Little did the founder of Pacha, Ricardo Urgellthat the name of this new disco that was to open in Ibiza in 1973 – already the seventh to open on the Mediterranean coast – would eventually become a large business emporium with locations all over the world, ranging from the fashion industry to hotels. “Put on Pacha, you will live like a pacha“his wife commented to him when he was deciding on the name. The anecdotal occurrence baptized one of the most recognized brands worldwide.
At that time Ibiza was different. The scarce offer of nightlife was limited to bars and small clubs where the hits of the time were played. Pacha Ibiza would not take long to become the mecca of music and partying at a time when the island acquired a halo of freedom, tolerance and a place to live experiences that could change one’s life. The discotheque assimilated that essence that the island exuded and from that moment on it became synonymous with music, fun and unforgettable experiences.
Pacha has evolved to the level of a business group that opens franchises in the most important cities. However, that country house in which he started his career, his cradle, is still a icon and reference of the nightlife industry.
On the wave of the 70’s
In the early 1970s 1970sin the 1970s, the island of Ibiza had become a place of pilgrimage for thousands of young people from the hippy community from all over the world. The island still had very limited infrastructure and tourism was a fledgling industry, but still in its infancy.
The pacha nightclub was born in a secluded house in Ibiza town. It didn’t even have running water, as Urgell tells in an interview in Es Diari in 2014, it was brought in tanker trucks and stored in a tank. There was not even a telephone line.
At that time the disco had 16 employees, a record player and a couple of refrigerators.
The djs at the time, like dj Pitioffered nights of vibrant music that made Pacha Ibiza the sensation of the island.
That essence of the psychedelic, rock and pop music that set the mood of life at Pacha in its beginnings decided to be preserved through the party Flower Power. An event that was born in the 80s and that four decades later attracts thousands of people.
In 2024 has offered this weekly event as “a musical journey of liberation, love and self-discovery”. A legendary party that is renewed year after year, but that maintains that spirit of the beginnings of the party room.
Flowers everywhere, colorful and psychedelic decorations encourage attendees to blend in with their surroundings and come to Pacha wearing bell-bottoms, hippy-style blouses and dresses, round-rimmed glasses and necklaces with pacifist motifs.
The hits of the 60s and 70s by The Beatles, Jimmy Hendrix or The Doors return to sound in the room, possessing the attendees and transporting them to a magical time that catapulted Ibiza to the imagination of the whole world.
Thus, it is not surprising that, together with the name of Ibiza as a brand in itself, Pacha is inextricably linked. The two cherries are as recognizable an icon as the Apple apple or the M for McDonalds.
International growth of Pacha Ibiza
Since its founding, the Pacha brand has transcended the borders of Ibiza and has expanded its presence internationally. Currently, the Pacha Group offers a wide range of entertainment and leisure activities, which are present in Mykonos, London, Barcelona or Munich. Places where he has taken his unmistakable style of music and partying. “Ibiza is a fundamental part of the Pacha Group’s identity and growth. It is both our inspiration and our home,” says Kabir Mulchandani, president of the Pacha Group.
However, Pacha Ibiza remains the jewel in the crown and one of the most recognized and respected clubs. In its half-century of existence, Pacha Ibiza has evolved, adapted and left an indelible mark in the electronic music and nightlife culture.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.