3 Steps Ahead – In The Name Of Love - Tribute To 3 Steps Ahead (2024)

Martin van Zeelandt / TCD
Aug 16
4 min read

I don't remember what the first ever 3 Steps Ahead tune was I heard. I'm guessing when he released 'Drop It' back in 1996. Not 100% sure. But he's been in my Hardcore life since the early days, and has never left. He might have unfortunately left us physically, but spiritually he's still here, and his music is still loved by the young, the old, and the die-hard Hardcore fanatic. His music gave the Hardcore generation a sound to rave to. And the majority of his records were extremely successful. And adored by many.

Many years after his passing, you can still find a lot of memorable mixes online. And no mix is made without a 3 Steps Ahead song in it. He was so influential and ahead of his time, we still trying to decipher his music. He has made so many anthems, and of course we know the big anthems, but his more obscure anthems under different aliases like The Illegal Alien, Pedro Terzero, Silverbells, The Ender, and more, they might not be for everyone. An acquired taste, shall we say.

But under the 3 Steps Ahead umbrella did he release a lot of awesome tunes. And with all of them did I grew up with. They were part of my childhood, my youth, and they still put a smile on my face. Ranging from happier tunes to the rougher and bolder songs, his range was extraordinary. His livesets were also something different. Wasn't he the artist who wore a football shirt made out of multiple teams, not signifying just one team, but that we are all gabbers, friends for life, no matter what our political views are or which football club we support. We are gabbers 4 life.

He set the tone, and dominated during the 90s. And so many of his songs have entered our heads, and will never leave us. They are powerful anthems, ones that will take us back to the 90s in a split second. He has made timeless songs, and many still are in awe of each anthem, and shocked to know we live in a world where we have his music, but unfortunately not the actual legend anymore (RIP Peter Paul Pigmans).

A French electronic underground music label, vinyl shop and distributor decided to release a special tribute to the legend, on vinyl, last year. It was limited to 1000 copies, and I'm guessing they were all sold out. 4 LPs, 12'', each representing the colours in 3 Steps Ahead's logo. And 19 records on them, 19 of the biggest 3 Steps Ahead records. Vinyl, eh? Seems that the good old days never go away. Vinyl, and 90s Hardcore are here to stay.

But obviously he's made a shit ton of records, which 19 records were used for this beautiful tribute?

A1. 3 Steps Ahead - Drop It

A2. 3 Steps Ahead - Sound Of The Underground

B1. 3 Steps Ahead - It's Delicioius

B2. 3 Steps Ahead - Crazy

C1. 3 Steps Ahead - Fuk The Police

C2. 3 Steps Ahead - Hardcore

C3. 3 Steps Ahead - Gabbertime

D1. 3 Steps Ahead - In The Name Of Love

D2. 3 Steps Ahead - I'm A H.C.M.F.

E1. 3 Steps Ahead - Hakkuh

E2. 3 Steps Ahead - Gangster (Feel So Good)

F1. 3 Steps Ahead - Money In My Pocket

F2. 3 Steps Ahead - Funny

G1. 3 Steps Ahead - So Much Trouble

G2. 3 Steps Ahead - Gabbers Unite

G3. 3 Steps Ahead - Junkie (Natural Mix)

H1. 3 Steps Ahead - Cloud 9

H2. 3 Steps Ahead - Thunderdome Till We Die

H3. 3 Steps Ahead - Welcome To Planet Steps

What a legend he was! A true Hardcore fan knows each and every song by heart, and can sing them. We all know them, love them, and cherish them forever and ever. He will be with us until our dying days. 3 Steps Ahead, a true Hardcore pioneer.

His mindset was extraordinary. Not taking the 'standard' approach, but his own. His music became synonymous to the best of the best. You knew when you saw his name on a CD, that his record would be awesome. His music brought a smile on your face. And seeing him at Mysteryland 1998 Outdoor certainly did put a smile on my face. Ground-breaking at the time, and a skilled Hardcore producer, he kept the raving community on their toes, with their hands way up in the air.

For this tribute LP they've selected 19 records. And of course did they have to pick 'Drop It' as the first one. One of, if not, the biggest 3 Steps Ahead records out there. Certainly a big one, but not my favourite. That one is still 'Gangster (Feel So Good)'. Those vocals are just awesome.

And being a 3 Steps Ahead compilation, they had to add some quirkiness to it. 'Cloud 9' is up there. And 'Welcome To Planet Steps'. 'Sound Of The Underground' is yet another record you might not find in many people's top 10 3SA songs, but it needs to be on here. It shows how 3 Steps Ahead was, musically. Diverse as possible, bringing Hardcore to everyone, and not caring how it was perceived: as long as it got people raving. But it turned out to be the opposite: the majority of these records were extremely well perceived. Hell, I'm still talking about them, many decades after their initial release.

It's a fantastic ode to the legend. He is truly missed. His music will live on inside all of us. And can I request a suggestion: instead of 'Thunderdome Till We Die', maybe we rename it to '3 Steps Ahead Till We Die'. More fitting to the legend.

You might go and find a copy, but I think it's going to be very difficult. A very sought after LP. Who wouldn't want to have this?