PURE GARAGE 25th Anniversary
PURE GARAGE launched in January 2000, marking 25 years of the iconic brand in 2025. The concept stemmed from Suburban Base Records’ compilation imprint Breakdown Records, which released Underground Garage Flava in 1997—presented by DJ EZ of Freek FM. At the time, DJ Lewi was working alongside Subbase founder Danny Donnelly while DJing on London’s pirate station Freek FM. Lewi introduced his DJ colleague EZ for mixing duties on this pivotal album.
By 1999, Suburban Base had developed a strong working relationship with major label Warner Music, leading to the idea of expanding the concept for wider distribution. This resulted in the first PURE GARAGE album, which quickly went Platinum and topped the charts, cementing its status in dance music history. The brand became synonymous with UK Garage, shaping the scene for generations to come.
