International Music Summit (IMS) recognise and pay tribute to an electronic music act that have helped write British dance music history and propelled the global electronic music scene; Underworld, true pioneers who have made an outstanding contribution to the genre. Previous recipients of this tribute include, Nile Rodgers, Fatboy Slim, Pete Tong, Sven Väth, Carl Cox, Space Ibiza founder Pepe Rosello and Ricardo Urgell founder of Pacha Ibiza and the worldwide Pacha Group.
IMS Legends Award recipients Underworld comment:
“It’s a huge honour to join our fellow IMS Legends awards recipients and for the recognition from IMS. We look forward to an evening of celebration and to doing what we love, playing live.”
Underworld are a true one-off – at home headlining the world’s biggest festivals and events, playing underground techno clubs and warehouses, sound-tracking theatre productions or taking over art galleries, disused shoe shops and Japanese department stores. Having cemented their place in the ’90s underground techno scene, the group’s definitive breakthrough came in 1996 when their timeless anthem ‘Born Slippy (Nuxx)’ became the soundtrack of a generation after it was featured in the film Trainspotting. The success of that single catapulted the band from the underground into the heart of the mainstream. The following two decades saw them build on that success while never compromising; selling millions of albums, performing countless sold-out shows, providing scores to productions by Academy Award winning directors Anthony Minghella and Danny Boyle, exhibiting in galleries, and sound-tracking the Opening Ceremony to the London 2012 Olympic Games. The critical and commercial success of the band’s Grammy nominated 2016 album ‘Barbara Barbara, We Face a Shining Future’ saw them headline stages at Coachella, Glastonbury and Summer Sonic.
Fusing together elements of techno, dub, trance, Krautrock, drum ’n’ bass, ambient house and even blues, the rave inspired and acid glazed duo are known for their prolific creativity and appetite for breaking fresh artistic ground at every opportunity.
Underworld have gained a well deserved reputation for their live shows and will be bringing an intimate version of their exhilarating and dynamic live experience for an exclusive Ibiza performance after the celebratory dinner. Held at leading venue Heart Ibiza, the creative experience of Albert & Ferran Adria and Cirque du Soleil, IMS Legends Award guests can expect a multisensory evening of entertainment, where art, music and gastronomy collide.
IMS Co-Founder Pete Tong says:
“My relationship with Underworld dates back in 1992 when Steve Hall, Andy Weatherall and the Boys Own crew signed “Mmm Skyscraper I Love You” and released it via their deal with my label FFRR/ London Records. From day one the band radiated a very special aura. The music, the art, the videos and the live performances elevated the genre to a whole new level. When they remade a vocal version of an their 95 instrumental track “Born Slippy” for Danny Boyles iconic film “Trainspotting” in 1996 – “Born Slippy (Nuxx)” they refused to release it as a single. I publicly ‘berated’ them for weeks on my BBC Radio 1 show to change their minds. Eventually they relented and it went onto become their biggest hit reaching No 2 in the UK charts and and a world wide anthem in the process. 25 years later they are still surprising and innovating and delivering top quality art. It’s a great honour to be celebrating their groundbreaking career at IMS Ibiza 11 in this unique manner.”
IMS Co-Founder Ben Turner says:
“In 1993, Underworld’s debut ‘Dubnobasswithmyheadman’ completely changed the direction of electronic music. I was 19 years old and working inside a hugely influential rock newspaper called Melody Maker – pre-internet! – fighting for this unique fusion of electronic and indie rock music to be championed. I found my voice and wrote the Album of the Month review and campaigned for my bosses to put them on the cover the week of their album release. The album went Top Ten that week, and combined with the emergence of the Chemical Brothers, Leftfield, Orbital, the Prodigy and then Faithless, a new kind of dance act was born and a new audience engaged with the genre. Fast forward 25 years and the band continue to lead the way in our genre – composing music for Hollywood films, Olympic ceremonies but, more importantly, still owning dancefloors with new recordings, headline festival shows but also still making some of the most tender, and heartfelt music the genre has ever heard. I am proud all these years later to honour them at the IMS Legends Dinner with Pete Tong and my partners… This will be a night to remember.”
The celebratory banquet honouring a musical and cultural legacy will take place at Heart Ibiza on Wednesday May 23 at 8pm, followed by a live show from Underworld plus special guests to be announced. Limited General Admission tickets to Underworld LIVE at Heart Ibiza are also on sale now.
Text by: Elèna Sanchez
IMS LEGENDS DINNER IN HONOUR OF UNDERWORLD
DATE: Wednesday May 23
TIME: 20.00
LOCATION: Heart Ibiza, Passeig Joan Carles I, 17, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears, Spain
COST: €150.00 – including Live Dinner Experience, all food and beverage and access to Underworld LIVE show.
IMS PRESENT – UNDERWORLD LIVE PLUS SPECIAL GUESTS
DATE: Wednesday May 23
TIME: 24.00
LOCATION: Heart Ibiza, Passeig Joan Carles I, 17, 07800 Eivissa, Illes Balears, Spain
COST: €60
