This week on Hardhouse History, Paul Glazby reconnects with Les from Lab4, one half of the duo that helped define the harder, louder and more theatrical end of UK hard dance.

Les takes us right back to the early 90s, before Lab4 even existed. He and Adam were in an industrial metal band called MAD, writing, programming and effectively carrying the project themselves. When the band dissolved around 93 to 94, the studio side began to take over. Access to proper equipment in Oxford, long hours of experimenting, and a growing obsession with programming led to the birth of Lab4.

From day one, the goal was clear. They wanted to create what Les calls “stadium techno.” Inspired by the spectacle of bands like Kiss and the sheer scale of arena rock, Lab4 invested heavily in stage production, lasers, smoke machines and a full visual show. It was never just about tracks; it was about impact.

We dive into the breakthrough Fridge gig that kicked everything off, the unique Lab4 sound that sat differently on the pitch control than other DJs of the time, and the relentless behind-the-scenes workload. Writing, performing, organising gigs, doing artwork, accounts and logistics, the hour on stage was the easy part. The rest led to burnout.

Les opens up about Adam leaving in 2006, the reunion years later for the Tidy Magna event, and the eventual final chapter after Finland in 2019. There is honesty here about physical limits, creative fatigue and the realities of sustaining a hard dance career for decades.

It is a raw, reflective and hugely important conversation about one of the scene’s most recognisable acts.

Join the History

• Were you front row for Lab4 at The Fridge or Magna?
• What was the first Lab4 track you heard live?
• Drop your memories in the comments and tag a mate who used to lose it to Soulfire.

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