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Bonkers | |
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Compilation album by various artists | |
Released | 1996–2009, 2019-present |
Genre | UK hardcore, happy hardcore, freeform, gabber |
Label | React Music Limited, Resist Music, All Around the World |
Compiler | Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal, Sy, Vibes, Scott Brown, Breeze & Styles, Re-Con, Marc Smith, Neophyte, Gammer, CLSM, Kutski, Druid, Brisk & Ham, Kevin Energy, Chris Unknown |
The Bonkers series was one of the leading happy hardcore compilation series in the UK. The first release was in 1996 on the record label React (now Resist). It was available on 2xCD and 2xTC formats. DJs Sharkey and Hixxy were signed by React, and they released "Bonkers", the first in a series of albums that has become the best-selling hardcore compilation series of all time. As of 11 May 2009, the series had reached its nineteenth release, titled Bonkers: The Original Hardcore.
The Bonkers name was based on the bar with the same name at Butlins Minehead (which has since changed to an Irish Bar). DJ Hixxy said in an interview with Vice “React wanted to sign 'Toytown', so we went up to London to meet them. I said, 'Listen, forget ‘Toytown’. You can have that, no problem. But I’ve got a bigger idea.' It totally changed the meeting. We sat and discussed [the idea for the happy hardcore compilation albums] 'Bonkers' for hours. The name came from a bar in Minehead Butlin’s that we’d played with Ramos and Supreme. I just loved the name.” [1] Frequent contributors to the Bonkers collection include DJ Hixxy, DJ Dougal, DJ Sharkey, Neophyte and Scott Brown. [2]
In 2019, the music publication DJ Mag published a retrospective article about the Bonkers album series, highlighting how it had "ushered in a new era" even though the critical reception at the time had been varied. [2]
Bonkers has also been licensed for local release in Australia via Central Station Records. [3] Bonkers 1-15 was also licensed to "Get over the records" in 2005 for Japanese branded releases. [3] The Japanese edition of Bonkers vol. 1 went on sale on 26 October 2005 with a full TV advert in Japanese. "Get Over the Records" only released Bonkers 1-7 in the Japanese market and has since 2007 stopped releasing albums altogether.
In June 2008, Hardcore online news site 'happyhardcore.com' announced that British dance label All Around the World (AATW) had purchased the rights to Bonkers starting from what would have been volume 18, set to be released in 2009. There had been speculation about a label change for some time, but AATW finally confirmed it. The UK Hardcore genre, which has seen a recent unprecedented rise in popularity, has already helped AATW in securing number one chart positions with its Clubland Xtreme Hardcore releases. The label also expressed their desire to expand the Bonkers brand, suggesting the use of Universal Music TV as their distributor for future releases, as they do for their successful Clubland compilations. All Around the World relaunched the Bonkers series on 11 May 2009 under the title Bonkers: The Original Hardcore, which was mixed by Hixxy, Sharkey and Chris Unknown. [4]
In 2017, Scottish rave promoters Twisted Events and Intenzifi revived the name with annual Bonkers events in Scotland (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 missed due to Government action regarding Covid-19, 2021 and 2022). [5] [6]
In 2021, Scottish Internet Radio Station Beat 106 created the Bonkers Beats radio series alongside Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal and Scott Brown. The show features previous Bonkers contributors. [7]
In 2022, Bonkers started touring events up and down the United Kingdom. [8]
September 2023 - Bonkers published a Mission Statement regarding is to relaunch in October as two record labels by Sharkey and Al Twisted. The main "Bonkers" which would have a multi-genre approach with all forms of Hard Rave and "Bonkers Legacy" celebrating the past. [9]
Title | Mixed by | Release date | Peak chart positions | Certifications |
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UK Comp [10] | ||||
Bonkers | Hixxy, Sharkey | 1996 | 25 [11] |
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Bonkers 2: Now We're Totally Bonkers | Hixxy, Sharkey | 1997 | 10 [13] | |
Bonkers 3: A Journey into Madness | Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal | 1997 | 31 |
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Bonkers 4: World Frenzy | Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal | 18 June 1998 | 8 [15] |
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Bonkers 5: Anarchy in the Universe | Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal | 26 October 1998 | 12 | |
Bonkers 6: Wheel Crazy | Dougal, Sy, Vibes | 19 April 1999 | 10 [17] | |
Bonkers 7: Millennium Fever | Hixxy, Dougal, Sy | 4 October 1999 | 18 | |
Bonkers 8: The Rezurrection | Hixxy, Sharkey, Sy | 22 July 2002 | 36 | |
Bonkers 9: Hardcore Mutation | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown | 18 November 2002 | 27 | |
Bonkers X | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown | 26 May 2003 | 18 | |
Bonkers XI: Forevolution | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown | 15 September 2003 | 34 | |
Bonkers 12: The Dirty Dozen | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown, Breeze & Styles | April 2004 | 7 [18] | |
Bonkers 13: Hardcore Horror Show | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown, Dougal | 18 October 2004 | 13 | |
Bonkers 14: Hardcore Strikes Back | Hixxy, Sharkey, Scott Brown, Dougal | 30 May 2005 | 12 | |
Bonkers 15: Legends of the Core | Hixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & Marc Smith, Scott Brown & Neophyte, Dougal & Gammer | 5 December 2005 | 33 | |
