Thunderdome (music festival)

Thunderdome is a famous concept in hardcore techno and gabber music that was
Thunderdome
mainly used for a series of parties and CD-albums. It was organized by the Dutch
entertainment company ID&T. The first party was organized in 1992 and the party
held in December 2012 was advertised as being the end of Thunderdome.

Contents
History
The Events
In The Netherlands
In other countries The ID&T wizard, in later years only
The CD albums used for the Thunderdome concept
Reception Genre Electronic music,
Main series hardcore techno and
Special CDs
gabber
The vinyl releases
Location(s) Netherlands ·
Songs that make references to Thunderdome
Germany · Belgium ·
See also Australia · Spain ·
References Switzerland · Italy
External links Years 1992-2012, 2017
active
Founded ID&T
History by
Before the Thunderdome concept was started, ID&T organized a big rave called The Website The official
Final Exam, that was held on 20 June 1992. This was the first attempt to bring Thunderdome website
hardcore and gabber to a wide audience and the first event organized by ID&T, who
would later go on to organize other big dance music events such as Tomorrowland, Mysteryland, and Sensation White, and Black.
Later in 1992 they organized the first Thunderdome party, which was simply titledThe Thunder Dome.[1]

In 1993, ID&T / Arcade Records also started a Thunderdome compilation CD-series with popular gabber music. ID&T also sold
other kinds of merchandise such as T-shirts, bomber-jackets, caps and even an energy drink (Thundertaste). The Thunderdome
concept was considered important to the popularization and spreading of gabber music during the 1990s.[2] Though it was the biggest
and most popular concept in the scene through most of the 1990s, that title is now being rivaled by other events, such as the ones
organized by Masters of Hardcore.

In late 1999 ID&T took a break from the Thunderdome concept and stopped producing the parties and CDs. The break lasted until
2001,[1] when they resumed throwing parties and producing CDs. After the restart, one or two parties each year were held. In 2002,
the concept for the party was the ten-year anniversary of Thunderdome. A CD[3] that was recorded live at the party and an
anniversary DVD[4] were released, both entitled Thunderdome: a Decade. In 2007, the 3-CD set XV: 15 Years Of Thunderdome was
released.

The December 2012 event was advertised as being the end of Thunderdome.[5] An anniversary compilation album was also released.
A press release for this album announced that: "It all comes full circle now. It’s time to let Thunderdome become what it always has
been: a legend."[6]
On 3 November 2015, ID&T announced that while the Thunderdome concept was retired, they introduced a new event called
"Thunderdome Die Hard Day" due to massive demand. The event took place on 5 December 2015.[7] On 3 October 2016, the 24th
anniversary of the first edition of Thunderdome, ID&T announced a second Die Hard Day event to take place on 3 December 2016 at
the Warehouse Elementenstraat inAmsterdam.

At the Dominator Festival on 16 July 2016, a plane with a banner that read "25 Years of Thunderdome - See You in 2017" was seen
flying over the festival grounds.[8] The official Thunderdome Facebook page then uploaded a post that read "See you in 2017," which
confirmed rumours about a 25th anniversary edition of Thunderdome.[9] After Die Hard Day II, ID&T announced that the third
edition would not happen in 2017 due to their preparations for the 25th anniversary edition of Thunderdome. Instead, Die Hard Day
III was held on 27 October 2018, again at the W
arehouse Elementenstraat.

On 17 February 2017, ID&T released the trailer for the 25th anniversary of Thunderdome, which took place on 28 October 2017 at
Jaarbeurs Utrecht.

