 was the next project for Malice. With an aim to host legal parties that continued well into the early hours of the morning with an emphasis on the wellbeing of club goers (in addition to a strong booking policy), it became clear that London was lacking an indoor, fully legitimate space for those who wanted to carry on partying after 3am. It’s hard to believe that such draconian license laws were in place compared to the London we know today. Armed with a loyal crew comprised of Trade staff and a solid dose of determination, the previously disused warehouse was christened ‘Egg LDN’ to signify rebirth and a new chapter in both Malice’s life and London nightlife. Malice focused on a music policy which began to showcase emerging and long-running talent from the global electro and techno scene, with the likes of Joy Orbison, Chase and Status, Justice, Miss Kittin, Steve Bicknell and Jeff Mills cropping up in the Main Room during the early years. Despite the niche booking policy, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Due to the location of the club opposite a notoriously unruly estate, revellers were wary to spend their weekends in an area frequented by a few undoubtedly questionable characters. However, slowly but surely, Egg’s 24-hour license and multiple outdoor spaces attracted a loyal crowd who went on to spread the word about a new spot which hosted a plethora of house, techno and electro names from all over the world. As a result, it wasn’t long before Egg’s long-running sessions became legendary throughout the capital. Powering through the years of turbulent changes which could have knocked the club sideways, a slew of remarkable shifts on the electronic scene began to take hold. The introduction of the smoking ban in 2006, and the disappearance of iconic clubs between 2006 and 2013 - which included prominent spots such as The Key, Bagleys, The Church and The Cross - and a huge rehaul of Kings Cross were pinnacle events in the timeline of Egg LDN history, yet the combination of strong-willed team and an uncompromising roster of talent kept the club alive. Evolving with the changes of our time, the club itself is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, with a brand new Main Room, sound system and more all to be revealed later on this year. With such positive architectural adjustments already lined up this year amongst other surprises, it’s safe to say we’ll be around for another while longer.