Bonkers 16: Maximum Hardcore Energy! | Hixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & CLSM feat. Kutski, Scott Brown & Gammer | 10 July 2006 | 15 | |
Best of Bonkers | Hixxy & Re-Con, Sharkey & Druid, Scott Brown | 15 January 2007 | 9 [19] | |
Bonkers 17: Re-Booted | Brisk & Ham, Sharkey & Kevin Energy, Scott Brown & Marc Smith | 29 October 2007 | 18 | |
Bonkers: The Original Hardcore | Sharkey, Chris Unknown, Hixxy | 11 May 2009 | 8 [20] |
Bonkers | ||||
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Compilation album by various artists | ||||
Released | 1996 | |||
Genre | Happy hardcore, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 134:32 | |||
Label | React | |||
Compiler | Hixxy, Sharkey | |||
Bonkers chronology | ||||
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Bonkers 2: Now We're Totally Bonkers | ||||
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Compilation album by various artists | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 150:32 | |||
Label | React | |||
Compiler | Hixxy, Sharkey | |||
Bonkers chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bonkers 3: A Journey into Madness | ||||
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Compilation album by various artists | ||||
Released | 1997 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 222:25 | |||
Label | React | |||
Compiler | Hixxy, Sharkey, Dougal | |||
Bonkers chronology | ||||
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Bonkers 4: World Frenzy | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 18 June 1998 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:31:50 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Hixxy's Mix
Disc 2: Sharkey's Mix
Disc 3: Dougal's Mix
Bonkers 5: Anarchy in the Universe | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 26 Oct 1998 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:42:16 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Disc 1: Hixxy's Mix
Disc 2: Sharkey's Mix
Disc 3: Dougal's Mix
Bonkers 6: Wheel Crazy | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 19 April 1999 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:52:11 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Disc 1: Dougal's Mix
Disc 2: Sy's Mix
Disc 3: Vibes' Mix
Bonkers 7: Millennium Fever | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 4 October 1999 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:50:51 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Disc 1: Hixxy's Mix
Disc 2: Dougal's Mix
Disc 3: Sy's Mix
Bonkers 8: The Rezurrection | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 15 July 2002 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:25:59 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Hixxy's Mix
Disc 2: Sharkey's Mix
Disc 3: Sy's Mix
Bonkers 9: Hardcore Mutation | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 18 Nov 2002 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:29:11 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Hixxy
Disc 2: Sharkey
Disc 3: Scott Brown
Bonkers X | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 26 May 2003 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:34:51 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Hixxy
Disc 2: Sharkey
Disc 3: Scott Brown
Bonkers XI: Forevolution | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 15 Sep 2003 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:34:51 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Hixxy
Disc 2: Sharkey
Disc 3: Scott Brown
Bonkers 12: The Dirty Dozen | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | April 2004 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 4:49:42 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bonkers 13: Hardcore Horror Show | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Compilation album | ||||
Released | 18 Oct 2004 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 4:45:22 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
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Bonkers 14: Hardcore Strikes Back | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 30 May 2005 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 4:52:04 | |||
Label | React Music Limited | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Bonkers 15: Legends of the Core | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 5 December 2005 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 4:58:50 | |||
Label | Resist Music | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 2: Sharkey & Marc Smith
Disc 3: Scott Brown & Neophyte
Bonkers 16: Maximum Hardcore Energy! | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 10 Jul 2006 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:43:13 | |||
Label | Resist Music | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 2: Sharkey & CLSM feat Kutski
Disc 3: Scott Brown & Gammer
Best of Bonkers | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 15 Jan 2007 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Length | 3:38:09 | |||
Label | Resist Music | |||
chronology | ||||
|
Disc 3: Scott Brown
Bonkers 17: Re-Booted | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 29 Oct 2007 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Label | Resist Music | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1: Brisk & Ham Mix
Disc 2: Sharkey & Kevin Energy Mix
Disc 3: Scott Brown & Marc Smith Mix
Bonkers: The Original Hardcore [4] | ||||
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Compilation album | ||||
Released | 11 May 2009 | |||
Genre | UK hard house, hardcore techno, gabber | |||
Label | Universal Music TV, All Around The World | |||
chronology | ||||
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Disc 1 - Mixed by DJ Sharkey
Disc 2 - Mixed by Chris Unknown
Disc 3 - Mixed by Hixxy