The Events

In The Netherlands
The Final Exam - 20 June 1992
Thunderdome I - Thialf in Heerenveen - 3 October 1992
Thunderdome II - Frieslandhallen in Leeuwarden - 13 February 1993
Thunderdome III - Statenhal in Den Haag - 13 March 1993
Thunderdome IV - Thialf in Heerenveen - 3 April 1993
Thunderdome V - 'The Final Thunderdome' Martinihal in Groningen - 8 May 1993
Thunderdome - Martinihal in Groningen - 9 October 1993
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs in Utrecht - 27 November 1993
Thunderdome Meets Multigroove - Amsterdam - 25 April 1995
Thunderdome vs. Hellraiser - Amsterdam - 26 August 1995
Thunderdome - '96 'Dance Or Die!' Fec Expo in Leeuwarden - 20 April 1996
Thunderdome @ Mysteryland -Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 22 February 1997
Thunderdome @ Mysteryland- Bussloo - 4 July 1997
Thunderdome Eastern Edition - Expo Center Hengelo - 29 November 1997
Thunderdome - Fec Expo Leeuwarden - 28 November 1998
Thunderdome - Thialf Heerenveen - 2 October 1999
Thunderdome - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 25 August 2001
Thunderdome - Amsterdam RAI - 12 October 2002 [Thunderdome a Decade]
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 25 October 2003
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 4 December 2004
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 3 December 2005
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 2 December 2006
Thunderdome - Amsterdam RAI - 15 December 2007 [Thunderdome XV]
Thunderdome - Payback Time - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 24 May 2008
Thunderdome - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 20 December 2008
Thunderdome - Fight Night - Heineken Music Hall Amsterdam - 23 May 2009
Thunderdome - Alles naar de kl#te - Jaarbeurs Utrecht 19 December 2009
Thunderdome - Breaking Barriers - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 18 December 2010
Thunderdome - Toxic Hotel - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 17 December 2011
Thunderdome - The Final Exam - Amsterdam RAI - 15 December 2012
Thunderdome @ Mysteryland - Floriade - Haarlemmermeer - 26 & 27 August 2017
Thunderdome 25 - Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 28 October 2017
Thunderdome - 'An ode to Gabber' Jaarbeurs Utrecht - 16 October 2019
In other countries
Thunderdome - Keulen SporthalleKöln in Cologne, Germany - 11 July 1994
Thunderdome - Oberhausen in Revierpark in Ruhr , Germany - 13 May 1995
Thunderdome - Palau Vall D'Hebron in Barcelona, Spain - 23 June 1995
Thunderdome - Midland Railway Workshops in Perth, Australia - 1 October 1995
Thunderdome'96 Part 2 - Sportpaleis inAntwerpen, Belgium - 16 November 1996
Thunderdome'97 - Sportpaleis in Antwerpen, Belgium - 23 March 1997
Global Hardcore Nation - Sportpaleis in Antwerpen, Belgium - 18 October 1997
Global Hardcore Nation: The Cosmic Journey - Sportpaleis in Antwerpen, Belgium - 7 February 1998
Global Hardcore Nation - Tomorrowland in Boom, Belgium - 21 July 2017

The CD albums
The Thunderdome CD-series began in 1993. Originally the CD-albums were released by Arcade Records.[10] According to ID&T
and Arcade "more than 1.500.000 Thunderdome albums" had been sold worldwide by 1995.[11] In 2000 no album was released since
ID&T took a break from the Thunderdome concept. From 2001 onwards the albums were released by ID&T's own record label,[12]
and from 2004 onwards byUniversal[13] In 2008 the series was handed over toDance-Tunes.[14]

The last Thunderdome compilation album was released at the end of 2012.

In 1998 there was an attempt to launch a separate Thunderdome series in the US under the Arcade America label, but only one album
was released.[15]

Reception
When the first Thunderdome album was re-released in 2010, Ben Martijn (a new member of Party Animals) wrote a favorable review
on the FOK! website closing with the words "[the album is] full of history and indispensable in the collection of a real hardcore fan!"
[16]

Allmusic gave Thunderdome: The Best of '98 3/5 stars.[17]

Main series
Thunderdome - F*ck Mellow This Is Hardcore From Hell (1993)
Thunderdome II - Back From Hell! (Judgement Day) (1993)
Thunderdome III - The Nightmare Is Back (1993)reached number 4 in theSwiss Music Chartsfor compilations[18]
Thunderdome IV - The Devil's Last Wish (1993) [19] and number 4
reached number 3 in the Austrian Music Charts for compilations
[20]
in the Swiss Music Charts for compilations
[21] and number 4 in
Thunderdome V - The Fifth Nightmare (1994)reached number 5 in the Austrian music charts for compilations
the Swiss compilation charts[22]
[23]
Thunderdome VI - From Hell To Earth (1994) reached number 9 in the Swiss compilation charts
[24]
Thunderdome VII - Injected With Poison (1994)reached number 8 in the Swiss compilation charts
[25]
Thunderdome VIII - The Devil In Disguise (1995)reached number 6 in the Swiss compilation charts
Thunderdome IX - Revenge Of The Mummy (1995)reached number 6 in the Austrian compilation charts [26] and number 4 in the

