Badge, lapel badge

Towards the end of the 1980s electronic dance music, Acid House in particular, became hugely popular in London. Illegal 'raves' were organised in warehouses and former industrial buildings. London clubs like Shoom, Future, The Trip and Spectrum became the main venues for the dance music scene and launched a new generation of DJs including Pete Tong and Paul Oakenfold.

London DJs imported 'Balearic' dance music from Ibiza and techno from Detroit. The origins of Acid House music were in the clubs of Chicago. Acid House was the soundtrack to what became known as the 'Second Summer of Love' in 1988 and was associated with the designer drug Ecstasy. The smiley face became the internationally recognised emblem of the Acid House scene and appeared on badges, hats and T-shirts. After 1988 the scene became heavily commercialised. This badge was purchased by a Museum of London curator from a shop on Portobello Road.