Underworld have been announced as the recipients of the IMS Legends Award at this month's International Music Summit in Ibiza.
The dance pioneers will be honoured at the IMS Legends Dinner at Heart Ibiza on Wednesday, May 23, prior to playing a midnight set at the venue.
IMS Co-Founder Pete Tong said: “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 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 a world wide anthem in the process. 25 years later they are still surprising, 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 said: “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 10 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.”
Previous recipients of the IMS Legends Award 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. Tickets to the dinner cost €150 (£132).