Swiss compilation charts[27]

Thunderdome X - Sucking For Blood (1995)peaked at number 6 in the Austrian compilation charts[28] and number 5 in the Swiss
charts [29]
Thunderdome XI - The Killing Playground (1995)peaked at number 7 in the Austrian compilation charts[30] and number 6 in the
Swiss compilation charts[31]
[32] and number
Thunderdome XII - Caught In The Web Of Death (1996) peaked at number 5 in the Austrian compilation charts
4 in the Swiss compilation charts[33]
[34]
Thunderdome XIII - The Joke's On You (1996) peaked at number 6 in the Swiss compilation charts
Thunderdome XIV - Death Becomes Y ou (1996) peaked at number 8 in the Swiss compilation charts[35]

Thunderdome XV - The Howling Nightmare (1996)Reached number 63 in the Dutch Top 100 Albums[36]
 Thunderdome XVI - The Galactic Cyberdeath (1997)
Thunderdome XVII - Messenger Of Death (1997)
Thunderdome XVIII - Psycho Silence (1997)
Thunderdome XIX - Cursed By Evil Sickness (1997)
Thunderdome XX (1998)
Thunderdome XXI (1998)
Thunderdome XXII (1998)
Thunderdome - Hardcore Rules The World (1999)
Thunderdome - Past, Present, Future (1999)
Thunderdome 2001 a.k.a. Harder Than Hard (2001)
Thunderdome 2001 Part 2 (2001)
Thunderdome 2002 (2002)
Thunderdome 2003 Part 1 (2003)
Thunderdome 2003 Part 2 (2003)
Thunderdome 2nd Gen Part 1 (2004)
Thunderdome 2005-1 (2005)
Thunderdome 2006 (2006)
Thunderdome 2007 (2007)
Thunderdome XV (2008)Highest placement in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 5[37]
Thunderdome (2008) Highest placement in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 8[38]
Thunderdome Fight Night (2009)Highest placement in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 14[39]
Thunderdome - Alles naar de klote (2009)Highest placement in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 11[40]
Thunderdome - Pure and Powerful Hardcore (2010)Highest place in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 9[41]
Thunderdome - Toxic Hotel (2011) Highest place in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 8[42]
Thunderdome - The Final Exam - 20 Y ears Of Hardcore (2012) Highest place in the Dutch Compilation oTp 30: 3[43]

Special CDs
[44]
Thunderdome - The Megamix Of Thunderdome 1-5! (1994)reached number 5 in the Austrian Music Charts for compilations
Thunderdome - The X-mas Edition (1994)
Thunderdome - Hardcore Will Never Die (The Best Of) (1995)reached number 10 in theSwiss Music Chartsfor
compilations[45]
Thunderdome Australian Tour Vol 1 - Thunder Downunder (1995)
Thunderdome '96 - Dance Or Die! (Live Recorded at FEC-Expo Center Leeuwarden 20.04.96) (1996)
reached number
9 in the Swiss Music Chartsfor compilations[46]
Thunderdome - The Best Of (1996)
Thunderdome '97 (1997)
Thunderdome - The Best Of '97 (1997)
Thunderdome Live Presents Global Hardcore Nation (1997)
Thunderdome Live - Recorded at Mystery Land The 4th of July 1998 (1998)
Thunderdome - The Best Of '98 (1998)
Thunderdome - The Essential '92-'99 Collection (1999)
Thunderdome - A Decade Live (2002)
Thunderdome Turntablized : Mixed by Unexist (2004)
Thunderdome: Die Hard (2015)
Thunderdome: Die Hard II (2016)
Thunderdome - 25 Years of Hardcore (2017)
Thunderdome: Die Hard III (2018)

The vinyl releases

The Dreamteam - Thunderdome (Dreamteam Productions)
Thunderdome III (Arcade)
Thunderdome - The Fuckin Megamix
 DJ Dano - Thunderdome IV4 EP (Dreamteam Productions)
F. Salee - Thunderdome IV EP (Dreamteam Productions)
DJ Buzz Fuzz - Thunderdome IV4 EP (Dreamteam Productions)
The Prophet - Thunderdome IV EP (Dreamteam Productions)
The Dreamteam - Thunderdome Remix EP (Dreamteam Productions)
Thunderdome IV4 The Megamixes (T otal Recall)
Thunderdome IV The Megamixes -Picture Disc- (T otal Recall)
Thunderdome V The Megamixes (T otal Recall)
Thunderdome VI Sampler (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome VI Megamix (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome VII Sampler (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome VII Megamix (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome Winter Experience (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome VIII Sampler (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome VIIII Sampler (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome X Sampler (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome The Unreleased Projects (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome '96 - The Thunder Anthems (ID&T Records)
Thunderdome '98 - Hardcore Rules The World (ID&T Records)
Korsakoff - The Powerrave Experience (Stardom - Thunderdome 2004 Anthem) (Pro Artist Management)
Thunderdome 2006 (Thunderdome Records)
Promo & MC Drokz - Thunderdome 2007 Anthem / 3 Steps Ahead - Remember Remixes (The Third Movement)
DJ Mad Dog & MC Justice - Payback Time (The Official Thunderdome Anthem) (Traxtorm Records)
Endymion & Nosferatu - Act Of God (Thunderdome 08 Anthem) (Thunderdome Records)
Thunderdome Fight Night: The Thunderdome Fight Night Anthems 2009 (Thunderdome Records)

Songs that make references to Thunderdome

Because of the popularity of the Thunderdome concept, some artists have made tributes to it in their songs. These are some examples:

3 Steps Ahead - This is the Thunderdome ("This is the Thunderdome")

3 Steps Ahead - Thunderdome till we Die ("Don't you believe we're in Thunderdome till we die")
DJ Dano - Welcome To The Thunderdome ("Welcome To Another Edition Of Thunderdome")
E-Rick & Tactic - Hardcore Rules the World ("Welcome to Thunderdome '98")
E-Rick & Tactic - Meet her at Thunderdome S ( amples obviously taken fromMad Max Beyond Thunderdome
because they contain the word "Thunderdome")
DJ Mad Dog And MC Justice - Payback Time ("For all the fuckers and bitches that left us behind! This is
thunderdome!")
DJ Promo - Feel the Thunder ("We never stop give you what you want, we never stop give you what you need,
Thunderdome, under makes me wonder, feel the bass, there will be no escape, check it, Thunderdome")
Gabbaheads - I'm a Thunderdome Baby ("I'm a Thunderdome baby , so now you can hear me")
Gabber Piet - Gabber Mack ("Shave your head down to the bone, raving at the Thunderdome")
Neophyte & Promo - TD Is You (feat. Minckz) ("Are youready for the ultimate Thunderdome?!"/"Thunderdome is
hardcore. Thunderdome is you.")
The Prophet, Gizmo, Dano & Buzz Fuzz - Thunderdome '93 ("W e will take you on a trip into thunder.
Thunderdome!")
Yellow Claw & The Opposites - Thunder ("Dit is Thunderdome!")

See also
List of electronic music festivals
ID&T
Gabber music
Hardcore techno
References
1. Thunderdome a Decade event site(http://thunderdome.id-t.com/thunderdome2002/)Archived (https://web.archive.or
g/web/20100814135430/http://thunderdome.id-t.com/thunderdome2002/) 2010-08-14 at the Wayback Machine
2. Billboard July 26, 1997 p. 44 (https://books.google.com/books?id=lg4EAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage
&q=thunderdome&f=false)at Google Books
3. Various - Thunderdome X - A Decade - Live(http://www.discogs.com/release/113402)at Discogs
4. Thunderdome a Decade(https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367140/)at the Internet Movie Database
5. Thunderdome.com - Thank you for 2012(http://www.thunderdome.com/hardcore/news/2012/12/31/thank-you-for-20
12/article/)
6. Thunderdome.com - Thunderdome compilation out now [CD + Digital](http://www.thunderdome.com/hardcore/news/
2012/12/20/thunderdome-compilation-out-now-cd-digital/article/)
7. THUNDERDOME DIE HARD DAY ANNOUNCEMENT (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcK8x_CVmTw)
8. Bassmusic's announcement(http://bassmusic.cl/en/2016/07/thunderdome-vuelve-el-2017-para-sus-25-anos/)
9. Thunderdome's Facebook page(https://www.facebook.com/ThunderdomeIsYou/)
10. Various - Thunderdome - F*ck Mellow, This Is Hardcore From Hell(http://www.discogs.com/Various-Thunderdome-F
ck-Mellow-This-Is-Hardcore-From-Hell/release/212384)at Discogs
11. "The Best of Thunderdome" booklet (1995) Arcade
12. Various - Thunderdome (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Thunderdome/release/48845)at Discogs
13. Various - Thunderdome 2nd Gen Part 1 - Malice To Society (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Thunderdome-2nd-Gen
-Part-1-Malice-To-Society/release/308011)at Discogs.
14. Various - Thunderdome (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Thunderdome/release/1577136)(the 2008 album) at
Discogs
15. Various - Thunderdome (http://www.discogs.com/Various-Thunderdome/release/156432)(The American album) at
Discogs
16. CD: VA - Thunderdome I (http://frontpage.fok.nl/review/404017/1/1/100/cd-va-thunderdome-i.html)
review, Martijn,
FOK!, 2010-09-11 (Dutch)
17. Thunderdome: The Best of '98(https://www.allmusic.com/album/mw0000970664) at AllMusic. Retrieved 5 May
2013.
18. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+III+-+The+Nightmare+Is+Back!&cat=
a)
19. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+IV+-+The+Devil%27s+Last+
Wish&cat=a)
20. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+IV+-+The+Devil%27s+Last+Wish&ca
t=a)
21. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+V+-+The+Fifth+Nightmare!&
cat=a)
22. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+V+-+The+Fifth+Nightmare!&cat=a)
23. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+VI+-+From+Hell+T
o+Earth&cat=a)
24. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+VII+-+Injected+With+Poison&cat=a)
25. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+VIII+-+The+devil+In+Disguise&cat=a)
26. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+IX+-+The+Revenge+Of+The
+Mummy&cat=a)
27. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+IX+-+The+Revenge+Of+The+Mumm
y&cat=a)
28. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+X+-+Sucking+For+Blood&ca
t=a)
29. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+X+-+Sucking+For+Blood&cat=a)
30. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XI+-+The+Killing+Playgroun
d&cat=a)
31. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XI+-+The+Killing+Playground&cat=a)
32. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XII+-+Caught+In+The+W
eb+
Of+Death&cat=a)
33. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XII+-+Caught+In+The+W
eb+Of+Deat
h&cat=a)
34. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XIII+-+The+Joke%27s+On+Y
ou&cat=
a)
35. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XIV+-+Death+Becomes+Y
ou&cat=a)
36. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Various+Artists&titel=Thunderdome+XV&cat=s)
37. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+XV&cat=a)
38. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+20%2F12%2F2008&cat=a)
39. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+-+Fight+Night&cat=a)
40. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+2009+-+Alles+naar+de+klote
&cat=a)
41. dutchcharts.nl (http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?titel=Thunderdome+2010+-+Pure+And+Powerful+Hardcore
&cat=a)
42. dutchcharts.nl (http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+-+T
oxic+Hotel&cat=a)
43. dutchcharts.nl (http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+-+20+Y
ears+Of+Hardcore+-+The
+Final+Exam&cat=a)
44. austriancharts.at (http://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+-+The+Megamix+Of+Thunde
rdome+1-5!&cat=a)
45. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+-+The+Best+Of&cat=a)
46. hitparade.ch (http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=&titel=Thunderdome+%2796&cat=a)

External links
The official Thunderdome website
The official ID&T website

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Thunderdome_(music_festival)&oldid=881431822

"

This page was last edited on 2 February 2019, at 15:19(UTC).

Text is available under theCreative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of theWikimedia
Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.